About SSSP : Action and Activism

In Pursuit of Social Justice

As an interdisciplinary community of scholars, practitioners, advocates, and students interested in the application of critical, scientific, and humanistic perspectives to the study of vital social problems, the SSSP is engaged in multiple avenues of social justice research and action. In addition to SSSP publications, the Society regularly participates in calls to action on various social justice issues. Each year, the SSSP also presents the Thomas C. Hood Social Action Award, which recognizes social justice work of grassroots organizations in marginilized communities in the city/local are hosting the annual meeting. See below for more information on these activities.

SSSP Resolutions

2020 Approved Resolutions

Resolutions were solicited via several calls sent out to the membership by the SSSP Administrative Office as well as by emails sent to the Chairs of the 23 Divisions by the SSSP Vice-President and Chair of the Committee on Social Action, Daina Cheyenne Harvey. This year, three proposed resolutions were submitted, including the expression of gratitude.

The resolutions were provided online for the membership to review and comment on prior to the Society’s Virtual Annual Business Meeting on Friday, August 7, 2020. Immediately following the meeting, current members were able to vote online for or against each resolution or abstain. The voting period lasted two weeks. 

Thank you to those who voted. 410 votes were cast. Resolutions 1 and 2 passed overwhelmingly, but resolution 3 did not pass. Per the Society’s By-Laws, a resolution passes if two-thirds of the members voting online by the deadline, vote in favor of the resolution.

Click here for the 2020 Approved Resolutions.

Click here for past years Approved Resolutions.

SSSP Letters

If a passed resolution requires letters or e-mails to be sent, the Administrative Office distributes these to appropriate individuals or agencies.

Click here to read the letters.

Take Action!

As one of the oldest and most respected social science organizations in the United States, the Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP) condemns the concerted attacks against institutions and laws that form the bedrock of our democratic system. The newly enacted Georgia Voting Bill and similar legislation introduced in 42 other states; resistance to the passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, designed to combat racial discrimination in voting by restoring and strengthening the protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; and the anti-legal protest bills championed by Florida’s Governor and Legislature; all demonstrate efforts to degrade democracy and disenfranchise our most marginalized citizens. These negative legislative actions are accelerating at an alarming rate and demand swift and concerted responses.

Click here to view the letter.

Click here for more Action items...

Thomas C. Hood Social Action Award

The Thomas C. Hood Social Action Award, established in 1991, is awarded to a local grassroots social justice organization in the Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (as defined by the U.S. Bureau of Census) in which the annual meeting is held that year.  While the recipient can be an organization that engages in direct service work, preferred recipients for the Social Action Award will be organizations that also work at the level of systems change.  The organization may not be a local or regional chapter of a national or international organization, and must be one that will benefit significantly from the award.  The nomination of organizations that include directly impacted people and communities in leadership positions and decisions are also encouraged.  The award carries a stipend of $5,000.

Click here for a list of past winners.