Dani Mason: Reflections on Social Work Practice with Communities

I wanted to take a second to kind of reflect on where my mind wandered after reading the assigned reading this week and after watching the assigned Ted Talks. I sometimes have hard time articulating my thoughts verbally which is why I’m more of an on observer and internal processor than talker or writer. Bear with me. Truth be told, before this class I have never really put much thought into community work or critical community practice. Ive always kept my case management or crisis work in a bubble and thought, “Yeah community work, Im in the community, working with people to connect to their community, helping them get what they rightfully need and deserve...boom community work”. I’m embarrassed to admit, sure I’ve been doing some sort of community work, but not the type of critical community practice we are tackling in class. I have failed to look at a much bigger picture and equate social work to more than just therapy, coping skill, lets meet your needs so you are somewhat grounded...

 "Clean water is not a constitutional right". This is a quote from a FEMA official. FEMA. Let that marinate. This quote from Ted Radio Hour: Our relationship with Water, stopped me dead in my tracks. It was such a powerful and uncomfortable quote that I found myself sitting on it all day. I've spent the afternoon exploring my visceral and emotional reaction wondering how to articulate how I feel without going on an incoherent spiel; I probably will but it is what it is. This quote was followed by, "FEMA regulations are not meant for the most vulnerable communities and disaster process is meant for the middle class". OK, so you are telling me that a basic need to survive is not a constitutional right, and the powers that be can dictate that? We look to FEMA for help in many crisis situations and not everyone can be or is meant to be helped with their system structure? As with most everything, the middle class and up to get all the advantages while the rest, the o...