Columns

Columns

UGA

WWW

	october 29, 2007
	In this issue
	News
	Ideas start flowing: Task force updates public on steps university is taking to reduce water use during drought
	Callan, national authority on higher education, to deliver annual Louise McBee Lecture
	Peabody-Smithgall Lecture to examine media, democracy
	Campaign for Charities seeks greater employee participation
	Roosevelt to speak as part of annual Policy Day at School of Social Work
	Speaker: Real change comes from involvement
	The ‘write’ solution: English professor's year of study leads to new ways to spur student writing
	Grant will be used to explore exposure at waste sites
	Ginter named permanent director of Division of Academic Enhancement
	‘All-around good spirit’ honored at Appreciation Day
	Woman’s Club scholarship recipient
	Recycling questions
	Around Academe
	News to Use
	Go Figure
	Digest
	UGA Guide
	Newsmakers
	Campus Closeup
	Conversation with the Dean
	Weekly Reader
	Cybersights
	Bulletin Board

	Back Issues
	Publication Dates
	Contact Us

campus newS

Speaker: Real change comes from involvement

By Matt Weeks
mweeks@uga.edu

Academics need broader reach into communities to effect real social change, Julia Perilla said at the Women and Girls in Georgia Conference held on campus.

Perilla, an associate professor of psychology at Georgia State University and community activist, was one of the keynote speakers at the conference, the first of its kind put on by the Institute for Women’s Studies.

The theme for the first year was violence, and Perilla spoke openly about her work with Latino families who have suffered through domestic abuse.

“We have the ability to do a lot of good with the tools and privileges we have, but we must be mindful and be careful so as not to re-victimize the people we are trying to help,” she said.

“We have to keep in mind when we work with immigrants or with anyone, that first we should do no harm.”

Before founding Caminar Latino (Latino Journey), a resource and counseling group for Latino women, men and children, Perilla earned a doctorate in psychology. Though she started her studies late (she didn’t begin undergraduate work until 37), she insists that what gives her authority and power within her community is her role as a mother and grandmother.

“In my community, that’s what matters,” she said.

Insights like this led her to rearrange and repackage services and shelters available to victims through her group.

“When we look at our group and realize that people are under-utilizing our resources, there is a reason why they are doing that. If a resource does not fit with someone’s worldview, they will not use it. So we must be mindful of their world views and not try to impose on them too quickly our resources or desires for them to change,” she said.

Columns is produced by the UGA News Service, a unit of UGA Public Affairs.
286 Oconee St., Ste. 200N, Athens, GA 30602-1999
Juliett Dinkins (jdinkins@uga.edu): editor (706) 542-8017,
Janet Beckley (jbeckley@uga.edu): art director (706) 542-8170, Peter Frey (pfrey@uga.edu): photo editor (706) 542-8086,
Matthew Weeks (mweeks@uga.edu): senior reporter (706) 542-8024, Sara Freeland (freeland@uga.edu): reporter (706) 542-8077
Questions or comments should be directed to columns@uga.edu

Back Issues | Publication Dates | Subscribe to Columns | Contact Us | Text-only Version

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2008-2009 University of Georgia. All rights reserved
The University of Georgia • Athens, GA 30602 | UGA Directory Assistance 706/542-3000
UGA Home | UGA Today | Public Affairs Directory