Community Development

Capacity Building

"Helping communities learn to help themselves" and the "ability to become active agents of change" Foundation of community development work Includes: 1) Sense of community 2) Level of commitment 3) Ability to solve problems 4) Access to resources

Community Assets and (=) Capitals (framework)

- Refers to capital as "wealth that is used to create more wealth" - Investment in each capital yields resources - "When communities make the right investments in the resources they have, it creates future benefits in quality of life for residents"

Participation in C.D.

- requires local community members to be involved and participate - not necessarily government-led activities - not just your standard "public hearing" participation (example - Bolton pizza party for town planning to get people involved)

Four main stages of Capacity Building

1) Leadership Development (Identify and expand community leaders, technical and process skill sets) 2) Organizational Development (strong and accountable organizations, may result in creation of new organization) 3) Community Organizing (helping residents become aware of common interests and generate power) 4) Organizational Networks (organizations have access to resources and information OUTSIDE the community)

Community development

A planned, collective effort to recognize and define community problems, identify assets, and engage in actions to increase the capacity of residents to improve their quality of life.

Role of Community-Based Organizations

Creation or leveraging of local organizations to build community assets/capitals and mobilize residents Critical functions: 1) Create power as they gather resources 2) Provide continuity and sustain action over time 3) Create expertise through their experience 4) Able to react quickly to opportunities and issues (example: VT Community Garden Network)

Asset Building Approach

Gifts, skills, and competencies of individuals, associations, and institutions within a community. Starts with what is present in the community already: - knowledge/skills/values of residents - condition of infrastructure and natural resources - capacity of its existing organizations and institutions How is this approach different than previous community development efforts focused on "lacks, gaps, and needs"? Why does that distinction matter?

Example of asset building approach

Neighborhood Centers Inc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU_vVt298gw

People vs. Place

Primarily place-based programs, projects, and initiatives - past federal and local efforts have failed in cases - critical to understand the relationship between social, economic, and environmental aspects Community development is more than just economic development Focus on improvements in quality of life - people AND place

C.D. as Process and Outcome

Process: developing and enhancing the ability to act collectively Outcome: 1) taking collective action and 2) the result of that action for improvement in a community in any or all realms: physical, environmental, cultural, social, political, economic, human. (example: Bunker Hill Community Co-op mobile homes)

Models of Community Development

Self-help • Process of "helping people help themselves" • CD practitioner as "Facilitator" with a neutral stance • May require community organizing groundwork, leadership development, ID of common goals Technical • "Input information/expertise for desired outcome" • CD practitioner as "Consultant"; focused on outcome • Can be expensive and disconnected from local assets Conflict • Lack of power as fundamental source of community issues • Focus on a single problem to organize around • CD practitioner as "Organizer/Advocate" • Can lead to polarization and lack of collaboration