This week’s blog post features Emma Ogley-Oliver, a
Community Psychologist and our Assistant Professor of Psychology.
San Pedro is a long way from Ramsbottom, England. She shared
with me that back home when she was in school, she hung out with the cool kids.
Unknown to her at the time, the cool kids were considered quite an intimidating
group. Emma explained that the group wasn’t a bad group; they were never
malicious or naughty, but because it was a small town – people made
assumptions.
Looking back on that experience as a child and now with her
degree in Community Psychology she found a lot of insight into community
development and that has built a foundation for her experience here in the San
Pedro community. There are similarities based on size and different stigmas
about particular groups.
This is the basis for what Community Psychology is all about – analyzing the bigger picture. This area of psychology doesn’t focus on an individuals and their trials and tribulations, but what is going on in the community around them and how people as a group are affected and can be part of the solution.
This is the basis for what Community Psychology is all about – analyzing the bigger picture. This area of psychology doesn’t focus on an individuals and their trials and tribulations, but what is going on in the community around them and how people as a group are affected and can be part of the solution.
Community Psychology
is:
Civic Engagement
& Public Participation
Is Community Psychology right for you? Emma describes the
type of person Community Psychology would appeal:
- · Anyone who has a respect for diversity
- · Someone who is passionate to develop a change for the greater good
- · One who wants to promote inclusivity in community development
- · Interested in being one with the project research and inviting the community members to be co-researchers
- · Having interests in culture, policies and sociology
One of the most unique things about the Community Psychology Masters degree at Marymount California University is Emma’s work in developing
Participatory Action Research. Three major projects that she’s working hard to
develop are:
- · Team Taiko – a Japanese drumming program that include ESL classes through drumming
- · Youth development on Tall Ships with LAMI TopSail – MCU students participate in Top Sail to understand the process and outcome of such programs.
- · South Bay Coalition for the Homeless (SBCH) – Where students work with the community and assess how their activities align to make progress in addressing poverty.
Thank you Emma for the lovely interview!