Class Descriptions

Anti-Oppressive and Transformative Justice Approaches to Community Change

SW798

Credits:	1
Prerequisites:	None

Pathway Associations

Community Change	Elective (Host)
Global
Interpersonal Practice
Mgmt & Leadership
Policy & Political
Program Evaluation
Older Adults
Children & Families

Course Description

This course will focus on anti-oppressive organizing and transformative justice approaches to creating community change. It will explore the theory and concepts behind such approaches as well as the specific skills needed to engage in anti-oppressive, anti-racist and transformative organizing work with a focus on power and root causes analysis.The course will draw from contemporary grassroots and social movement models of practice including emergent strategy, healing and restorative justice, digital and arts-based justice efforts, and other related examples. Students will understand the frameworks, practices, skills, and concepts involved in anti-oppressive and transformative justice approaches. Particular emphasis will be placed on competencies related to critical storytelling and popular education, collective modes of organizing, and visionary approaches toward community change.

Objectives

Students will:
1. Develop knowledge about anti-oppressive organizing and transformative justice approaches to creating community change
2. Understand theories and concepts of anti-oppressive, anti-racist and transformative organizing work
3. Gain skills and tools to work for transformative justice
4. Explore various approaches to work for transformative justice, eg emergent strategy, healing and restorative justice, digital and arts-based justice efforts

Intensive Focus on Privilege, Oppression, Diversity and Social Justice (PODS)

This course integrates PODS content and skills with a special emphasis on the identification of theories, practice and/or policies that promote social justice, illuminate injustices and are consistent with scientific and professional knowledge. Through the use of a variety of instructional methods, this course will support students developing a vision of social justice, learn to recognize and reduce mechanisms that support oppression and injustice, work toward social justice processes, apply intersectionality and intercultural frameworks and strengthen critical consciousness, self-knowledge and self-awareness to facilitate PODS learning.