The Importance of Social Philosophy for Non-profit Organizations

• In Event: 2481 - Sociology in Practice Settings Symposium Roundtable Session
  In Informal Discussion Roundtable: Table 08. Application Stories

Abstract

Most nonprofit organizations have mission statements that are consistent with “doing good.” Outside of a few exceptions, most people who work in nonprofit organizations genuinely strive toward making positive changes in education, alleviate homelessness, and participate in other admirable tasks. However, one of the pitfalls common to most non-profit organizations is that they tend to overlook issues that are structurally rooted and instead focus on the surface level solutions—the proverbial “Band-Aid” approach. For example, understanding homelessness, educational “achievement gaps,” or immigration from a critical sociological perspective is vital if we truly want to change circumstances for the individuals and communities we are serving rather than falling into a trap of what Paulo Freire calls “false generosity.”

The Dignified Learning Project is a nonprofit organization created by two sociologists. What began as a research project grew into an established 501(c)(3). One important component to the organization is that we engage in every activity that reflects the basic tenets of anti-foundational philosophy. Stated simply, we understand social justice not simply as a political act, but also as a philosophy that guide our organization. By providing insight, recommendations, and ideas from experiences and ideas negotiated and established by The Dignified Learning Project, we hope to create a dialogue that stays true to dialogical approaches, such as those suggested by Freire (2000), Giroux (1985), Fielding (2001), and many other theorists in the critical pedagogy tradition. In sum, we hope to challenge the typical goals and objectives of most nonprofit organizations that lack the dialogical approach while also highlighting the sociopolitical context in which they function.

Authors

• Charlene E. Holkenbrink-Monk, San Diego State University

• Jung Min Choi, San Diego State University