A Justice Site
Mirror Sites:
CSUDH - Habermas - UWP
Caliifornia State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Created: August 31, 2001
Latest Update: September 4, 2001
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu
In the Urban Center
Copyright: Jeanne Curran and Susan R. Takata and Individual Authors: September 2001.
"Fair use" encouraged.
Article in the Los Angeles Downtown News on September 3, 2001, by Kathryn Maese, "The 'New Downtown': Cole's Is Ground Zero for Grassroots Meetings by Gen-X Urban Pioneers", p. 1, Volume 30, Number 36. Picture is of New Downtown co-founder Marie Condron.
Contacts:
- newdowntown.com
- Tom Burrows, a juvenile court judge.
Cover photo of Marie Condron, co-founder of New Downtown.
Read the article. Sounds like a great project for anyone interested in urban development, power relations, and transforming the discourse of cities. Consider its possibilities for a research project in theory, urban theory, in theoretical paradigm shifts, in transforming discourse praxis, in sociology of law. We'll consider it as a topic of discussion for Week 3, Week of September 10, so that we can consider the requirements of "quick and dirty" research, which is the only kind that most of us can afford while we're in school. Consider:
- First thing you have to do in research is figure out how you're going to get access to the group you want to study. This group offers plenty of access.
- Next, narrow the focus of what you want to know. Notice that you could apply this material in any of several courses.
- Notice that there are qualified experts who form part of the group. Asking them specific questions that indicate that you have read and thought about their goals is one way to connect. Remember Bales' Interaction Process Analysis (IPA).
- Look for variables, things you can measure, both qualitatively and quantitatively.
- Quantitative Examples:
- Number of group members in each of several categories of education.
- Number of group members in each of several age categories.
- Number of group members in each of several categories of gender. Why do you suppose Male/Female may not be the best choice?
- Qualitative Examples: Brief interviews and participant observation might discover feelings about:
- Gender identification. Do they see gender as male/female?
- Class. Is there really any comingling across classes?
- Community. Is there any concern for the urban poor? What kind of concern? How is it manifest?
- Independent and dependent variable relationships. Remember that it all depends on your thoeretical perspective.
If you measure race by mother's identification of race, then race is a dependent variable, dependent of the variable of mother's identification, which becomes the independent variable.
Discussion topics on the article:
- "What they all agree on is that they have a passion for urban working and living as well as the growing knowledge of who has the power to make the wheels turn in their neighborhoods." What kind of paradigm shift does this represent?
Consider "real diversity" in skills as well as inclusion. Consider different means of power distribution. Consider access to decision-making information and skills. Consider the importance of technological shifts in power - i.e., no more unskilled labor roles - what will replace them in the New Downtown?
Consider the "practical issues" of avoiding "knowingness."
- What does the existence of this new downtown group suggest about the role of government in urban renewal?
Consider the postmodern concern of interdependence between agency and structural context. Consider the interdependence of government, the individual, and the community.