Showing papers in "Community Development Journal in 2006"

Community development and the politics of community

Abstract: In a context in which ‘community empowerment’ is virtually government policy, it is hardly surprising that there is almost no area of social policy that is immune from the community treatment. Of course, this is not new, despite the zeal with which each new initiative is ‘rolled out’. In fact, sometimes it seems that policy development needs to reinvent the wheel of community every decade or so. The question, therefore, is what this ideological recycling of community tells us: first, about the meaning of the term itself; second, about its contemporary significance within the wider politics of the state. This article argues that we need to draw on those historical and theoretical resources which help us to think our way through to the contemporary context. Only an active and engaged recognition of the politics of community will enable us to get to the root of the problematic yet promising nature of community development.

Social capital, the social economy and community development

Abstract: Social capital is increasingly used in the field of community development and the social economy. This article describes some of the results to emerge from a three-year research project (CONSCISE Project), which looked at the contribution social capital can make to the social economy within local economic development. Following the definition of social capital, the article examines how it can be assessed and then goes on to list the main findings on the significance of social capital in the understanding of the social economy and community development. It concludes with a number of policy implications on how social capital can be used within the context of community development. The term ‘social capital’ is becoming ubiquitous and there is hardly an article on the social economy and community development that does not use the term. But what is it? Can we measure it and, more importantly, is it useful to organizations and to individuals working in the social economy and in community development? In this article, I shall define social capital and show its importance in developing the social economy and the increasing role it plays in our understanding of community development.

Using a ‘domains’ approach to build community empowerment

Abstract: This paper provides two case study examples of how community empowerment can be better conceptualized, planned and applied within a programme context by using a 'domains' approach. What is new about this approach is that it does not start with a blank slate onto which participants inscribe their own problems or needs but provides a predetermined focus through each of nine 'empowerment domains': Improves participation; Develops local leadership; Increases problem assessment capacities; Enhances the ability to 'ask why'; Builds empowering organizational structures; Improves resource mobilization; Strengthens links to other organizations and people; Creates an equitable relationship with outside agents; and Increases control over programme management. The importance to community development practice is that the approach provides a more systematic means for community empowerment in a programme context.

An analysis of citizen participation in anti-poverty programmes

Abstract: This article explores citizen participation, describing levels, forms and benefits of participation by local community members. In particular, it analyses citizen involvement in anti-poverty programmes, drawing on primary research in Jamaica, where a social fund forms a major plank of the national government's policy and programme to reduce poverty. Using naturalistic inquiry methods, the research sought evidence of citizen participation in social fund subprojects aimed at improving community infrastructure and social services and strengthening community organizations. This article discusses four types of participation revealed by the research and the implications for community-level approaches to economic improvement and social change.

Can participatory research be a route to empowerment? A case study of a disadvantaged Scottish community

Abstract: The growth of participatory research in recent years has been notable. This paper considers its potential for empowering disadvantaged communities and providing a route for overcoming social exclusion. Problems of definition and key challenges for undertaking participatory research are reviewed based upon work undertaken in a deprived community in Scotland. Opportunities exist for researchers and community developers together to develop participatory approaches. A principal role for researchers is in bridging the gap between service users and policy makers, funders and other service providers by working with service users to demonstrate the impact of social exclusion. The authors conclude that participatory research merits close attention as long as its difficulties are acknowledged. © Oxford University Press and Community Development Journal. 2007 All rights reserved.

Case study of grassroots community development: sustainable, flexible and cost-effective responses to local needs

Abstract: This paper presents the results of a case study of a grassroots commu- nity development initiative in St. John, New Brunswick. It was part of a larger study designed to investigate the sustainability of community- based crime prevention activities. This case study highlights a unique strategy for addressing local community needs. The lessons learned in St. John address many of the common challenges related to community development such as community mobilization, capacity building, plan- ning, partnerships and sustainability. Some attention is also directed at the role of government and non-governmental agencies in community- based initiatives since this represents an ongoing concern for those involved in community development.

Whose problem? Disability narratives and available identities

Abstract: In this article, the author demonstrates that contemporary cultural disability discourses offer few positive resources for people with impairments to draw upon in constructing positive personal and social identities. Examining the emergence of the Disability Arts Movement in Britain, consideration is given to alternative discourses developed by disabled people who have resisted the passive roles expected of them and developed a disability identity rooted in notions of power, respect and control. It is suggested that these alternative discourses provide an empowering rather than a disabling basis for community development and community arts practice and should be embraced by workers in these fields.

Two cultures: one life

Abstract: Recognition of the communal nature of the culture and traditions of many refugees who have resettled in Australia in recent years, particularly those from African countries, has urged a stronger consideration of community-based approaches to their recovery and resettlement. In 2004, a framework of recovery, developed to enhance the mental health and well-being of refugees during resettlement in Australia, was applied to a community capacity-building programme among South Sudanese refugees living in an outer western suburb of Melbourne. This paper explores the integration of recovery goals into the structures and processes initiated throughout the programme. It assesses the contribution of this model to strengthening the community's ability to adjust to resettlement and enable greater control in determining their lives in Australia.

The historical context of community development in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract: Community development in Aotearoa New Zealand can be conceptu- alized as three concurrent processes such as (1), statutory work undertaken by the State through central government departments and local authorities (consisting of a system of legislation, funding assist- ance to individuals, groups and organizations and the provision of social services), (2) social change processes undertaken primarily through the collective action of individuals, groups and organizations that give voice to marginalized groups and communities and (3) the forces of change within Tangata Whenua communities working for tino rangatiratanga, self determination. Three time-periods are identi- fied to help structure the discussion that begins from 1840, the time of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi between the Queen of England and Maori, the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand, signalling the birth of modern Aotearoa New Zealand. This paper argues that community development as policy and the practice (meth- odology) of social change through organizing, coordinating and initiat- ing activities that enhance the wellbeing of individuals, groups and communities is more than 'pedagogy of the oppressed' and, therefore, cannot be conceptualized simply in terms of 'resistance'. It is a holistic process of transformation encompassing socio-economic, political, cultural, environmental and spiritual dimensions.

Engagement, but for what kind of marriage?: community members and local planning authorities

Abstract: In recent years there has been an international trend to encourage greater participation by community members in making decisions over local developments. A small study of the experiences of community activists residing in the City of Moreland (Australia) indicates that existing political and economic structures are neither flexible nor supportive of greater, substantive, democracy. Indeed the kinds of barriers reported at the grassroots suggest that deep reforms in the traditional patterns of engagement between political and bureaucratic authorities and neighbourhood communities are necessary in order to enhance the power of community members. This analysis of community engagement practices draws a parallel between the multi-various scales of struggles necessitated for women's liberation and the breadth of reforms necessary for neighbourhood residents to achieve greater power in decision making over local developments.

Living apart or together? Multiculturalism at a neighbourhood level

Abstract: Dutch urban renewal policies aim to engineer a mixture of different income groups in previously working-class neighbourhoods. The underlying notion is that such a social mix will improve the 'liveability' of the neighbourhood and that the more affluent residents will prevent the poorest from falling into a culture of poverty. As a result of this policy, the composition of the population in such neighbourhoods has changed and one can distinguish between the so-called native Dutch, immigrants, and 'newcomers,' who face problems in living together and sharing public spaces. This paper discusses the dynamics between the different groups in a Dutch neighbourhood, including its norms and values, and the role of intervening agencies. © 2006 Oxford University Press.

Meta-analysing community action projects in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract: The current Labour Government in Aotearoa 1 New Zealand has over- seen a revival of interest in devolved community decision-making and a burgeoning of locality-based community action and community development projects. This paper reports on a meta-analysis of ten community action projects. The activation, consolidation and transi- tion or completion stages of the projects were examined to identify commonalities in structures and processes that either enhanced or impeded the projects meeting their objectives for social change. The importance of processes for critical reflection, the analysis of power dynamics between stakeholders, and recognition of the social, cultural and historical context of a project's genesis will be discussed.

Accessible Rural Transportation: An Evaluation of the Traveler's Cheque Voucher Program

Abstract: This article reports on a study that examined the effectiveness of a voucher model of rural transportation for people with disabilities. The authors stress that the lack of transportation is one of the most significant and frequently reported problems affecting people with disabilities who live in rural communities and those who serve them. Ten community programs in ten states operated the voucher program over a four-year period to provide transportation to 588 adults with disabilities. Participants took a total of 92,587 rides covering a total of 1,018,391 miles at an average cost of 39 cents per mile. The rides were used primarily for employment and employment preparation, with 171 individuals securing either part-time or full-time employment through the program. The article outlines the use of the Traveler's Cheques used for vouchers, the funding details, and how the rural towns were able to organize the program. The authors conclude that the voucher program appears to be highly effective in helping people with disabilities in a wide variety of rural areas to develop and secure transportation. Simple, flexible, and easily implemented, this program respects consumer skills and creativity, and the community's capacity to respond to need. The authors also briefly report the perspectives of focus groups of participants who used the services.