Gene L. Theodori, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Extension Specialist for Community Development, & Associate Department Head Program in Rural Sociology & Community Studies Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences Texas A&M University Moving From Vision To Action

CuteUgly Smart Dumb Individuals

ActiveNot Active Conscious Not Conscious Communities

ActiveNot Active Conscious Not Conscious Communities

Community: a place-oriented process of interrelated actions through which members of a local population express a shared sense of identity while engaging in the common concerns of life. Working Definition of Community

Elements of a Local Society A geographic dimension physical space Human life dimension people living there Relatively complete organization institutions and patterns of behaviors that cover the broad range of human interests

Social Fields Process of social interaction Actions Associations Actors the projects, programs, activities, and/or events the formal organizations and informal groups the leaders and other persons participating in associations and actions

Education Government Environmental protection Economy Faith-based Recreation

Faith-based Education Recreation Economy Action Generalization Government

Faith-based Education Recreation Environmental protection Economy Action Generalization Government Community is not a given. Community is a variable.

Community Development Community development: a process of building and strengthening the community.

Community Development Purposive Positive Structure oriented Exists in efforts of people

Community development is purposive. It is the intentional consequence of actors engaging in associational actions to initiate and maintain community. Community Development

Community development is positive. The purposive intentions of the actors revolve around a shared commitment to improving their community. Community Development

Community development is structure oriented. The purposive and positive actions of actors are direct attempts to establish and/or strengthen the community as an interlinking and coordinating structure of human relationships. Community Development

Community development exists in the efforts of people and not necessarily in goal achievement. Simply stated, community development is purposive action undertaken with positive intentions at improving community structure. Community Development

Development in community Development of community - Task accomplishment - Structure building

Principles of Community Development The long-term theme of community development should be to develop the community as a human relationship structure, rather than to develop things in or through the community.

Community development must reflect and express the values and wishes of the local population. Principles of Community Development

Community development requires a commitment on the part of special interest groups to align their efforts with those of other groups. Principles of Community Development

Community development requires that attention be given continuously to problems and needs in all areas of local life. Principles of Community Development

Sustained community development requires an organizational structure. Principles of Community Development

Community development requires communication. Principles of Community Development

Community development requires a commitment beyond selfish gain, at least by a small number of people in any community who can really make it work. Principles of Community Development

Kenneth P. Wilkinson “The Community: Its Structure and Process.” Pp. 86–90 in Eileen Zuber, Steve Nelson, and A.E. Luloff, 1998, Community: A Biography in Honor of the Life and Work of Ken Wilkinson. University Park, PA: The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development. Credit for “Principles of Community Development”

Stages of Community-Based Planning 1.Initiation 2.Organization of sponsorship 3.Visioning, goal setting, and strategy formation 4.Recruitment 5.Implementation 6.Evaluation

Involves generating widespread consciousness of an issue among various fields of interest in a community. Initiation

Involves the formation of multi-interest networks and inter-organizational linkages to coordinate and integrate actions within and across the various social fields. Organization of Sponsorship

Involves developing a vision, short-term and long-range goals, and strategies that transcend the special interests of particular social fields. Visioning, Goal Setting, and Strategy Formation

Involves building cohesion, encouraging participation, developing new leaders and leadership skills, and coordinating actions. Recruitment

Involves building, strengthening, and maintaining the structure of the community field. Implementation

Involves identifying and celebrating specific outputs and/or outcomes of the process. Evaluation