What is Community Development?

• A collaborative, collective action taken by local people to enhance the long term social, economic, and environmental conditions of their community

What is Community Development?

• The primary goal of community development is to create a better overall quality of life for everyone in the community

Community Development is…

• When a community uses a process whereby people get together; communicate; identify priority needs; plan and take action to resolve problems and achieve outcomes which are desired by the community

In other words….

Is a Community Development Model

Steps in Community Development• Perceive a need• Organize• Plan• Agitate and Animate• Get the community behind you• Use all community resources at your

disposal• Involve the media• Keep it “Mom and Apple Pie”• Never Cry Wolf• Gauge Success and Adapt your plan• Share the fruits of your success

Steps in Community Development

Perceive a needUsually a blank space in the

community or something that is being threatened

Such as a Food Banka Women’s Shelter

Threatened InstitutionSuch as a Police Station Closure

Steps in Community Development

OrganizeFind people with like minded

viewsRally around the cause

Steps in Community Development

PlanMeetSharePlan

Be Aware

Steps in Community Development

Agitate ‘n’ AnimateGet into the Community and

Inform them of the problem and your planned solution

Use Mall Displays, Pamphlets, Posters, Loudspeakers on Cars

The INTERNET

Steps in Community Development

Use Community Resources

Approach Merchants, Service Clubs, Police, Firemen,

Media (TV-Radio-Press)

Steps in Community Development

Get the Community Behind You

Make sure everyone is on side or at least given the chance to

decide where on the issue they are!

Steps in Community Development

Involve the MediaIf the story is big they will come to

you. Don’t count on it.Be proactive but be prepared for

their needs.You have to make it easy for them to

do a story on you.

Steps in Community Development

Keep it“Mom & Apple

Pie”Usually blank space in the

community or something that is being threatened

Steps in Community Development

Never “Cry Wolf”

Don’t act prematurely or without everything you need.If you burn the community once they will never forget.

Steps in Community Development

Gauge SuccessAnd Adapt Plans

Usually blank space in the community or something that is

being threatened

Steps in Community Development

Share VictoriesIf you are fortunate to win,

Be gracious in victory.Invite everyone to celebrate

even your opponents.