Making a difference: The social ecology of social transformation

A multidisciplinary and multilevel framework for social transformation is p roposed, encompassing four foundational goals: capacity-building, group emp owerment, relational community-building, and culture-challenge. Interventio n approaches related to each goal are presented at the setting, geographic community, and societal levels. Four exemplars of social transformation wor k are then discussed: the Accelerated Schools Project, Meyerhoff Program, M anKind Project, and women's movement. These examples illustrate the synergi stic relationship among the four transformational goals, within and across levels of analysis, which is at the heart of the social transformation proc ess. The paper concludes with three challenges to guide our efforts as we e nter the new century: (1) to move social transformation to the center of ou r consciousness as a field; (2) to articulate jointly with allied disciplin es, organizations, and citizen groups an encompassing, multidisciplinary, a nd multilevel framework for social transformation; and (3) to do the above with heart, soul, and humility.