Community Economic Development

Catalog description

This course will examine the variety of ways that professionals work within American land and political systems to achieve development that supports historically marginalized and under-resourced communities. We will examine the most common strategies through systems and racial equity lenses, challenging students to be thoughtful about this very real professional dilemma: “How do I achieve better social outcomes while working within the white supremist and capitalist systems that created the problems of poverty and disenfranchisement in the first place?” The course will be practical in nature, focusing on real unpacking, debating, and critiquing real examples to see the implications of being a professional in this sector. Coursework will focus on domestic examples, prominently featuring Philadelphia.