Our world is constantly changing. We live in a time and place in which value is placed on the next innovation, the speed with which we can achieve our goals and daily tasks, and quick and easy fixes for every day problems and crises. Despite the constant growth in technology and new developments in science and the medical field, the code we cannot seem to crack is the one that leads to a prosperous, healthy, happy life for all our citizens. While much attention is paid to war and the threat of terrorism from abroad, there is little focus on the very real, disastrous things happening in our own country. Poverty, racism, classism, and inadequate resources for our most vulnerable citizens has not gone away. Innovation has not existed in this area. With the priorities of our politicians so often shifting away from these issues, it falls on the shoulders of the social work profession to create change and advocate for these individuals and the challenges they face.
Take the current water crisis in Flint, Michigan, for example. The state and local government went for months allowing their residents (a vast majority living below the national poverty line and being people of color) to drink water with lead in it to save money. This incident is bringing into the national spotlight once again that communities that are low-income with minority populations do not get the respect and attention they deserve, especially in times of crisis.
So often racism and classism is not as overt as the situation in Flint. It is insidious. In order for change to occur in these communities within the framework of our modern world and its shifting priorities, we must mobilize community members effected by these issues to be advocates. The role of social workers must be to empower these individuals by finding ways in which their voices can be heard. This is truly how community practice must function in order to be successful.
