Advocacy through community education:

Working with community members to increase understanding of the systemic issues that impact their day-to-day lives is, perhaps, the most radical contribution one can make toward social justice.  Information and understanding empower individuals and communities by reminding them that the future is not determined, and that their decisions today can positively impact their futures.

 

Community education can also take the form of advocacy.  Raising the consciousness of first world citizens regarding human rights issues, poverty and debt, and the economic barriers that interfere with sustainable development may mobilize these same citizens to take collective action with regard to these issues.  Examples include speaking to local groups about various issues in their local community, educating community groups through theater performances, and facilitating workshops for local groups to increase their multicultural understanding.

 

These featured organizations are involved in advocacy work, and the resources for community education that follow will provide you with the tools you need to make a big impact!

 

Featured organizations

 

Curriculum Resources for Global Citizenship Education:

The Boston Research Center for the 21st Century (BRC) is an international peace institute founded in 1993 by Daisaku Ikeda, peace activist, educator, and president of Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a Buddhist organization active in 190 countries and territories around the world.  Inspired by the SGI’s philosophy of value creation (Soka), the BRC works to build cultures of peace through dialogue and education programs.  These programs include public forums and scholarly seminars that are organized collaboratively and offer a diverse range of perspectives.  The overarching goal of these gatherings is to contribute to a shift in United States culture from isolation, violence, and war to interconnectedness, nonviolence, and peace.

 

ENGAGE:

ENGAGE builds the next generation of global citizens by translating study abroad experience into lifelong connections and cooperative action between peoples and social movements working toward a just and sustainable world.

 

Resources for community education

 

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