Anyone living during the 1960's remembers the tumultuous challenges and societal unrest that accompanied the struggle for civil and human rights and social justice that marked the decade. What fewer people were aware of, however, was the concurrent emergence of a new field of study, Community Psychology, expanding the principles of the academic study of problem-solving for individuals to a broader application of social and psychological precepts and strategies to communities and social structures themselves. As a new area of academic and practical enterprise, community psychology faced multiple challenges of defining and identifying "community" as well as exploring and developing the relevant psychological constructs, data and practices that might be useful in addressing cultural issues and conflicts.
Having recently completed his doctoral studies in clinical psychology, Bob Cohen was excited by the opportunity to merge his active commitment to civil rights and social justice with his academic interests. His own peripatetic nature was well-suited to the wide-open and divergent avenues of exploration within the new field; i.e. what does community mean and where do you find it? What can psychology offer to a "community" as different from an individual or family in crisis? Who is the client when one works in community psychology? Who is, or should be, involved in attacking community issues?
Cohen has devoted a career of more than 50 years, in multiple roles and multiple settings, as both academician and practitioner, attempting to answer and address these questions and issues. As chronicled in this "memoir", Cohen's path was marked by shifting responsibilities and perspective but remained true to the search for and dedication to the notion that while there is no single definition of "community", working within the context of community is critical and cannot be overlooked.