About
John M. Wallace Jr.
“There’s a long history of community-based work here that has greatly facilitated my efforts,” says John M. Wallace Jr., a Pitt associate professor of social work.
As a pastor in a church in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood, he knows the crucial role that congregations play in community life. Wallace’s research has examined the impact of crime and drug-related violence on churches, and the ways that school discipline varies depending on the race or gender of the students.
The Pitt School of Social Work’s heritage of involvement in Pittsburgh’s communities makes his efforts more fruitful. “There’s a synergy between the community and the research that I find particularly valuable,” Wallace says. “It raises questions that you wouldn’t necessarily ask if you weren’t involved in day-to-day challenges in the neighborhoods.”