Learning Objectives

2. Learning Objectives • Define community and how it has changed over time. • Explore the underlying assumptions of community development work. • Define community development and its role as a process for addressing change in community. • Link concepts of community and community development to Extension work.

3. Learning Objectives cont. • Develop an understanding of the various roles Extension educators can play in communities. • Identify the principles that guide the practice of community development process. • Define the Community Capitals concept. • Identify the community development process.

4. Communities Have Changed There have been many changes in our communities over recent years. What are some of these changes?

5. Community Issues • School financing • Adult education • Local taxes and government financing • Employment • Retail businesses • Adequate, affordable housing • Land use issues

6. Community (Public) Issues • Community issues are complex • Community issues affect large number people • Community issues are interdependent with other issues • Decisions are made by a public body • Decisions result in public policy (regulation, ordinance, expenditure of public resources) that will affect the community

7. Community (Public) Issues • The context for this series is the community as a whole, as a “unit of analysis” rather than an individual or organization.

8. Extension’s Role in Community Work • Extension’s work in communities is not new. It has been a part of Extension’s mission since 1914. What has evolved over time is that community development has become more professionally defined.

9. Understanding Community • Think about your community. • What are the characteristics that make your community a community?

10. Defining Community • Community includes three elements: • Territory or place • Social organizations or institutions that provide regular interaction among residents • Social interaction on matters concerning a common interest. -- Definition by Kenneth Wilkinson (1991)

11. Defining Community • These three elements of community (place, social systems that provide regular interaction, and matters of common interest) are increasingly separate.

12. Defining Community • Based on your experiences of working in communities • What are some of the changing aspects of community? • Why have these elements separated over time?

13. Defining Community Development What is community development?

14. Defining Community Development A processthrough which people and communitiesacquire the attitudes, skills and abilities for active participation in creating meaningful futures and dealing with community issues. -- Community Development Academy, University of Missouri

15. Underlying Values & Assumptions • What are the underlying values and assumptions we make when we talk about community and community development?

16. Community Development free and open participation Right to affect our environment right to be heard CD Principles right to participate accurate information understanding is basis for change

17. Principles of Good Practice • Promote active and representative participation toward enabling all community members to meaningfully influence the decisions that affect their lives. • Engage community members in learning about and understanding community issues, and the economic, social, environmental, political, psychological, and other impacts associated with alternative courses of action.   

18. Principles of Good Practice • Incorporate the diverse interests and cultures of the community in the community development process; and disengage from support of any effort that is likely to adversely affect the disadvantaged members of a community. • Work actively to enhance the leadership capacity of community members, leaders, and groups within the community.

19. Principles of Good Practice • Be open to using the full range of action strategies to work toward the long-term sustainability and well being of the community.

20. Community Interaction Community Society Strong Sense of Community Strong Sense of the Primacy of the Individual

21. Community Interaction • Another way to look at community interaction are the strength of ties or social capital: • Internal ties within the community • External ties outside the community How have these changed over time? Have increasing external linkages strengthened or weakened communities?

22. Community Interaction • How do we think about our work in communities? • The community is something external to us and to be acted on, predicted and managed. • We are the community and create it through our ongoing processes of interaction. • Do you consider yourself an insider or outsider in the communities you work? Domahidy, M. (2003). Using theory to frame community and practice. Journal of the Community Development Society, 34(1), 75-84.

23. Community Interaction Community Capitals Model Cornelia Butler Flora, North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, Jan Flora, Iowa State University,2004.

24. Turning Community Assets into Capitals • According to C. Flora community assets become capital when they are invested. • Natural capital – assets that abide in a location • Cultural capital – reflects the way people “know the world” and how to act within it • Human capital – skills & abilities of people to develop and enhance their resources

25. Turning Community Assets into Capitals • Social capital – connections among people & organizations to make things happen Bonding social capital – close ties that build community cohesion. Bridging social capital – weak ties that bridge among organizations, agencies, communities

26. Turning Community Assets into Capitals • Political capital – access to power and power brokers • Financial capital – financial resources available to invest in community • Built capital – infrastructure that supports the community

27. Community Development Process establish organizing group identify who is to be included celebrate success Community Development Process Collect /analyze information review and evaluate create purpose implement action plan develop vision and goals develop action plan expand the organization

28. Reflection Questions • What communities am I a part of in my work? • How do I relate to community—am I an insider or an outsider? • How do I define community development in my work? • What are the principles that guide my interactions with people in my community work?

29. References • Adams, J.R., Jeanetta, S.C., Leuci, M.S., & Stallman, J. (2004, September). Building communities from the grassroots. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Extension. • Community Development Society. (1998) Principles of good practice. http://www.comm-dev.org

30. References • Domahidy, M. (2003). Using theory to frame community and practice. Journal of the Community Development Society, 34(1), 75-84. • Green, G.P. & Haines, A. (2003). Asset building and community development. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications.

31. References • Keller, S. (2003). Community: Pursing the dream, living the reality. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. • Tönnes, F. (1957) Community and Society. (C.P. Loomis, Trans.). East Lansing, Michigan: Michigan State University Press. (Original work published 1887)

32. Next Session • February 9, 2006 • Community Demographics • Christine Nolan • The ability to understand the demographic profile and trends in a community is essential to identifying issues and sustainable alternatives.