Gene L. Theodori, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Extension Specialist for Community Development, & Associate Department Head Program in Rural Sociology & Community.

Gene L. Theodori, Ph.D.Gene L. Theodori, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Extension Specialist for Associate Professor, Extension Specialist for Community Development, & Associate Department Community Development, & Associate Department HeadHead

Program in Rural Sociology & Community StudiesProgram in Rural Sociology & Community Studies

Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism SciencesDepartment of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences

Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University

Moving From Moving From Vision To ActionVision To Action

Cute Ugly

Smart

Dumb

1 2

34

IndividualsIndividuals

Active Not Active

Conscious

Not Conscious

CommunitiesCommunities

1 2

34

Active Not Active

Conscious

Not Conscious

CommunitiesCommunities

1 2

34

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

Working Definition Working Definition of Communityof Community

Elements of Elements of a Local Societya Local Society

A geographic dimensionA geographic dimensionphysical spacephysical space

Human life dimensionHuman life dimensionpeople living therepeople living there

Relatively complete organizationRelatively complete organizationinstitutions and patterns of institutions and patterns of behaviors that cover the broad behaviors that cover the broad range of human interestsrange of human interests

Social FieldsSocial FieldsProcess of social interactionProcess of social interaction

ActionsActions

AssociationsAssociations

ActorsActors

the projects, programs, activities, the projects, programs, activities, and/or eventsand/or events

the formal organizations and the formal organizations and informal groupsinformal groups

the leaders and other persons the leaders and other persons participating in associations and participating in associations and actionsactions

EducationEducation

GovernmentGovernment

Environmental protectionEnvironmental protection

EconomyEconomy

Faith-basedFaith-based

RecreationRecreation


EducationEducation

RecreationRecreationEnvironmental protectionEnvironmental protection

EconomyEconomy

Action

Generalizatio

nGovernmentGovernment


EducationEducation

RecreationRecreationEnvironmental protectionEnvironmental protection

EconomyEconomy

Action

Generalizatio

nGovernmentGovernment

Community Community isis notnot a a given.given.

Community Community isis a a variable.variable.

Community DevelopmentCommunity Development

Community developmentCommunity development: a : a processprocess of building and of building and strengthening the community.strengthening the community.


PurposivePurposive

PositivePositive

Structure orientedStructure oriented

Exists in efforts of peopleExists in efforts of people

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


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


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


Community development exists Community development exists in the in the effortsefforts of people and not of people and not necessarily in goal necessarily in goal achievementachievement. .

Simply stated, community Simply stated, community development is purposive development is purposive action undertaken with action undertaken with positive intentions at positive intentions at improving community improving community structure.structure.



Development Development inin community community

Development Development ofof community community

- Task accomplishment- Task accomplishment

- Structure building- Structure building

Principles ofPrinciples ofCommunity DevelopmentCommunity Development

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

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


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


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


Sustained community Sustained community development requires an development requires an organizational structure.organizational structure.


Community development requires Community development requires communication.communication.


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


Kenneth P. Wilkinson. 1968. “The Kenneth P. Wilkinson. 1968. “The Community: Its Structure and Community: Its Structure and Process.” Pp. 86–90 in Eileen Zuber, Process.” Pp. 86–90 in Eileen Zuber, Steve Nelson, and A.E. Luloff, 1998, Steve Nelson, and A.E. Luloff, 1998, Community: A Biography in Honor of Community: A Biography in Honor of the Life and Work of Ken Wilkinsonthe Life and Work of Ken Wilkinson. . University Park, PA: The Northeast University Park, PA: The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Regional Center for Rural Development.Development.

Credit for “Principles ofCredit for “Principles ofCommunity Development”Community Development”

Stages of Community-Based Stages of Community-Based PlanningPlanning1.1. InitiationInitiation

2.2. Organization of sponsorshipOrganization of sponsorship

3.3. Visioning, goal setting, Visioning, goal setting, and and strategy formationstrategy formation

4.4. RecruitmentRecruitment

5.5. ImplementationImplementation

6.6. EvaluationEvaluation

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

InitiationInitiation

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

Organization of Organization of SponsorshipSponsorship

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

Visioning, Goal Setting,Visioning, Goal Setting, and Strategy Formationand Strategy Formation

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

RecruitmentRecruitment

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

ImplementationImplementation

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

EvaluationEvaluation