Social Justice or Social Service? Understanding Social Justice Education in a Human Services Context

• In Event: Roundtable Session 51
  In Roundtable Session: Social Justice for Tomorrow

Abstract

Recent research on social justice education (SJE) has primarily focused on traditional classroom settings and community-based youth organizations that help youth address social justice issues. However, there is limited research about human service organizations (HSOs) as an alternative setting for providing social justice education to individuals. By applying a citizenship as praxis theoretical framework and the foundational principles of SJE, this paper explores how students evolve from passive consumers of social justice knowledge to informed practitioners of social justice work. This qualitative study examines the experiences of participants attending a Summer Social Justice Institute hosted by a HSO. The application of pedagogy from school and community contexts suggests that multiple settings can educate individuals to address social injustices and oppression.

Authors

• Charrise Hollingsworth, Vanderbilt University - Peabody College

• Kimberly Bess, Vanderbilt University