Ann Rosegrant Alvarez

Choosing to do participatory research: An example and issues of fit to consider

ABSTRACT Participatory research is an increasingly popular approach, and considered by some to be synonymous with progressive social work research practice. It is important, however, to assess its suitability for both a given project and the people involved with it. Points to consider include fit of the approach with researcher(s), community, topic, organizational context and constraints. This article describes a participatory research process through which community members collaborated in the design and implementation of a project to identify, learn about the work of, and develop training based on the perspectives of people doing multicultural community organizing in Detroit. Discussion sections present value, costs and limitations of this project, as well as issues and recommendations for those considering or using participatory research methods.

Educating Students for Multicultural Community Practice

Summary This article explores the concept of multicultural community organizing and some of the issues and dilemmas involved in educating for this form of practice. It then outlines the development of a course on multicultural community organizing and describes experiences in teaching it; specific teaching strategies and methodologies, including exercises and assignments; and outcomes for students, educators, and communities. Social work educators are encouraged to consider ways to incorporate these and similar perspectives, methods, and exercises throughout the community practice curriculum, so that an awareness of multicultural dynamics and issues can be part of understanding and determining the use of tactics.

WHAT ABOUT WOMEN? HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE CSWE COUNCIL ON THE ROLE AND STATUS OF WOMEN IN SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION (WOMEN'S COUNCIL)

The Council on the Role and Status of Women in Social Work Education (WC), a volunteer committee of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), has a 37-year history. This article presents an overview of the WC from the late 1960s to September 2006 and acknowledges the needs, status, and contributions of women in social work education. Drawing on primary and secondary data sources, the authors articulate two central themes: (1) organizational development of the WC, and (2) contributions of the WC to social work education and practice. The mission and work of the WC remain relevant today, because there is still a need to monitor and advocate for equity for women in social work education.

Enhancing Praxis Through PRACSIS

Abstract Many social workers consider praxis central to their practice. The concept, developed by Paulo Freire to capture the interaction between action and reflection, can be challenging to apply. PRACSIS is a framework represented in grid form that can help social work students understand and use the concept of praxis in a thoughtful and explicit way. This paper describes the rationale for and application of PRACSIS: Practitioner Reflection on Actions, Characteristics and Situation, by Impact and Strategies. Results indicate that use of PRACSIS can help develop critical consciousness, including implications for practice, and can thus benefit social work educators, students, practitioners, and-ultimately-consumers.

Feminist Mentoring and Relational Cultural Theory: A Case Example and Implications

Social work educators who identify as feminists often find themselves feeling isolated in the academy and longing for connection. Connection is emphasized in Relational Cultural Theory (RCT), a theory of human development that emphasizes the perspective that individuals grow in relationship with one another. The authors apply RCT to membership on the Council on the Role and Status of Women in Social Work Education (Women’s Council), within the Council on Social Work Education. This perspective has explanatory value and can be used to help plan for and facilitate beneficial mentoring experiences. Implications for research and for use in other contexts are considered.

Employment and Empowerment of People with Disabilities

In conclusion, it is clear that people who are physically and mentally challenged in the United States and the world in general—people with disabilities—continue to experience the effects of discrimination, stigmatization, and oppression (Cole, Christ, & Light, 1995; Kopels, 1995). These effects persist in the United States even after the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the case law that has resulted from these statutes (Cole et al., 1995). Globally, they persist in contradiction to principles expressed and espoused by world leaders in many contexts.

Challenges, Changes, and Impact of the Council on Social Work Education Women’s Council: An Update

This article highlights the contributions of the Council on the Role and Status of Women in Social Work Education (Women’s Council) as well as the role and status of women in social work education. For this historical analysis update, the authors drew on several primary and secondary data sources. The first major theme was organizational development (e.g., organizational commitment, strategic planning, and sustainability). The second major theme was contributions to social work education (e.g., furthering the knowledge base, influencing accreditation standards, and monitoring equity). These major themes and subthemes remained constant from the previous publication on the history of the WC (Alvarez et al., 2008), underscoring the resilience, commitment and persistence of the WC to keep a sharp focus on infusing feminist perspectives into social work education.

Women, Organizing, and Empowerment

From July 2002 to September 2006, your Editor team has worked with 271 manuscripts submitted for review. As readers of the Journal can attest, manuscripts accepted for publication cover the full range of community and administrative practice-organizing, planning, development, and social change. Within these broad categories, a view of the table of contents of various issues shows articles on specific topics such as community collaboration, faith-based human services, program evaluation, teaching methods, and more. In addition, articles published in the Journal have consistently aligned with its domestic and international mission as an “interdisciplinary journal grounded in social work.” In this respect, the Journal has published an increasing number of articles from scholars and practitioners in the United States and abroad who hail from related disciplines such as sociology, public health, and community psychology. It was, therefore, a pleasant surprise when we discovered that within our pool of manuscripts lay a hidden treasure. In reviewing manuscripts accepted for publication, we realized that there were several papers–all written by women scholars and practitioners–that could comprise a thematic issue on women, organizing, and empowerment. The topic is not new; it is a theme that is core to social work

“Creating a Little Mischief”: A Portrait of Mildred Jeffrey's 65 Years as an Activist

Mildred Jeffrey has contributed significantly to the labor movement, the civil rights movement, and the womens movement. Her many years of commitment to major U.S. social movements, coupled with her vital personality and indefatigable energy, have resulted in both an impressive list of accomplishments and increasing public recognition. Her story is important for its historical significance; as amodel of the use of primary sources, such as interviews and archival materials; and as a reminder of the many compelling stories still to be told and shared.