Changing People's Lives While Transforming Your Own

A book of hope, of resilience, and of passionate and courageous efforts to change people's lives far beyond the narrow scope of your own community and immediate circle of influence Imbued with both a fitting sense of urgency and a profound sense of hope, Changing People's Lives While Transforming Your Own tells the stories of faculty, students, and professionals from a variety of fields who reached out to others after witnessing an injustice, poverty, or need in the lives of the most neglected and marginalized in society--and in reaching out, were transformed through the process of helping others. Coauthored by two individuals who have devoted their careers to making a difference in the lives of others, this stirring book is a call to action, for both the young and young at heart, and is filled with inspiring and real-life narratives from individuals from a broad range of helping professions such as¿social work, psychology, and counseling. Changing People's Lives While Transforming Your Own introduces you to the basic concepts related to social justice, global human rights, service learning, community activism, and altruism, with a look at: The elements that are often part of service learning, social justice, and charitable work--including the joys, satisfactions, frustrations, and crushing disappointments Why people help, how they do it, and what they get out of their efforts Suggestions for how to create the kind of experiences likely to be the most satisfying and transformative Countless opportunities for readers to stand up for the rights of those who are oppressed In addition to an accompanying DVD featuring stories, insights, and lessons culled from a social justice mission to Nepal, Changing People's Lives While Transforming Your Own encourages readers to be better world citizens in the cause of promoting human freedom and equality. It shows how even modest efforts on a small scale can have profound effects, offering a vision of social justice in which professionals in a variety of fields can promote change as advocates, activists, and leaders.