HHS 350: Comm Organizing for Health

Course Description

Community organizing is a process by which communities and organizations work together to identify common problems and objectives, acquire and mobilize resources, and create and implement actions to achieve their goals. Community organizing is of interest to sociologists, organization theorists, political scientists, health educators, and social psychologists, among others, as scholars who contribute to our knowledge of working in and with communities. Drawing on these various disciplines and real world case studies, this course examines community organizing theories, models, and principles and how they are used to improve community health and address health inequities. Several practical tools, strategies, and skills are also introduced, including: community assessment, coalition-building, participatory research and evaluation, media advocacy, and policy advocacy. A primary component of this course is the field experience, in which students are partnered with community-based organizations to identify, apply, and reflect on course concepts, while contributing to local community building efforts related to various health issues in the Detroit Metropolitan region. (F, W).