Winter 2021/Fuller Online

MN533

Salvatierra

MN533: ORGANIZING URBAN COMMUNITIES FOR TRANSFORMATION (4 Units: 160 Hours). Alexia Salvatierra.

DESCRIPTION: The course is designed to introduce the student to the principles and methodologies of community organizing as a way to engage churches in community transformation. Students will learn about the process of bringing urban residents together to address injustice and create more effective and humane systems and structures as well as the particular role and potential contribution of the church to this process. Various models of community organizing, including faith-based and faith-rooted efforts, will be examined. Students will also understand the biblical and theological mandate for community transformation as part of a holistic mission strategy, including community development and advocacy. Each student will develop a strategy for engagement applicable to their mission and ministry context utilizing insights gained from their study of a local organization.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completing of this course, the student will: (1) Appreciate the knowledge base of community organizing practice, particularly the new developments in the field that are “faith-rooted”; (2) understand the major tasks, processes, issues, and technologies of organizing, in particular faith-rooted organizing; (3) identify the analytical, political, and interactional skills necessary for community organizing; (4) develop a conceptual framework for community transformation practice rooted in biblical and theological principles related to holistic mission; and (5) gain practical guidelines and experience for the integration of community organizing unto the ministry of a local church or ministry.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: Addresses MAICS Area of Interest Class “Students will have demonstrated capacities to pursue vocations that engage the mission of God globally.” Addresses the MDiv PLO that states “Students will have demonstrated capacities to engage diverse cultural contexts for transformational discipleship, mission, and ministry.” Addresses the MATM/MAT PLOs that state “Students will have demonstrated capacities for historically informed theological and ethical reflection.”

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning. This course modality provisions a fully asynchronous structure enhanced with optional synchronous meeting times. Although it does not require synchronous meetings, the course will provide one or more opportunities for live interaction scheduled to support represented time zones.

REQUIRED READING: 1,296-1,501 pages of required reading (depending on book chosen for book report.) Specific pages are assigned for several of these texts. You will also select one of those texts for a book report; in that case, you will read the whole book.

Alinsky, Saul. Rules for Radicals. Vintage, 1989. ISBN: 978-0679721130, Pub. Price $15.95 [224 pp.]. Ebook at Fuller Library or Kindle Edition Available $12.99. (Assigned: pp. 1-47)*

Brown, Adrienne Maree. Emergent Strategy. AK Press, Reprint Edition, 2017. ISBN-13: 978-1849352604. Pub. Price $13.89 [280pp.] Ebook at Fuller Library or Kindle Edition Available $7.77 (Assigned: pp. 1-33)*

Gordon, Wayne and John M. Perkins. Making Neighborhoods Whole: A Handbook for Christian Community Development. Intervarsity Press, 2013. ISBN:978-0-8308-3756-4. Pub. Price $14.69 [187 pp.] Ebook at Fuller Library or Kindle Edition Available $9.64 (Assigned: pp. 15-162)*

Miller, Mike. Community Organizing: A Brief Introduction. Euclid Avenue Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0615623214, Pub. Price $6.50 [64 pp.]. Kindle Edition Available $2.99

Minkler, Meredith. Community Organizing and Community Building for Health and Welfare, 3rd edition. Rutgers Press, 2012. ISBN-13:978-0813553009, Pub. Price $41.44 [512 pp.] EBook at Fuller Library or Kindle Edition Available $26.95 (Assigned: 404 pages pp. 5-465 minus chapters 6,8, and 9)*

Offutt, Stephen and F. David Bronkeman et al. Advocating for Justice: An Evangelical Vision for Transforming Systems and Structures. Baker Academic, 2016. ISBN: 9780801097652, Pub. Price $14.95. [226 pp.] Kindle Edition Available $12.99 (Assigned: pp. 3-120)*

Salvatierra, Alexia and Peter Heltzel. Faith-rooted Organizing: Mobilizing the Church in Service to the World. InterVarsity Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-0830836611, $18.00 [208 pp.]. Available as an ebook in the Fuller library or Kindle Edition Available $4.99

Taylor, Adam. Mobilizing Hope: Faith-inspired Activism for a Post-Civil Rights Generation. InterVarsity, 2010. ISBN: 978-0830838370, Pub. Price $18.00 [236 pp.]. Ebook in the Fuller library or Kindle Edition available $9.99

*These are the books that students will be able to use for a book report, after reading the whole text.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Bobo, Kimberley A., Jackie Kendall, and Steve Max. Organizing for Social Change. 4th ed. The Forum Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0984275212, Pub. Price $39.95 [416 pp.].

Baker, Kendall Clark. When Faith Storms the Public Square. Circle Books, 2011. ISBN: 978-1846945359, Pub. Price $22.95 [227 pp.].

Gutierrez, Gustavo. The Power of the Poor in History. Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2004. ISBN: 978-1592449804, Pub. Price $30.00 [Part I].

Mann, Eric. Playbook for Progressives: 16 Qualities of the Successful Organizer. Beacon Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0807047354, Pub. Price $18.00 [232 pp.].

Slessarev-Jamir, Helene. Prophetic Activism: Progressive Religious Justice Movements in Contemporary America. New York University Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0814783856, Pub. Price $30.00 [Chapters 2,4 & 5].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 1,296 to 1,501 pages of required reading and 5 total hours of videos [70 hours].
2. 10 Weekly 250 word posts plus 2 comments each week (posted in response to prompts) (4 pts. each, 40 pts. total - 40% of final grade.) Students begin each week on Monday morning with a set of reading and/or viewing assignments, including a video from the professor as well as a question/prompt on the theme of the week. By Wednesday night at midnight, the students are required to post an essay in response to the weekly prompt. Initial posts must include a minimum of two brief citations from different course materials. By Saturday night at midnight, the students are required to post 2 substantive comments on essays by the other students. Substantive comments contain information that challenges, supports or adds to the content of the discussion. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5] [20 hours].
3. Directed Learning Activity Each student will study a local organization In their area engaged in community organizing. They will interview a staff member or leading volunteer, study the online presence of the organization, and participate In a online or In-person community activity sponsored by the organization for the purpose of community transformation, write a report and analysis of the interview and activity and an overall analysis of the organization, applying the concepts that they have learned in the course. (30 points -30% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #4 &#5]. [40 hours].
4. Book Report. A 750-word paper which reviews and reflects on the student's choice of one of the partially assigned core texts, reading the whole text and applying it to the student's own ministry context. (10 points - 10% of grade)[This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2 and #5]. [10 hours].
5. Case Study: A 750-word paper responding to a case study submitted by the Instructor. The case study will require the students to utilize and Integrate their knowledge from the course materials and discussions to date. (10 points - 10% of grade) [This assignment Is related to learning outcomes #1-#4]. [10 hours]
6. A Course Reflection Paper. A 750-word paper on the entire learning experience, including the impact on their existing/future ministry. (10 points - 10% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #4]. [10 hours].

*Note: All required texts are popular, not traditionally academic, and therefore will take less time to read.

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the C2 requirement in the 120 MDiv and 80 MATM Programs (Fall 2015).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.