Speaker
Dr Hasshan Batts
Executive Director
Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley
The Radical Welcome and Engagement Restoration Model
Abstract Narrative
“Community development scholars and practitioners have advanced a constellation of practice models aimed at addressing community issues. These models—although meritorious—fail to capture the depth and breadth of the problem of engagement suppression in Black and Brown communities. In other words, there are several shortcomings associated with existing frameworks of community engagement. One of them is the lack of involvement of community members in all aspects of the process, especially in the conceptualization phase. In effect, traditional community practice models are not built on both the cultural perspectives and realization of oppression of Black and Brown communities. Most of the current practice models are not construed in a way that fosters opportunities for minority leadership. Their inorganic nature and lack of transformative power make them sometimes inapplicable in time and place. This poster presentation seeks to address this gap in the literature by proposing the Radical Welcome and Engagement Restoration Model (RWERM), a community practice framework that challenges structural and/or oppressive conditions and forces that suppress minority engagement. The RWERM is an initiative of the Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley, located in Allentown, Pennsylvania that seeks to address engagement suppression. Through active listening, responsive programming, and fostering authentic relationships, PNLV has played a key role in activating and engaging those closest to the pain of the issues plaguing their communities. With an explicit commitment to its RWERM that strives to decolonize community organizing and center community priorities and leadership in the stories and experiences of local context experts, the PNLV believes communities can increase a sense of hope, belonging, and individual and collective agency. Embracing the premises of Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Morton Grodzins’ Concept of Critical Mass, and Derrick Bell’s Critical Race Theory, the RWERM represents a replicable hyper-localized approach to dismantling the weaponization of voice and agency through restoring relationships, community engagement, and building community capacity. This poster provides a description of the RWERM and includes the purpose and rationale, theoretical connections, historical development, highlights its key principles, and theoretical assumptions. The RWERM connects with a conference track of showcasing a social development response to the global challenge of racial injustice. ”
Poster Presentation
Upload PDF
Supporting Document
Biography
Hasshan is a prison survivor, healer, son, father, grandfather, brother, husband, and friend. In addition, Hasshan is a Community Epidemiologist, community based participatory researcher, leading expert on Trauma Informed Care, Reentry and Community engagement and dynamic motivational speaker.
Hasshan is the Founder and President of the Prison Survivors Network, Executive Director of the Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley, adjunct professor, Lehigh University post-doctoral Research fellow, Rider-Pool Collective Impact fellow, Practitioners Research and Scholarship Institute Writing fellow, distinguished Robert Wood Johnson Culture of Health Leader, Pennsylvania Commissioner on the Governors’ Advisory Commission on African American Affairs, member of the Pennsylvania Reentry Council, founding member of The Society for the Healing and Study of Historical Trauma, founding board member of the NE Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Association of Black Social Workers and board member of Resurrected Community Development Corporation and Penn State Extension.
Hasshan holds a joint MSW from North Carolina A&T and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a post graduate certificate in Global Health and Doctorate in Health Sciences from Nova Southeastern University in a Florida.
Dr Peter Kisaakye
Lecturer
Makerere University
Adolescent’s sexual behaviour in a refugee setting in Uganda
Abstract Narrative
Background: Globally, adolescents form a substantial proportion of the most vulnerable population in refugee situations, accounting for about 23% of the population of displaced populations in low income countries. Sexual and reproductive health is an essential component of primary health care. Yet, not every adolescent is able to access sexual and reproductive health services due to capacity challenges.
Methods: Using quantitative data from 356 adolescents and qualitative data (17 in-depth interviews and nine key informant interviews), we examine adolescent’s sexual behaviour in Bidibidi settlement – the largest refugee setting in Uganda using a binary logistic regression model.
Results: Results indicate that age, sex, school status and knowledge of getting pregnant were explanatory determinants of sexual behaviour among adolescent refugees in Bidibidi.
Conclusions: The results suggest the need to promote sexual and reproductive health education, contraceptive counselling, keeping adolescents in school, life skills development to improve sexual and reproductive health of adolescent refugees living in low-income countries such as Uganda.
Poster Presentation
Biography
Peter is lecturer in the Department of Population Studies, School of Statistics at Makerere University, Uganda. Paul is an associate professor in the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, School of Social Sciences at Makerere University, Uganda.
Ms Qianyun Wang
Research Assistant
University Of Calgary
Intersecting Identities: Experiences and Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic from the Perspectives of Older Chinese Immigrants in Canada
Abstract Narrative
Objectives: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic producing dramatic shifts and profoundly impacting people’s physical and psycho-social well-being, The ageing population is at heightened risk for experiencing the dire impacts of COVID-19, and older immigrants in particular, who face challenges due to social marginalization, discrimination, and migratory grief may be at greater risk for negative psycho-social impacts. This study explored the psycho-social impacts of older Chinese immigrants living in Calgary, Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: This exploratory qualitative study recruited 15 older Chinese immigrants living in Calgary, Canada, who completed in-depth interviews via online or telephone technologies. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and translated and subsequently thematically analyzed in relation to the study questions.
Results: Seven male and eight female participants ranged in age from 65 to 83, with the average age of 73 were recruited. Participants’ narratives were shaped by their multiple and intersecting identities as immigrants, older adults, people of Chinese descent, and as members in their families. It was found that participants in the study adopted a ‘cross-national’ perspective, drawing from both Canada and China sources to understand and cope with the pandemic. In the face of challenges related to grief, loneliness, social isolation, ageism and discrimination, the older adults in the study demonstrated considerable resilience and strength, particularly with the adoption of technology in their daily lives for information and social support.
Conclusions and implication: Study findings reinforce the need for anti-ageism, anti-racism and strength-based social work practices, research and polices aimed at improving older immigrants’ lives during pandemics and other disasters.
Biography
Qianyun Wang graduates from Social Work program of University of Calgary. Her practice and research interests are community development and to improve the lives of marginalized populations such as people living in poverty, migrant workers, newcomers and ageing generations.