Community Psychology
Community Psychology has always felt like home to me. It is a field dedicated to understanding people within their social, cultural, economic, and political contexts, and to promoting collective well-being through systems-level change. It bridges theory and practice, bringing together research, action, and reflection to address the root causes of social issues such as inequality, oppression, and marginalization. Community Psychologists work collaboratively with communities to build on their strengths, amplify their voices, and support their aspirations for justice, inclusion, and belonging.
At its heart, Community Psychology recognizes that individuals and communities are interconnected, and that meaningful change happens when people are empowered to shape the systems that affect their lives. Grounded in values of social justice, collaboration, and respect for diversity, it integrates critical reflection with participatory methods—encouraging learning, adaptation, and collective agency. The field makes space for both rigor and “messiness,” embracing the complexity of human experience while holding a deep commitment to hope, humility, and transformation.
Each day we go about our business,
walking past each other, catching each other’s eyes
or not, about to speak or speaking.
...Some live by love thy neighbor as thyself,
others by first do no harm or take no more than you need.
What if the mightiest word is love?
Love beyond marital, filial, national,
love that casts a widening pool of light.
Love with no need to pre-empt grievance.
In today’s sharp sparkle, this winter air,
anything can be made, any sentence begun.
On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp—
praise song for walking forward in that light.
(Elizabeth Alexander, inaugural poem for President Barack Obama)
The interpretive frameworks that inform my research approach include:
transformative - I am interested in participants’ complex and varied experiences and draw on these to inform social change
pragmatic - I want to know what works and am not tied to any particular method or approach to finding out
critical - I work on recognizing my power and privilege and the inequities people experience based on race, class, orientation, and gender