ust city grows
boodkvokhari
community_development.pptxCommunity Development
Community Development
Community development is a process where community members come together to take collective action and generate solutions to common problems.
Community wellbeing (economic, social, environmental and cultural) often evolves from this type of collective action being taken at a grassroots level.
Community development ranges from small initiatives within a small group to large initiatives that involve the broader community.
Community Development Corporations typically engage communities around these efforts.
Characteristics of Community Development
Effective community development should be:
long-term, sustained efforts,
well-planned,
inclusive and equitable,
holistic and integrated into the bigger picture,
initiated and supported by community members,
of benefit to the community,
grounded in experience that leads to best practices.
Community Development Goals
Community development is a grassroots process by which communities:
become more responsible,
organize and plan together,
acquire knowledge and skills,
create employment and economic opportunities,
achieve social, economic, cultural, educational, wellness, and environmental goals.
Quality of Life
Community development seeks to improve quality of life. Effective community development results in mutual benefit and shared responsibility among community members. Such development recognizes:
the connection between social, cultural, environmental and economic matters,
the diversity of interests within a community,
its relationship to building capacity.
Community Capacity
Community development helps to build community capacity in order to address issues and take advantage of opportunities, find common ground and balance competing interests. When communities are well organized, inclusive, influential and cohesive, they create a positive environment for people to enjoy a good quality of life.
If communities are to be fully engaged in discussions, decisions and actions around needs and problems, they need to have the ability to work on equal terms with service planners and providers.
If communities are to benefit from owning assets such as land, buildings, services and energy, they must have the capacity to manage and develop them.
What is Community?
Often when we think of community, we think in geographic terms. Our community is the city, town or village where we live. When community is defined through physical location, it has precise boundaries that are readily understood and accepted by others.
Defining communities in terms of geography is only one way of looking at them. Communities can also be defined by common cultural heritage, language, beliefs, or shared interests. These are sometimes called communities of interest.
Relationships, whether with people or the land, define a community for each individual.
Most of us belong to more than one community. List a few examples of “communities of interest” you are a part of.
What is Development?
The term “development” often carries an assumption of growth and expansion. During the industrial era, development was strongly connected to increased speed, volume and size.
However, many people are currently questioning the concept of growth for numerous reasons – a realization that more isn’t always better, or an increasing respect for reducing outside dependencies and lowering levels of consumerism.
So while the term “development” may not always mean growth, it always implies change.
Community development is about community building. The process is as important as the results.
Community Building
Community building is about people from the community, government, business and academia working together to take steps towards solutions to issues affecting their communities.
It is about:
understanding where the community is at,
what the community aspirations are,
what needs to happen to enable change to happen; and
adapting what has worked elsewhere and enlisting support from government and other partners to act together to create change.
Asset-Based Community Development
Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) is a movement that considers local assets as the primary building blocks of sustainable community development.
Building on the skills of local residents, the power of local associations, and the supportive functions of local institutions, asset-based community development draws upon existing community strengths to build stronger, more sustainable communities for the future.
ABCD uses a strength-based model (rather than deficit-based).
Assignment for Wednesday, April 26
Think about the Asset-based Community Development model applied to your geographic community.
Please list and describe 5 ASSETS (physical or social) found in your community. Describe what makes these assets strengths.
Submit this 250-300 word written response to the ABCD in My Community assignment link on the homepage.
