¶ … Vision for Social Change
My personal vision for social change is based on the underlying philosophy that change must come from those people who think differently than those who created the status quo. The drivers of the current status quo are the baby boom generation, who have held a substantial amount of political power since Clinton was elected, and who also form the largest voting bloc. However, I also see that the young people, the millennial generation, are a massive voting bloc, and they conceptualize their world quite differently than their parents and grandparents did. This is a generation that not only has faced different forms of adversity (Wyn & Woodman, 2006), but they also have been raised in a world where global trade and communication are the norm rather than the exception, and where climate change is the single most important issue. Further, this generation has been raised wholly in an era where social justice has been a running theme. So my vision for social change reflects the values of this generation, of moving forward and of having a mindset developed wholly in the 21st century, leaving behind the baggage of the 20th and heading headlong towards a vision of what we will leave...
The shift in values is away from a corporate oligarchy and more towards communities that are built around their own shared values. These values are inclusive of others, concern for the environment, and taking a more active role in creating the world that we want to see. There is a charming, almost quaint optimism to be found in a generation that has so much strength and vision despite some very real challenges. People simply envision their world and their lives differently now, and those values should be reflected in a renewed emphasis on community and on ensuring that everybody pulls in the same direction (Maton, 2008).
The Walden University mission statement for the School of Public Policy and Administration is that it "develops ethical, knowledgeable and adaptable scholar-practitioners…" and among other things these people work towards positive social change. It is a good starting point. The vision is that graduates will hold key positions who empower local communities. This is more something that is specific enough to align with…
