What is community development?rnCommunity development is a process where agencies support community members to identify and take collective action on important issues. As a result, community development empowers community members and creates more robust and more connected communities.rnCommunity development is a holistic approach grounded in empowerment, human rights, inclusion, social justice, self-determination and collective action (Kenny, 2007). Community development considers community members to be experts in their lives and communities and values community knowledge and wisdom. Community development programs are led by community members at every stage - from deciding on issues to selecting and implementing actions and evaluation. Community development has an explicit focus on the redistribution of power to address the causes of inequality and disadvantage.
rnPeople talk about community development in many different ways. Neighbourhood and Community Centre Coordinators have described community development as:
planning servicesrnservicing self help groupsrnrunning support and social action groupsrnbuilding community networksrnparticipating in inter-agency meetingsrnundertaking needs assessmentrnincreasing people's skillsrnresourcing the community to meet needsrnimproving quality of liferndefining prioritiesrnworking towards social justicernempowering individuals and communities.rnSeveral uses of Community DevelopmenrnWhat are the principles of community development?
rnCommunity Engagement For any community development project to succeed, a project must have the support of its community, right from the start. How do you gauge this? How do you put this into action? Leadership Not only must each initiative have community buy-in, it must also have one or more leaders—those who champion the effort from day to day and whose job it is to make sure it succeeds. Who makes ideal leaders for your project? How can you become a leader yourself?rnCollaboration A successful community development project isn’t the work of a single individual or even a handful of people; it takes a village to bring a project to fruition. Knowing how to collaborate and with whom to network to build a successful team is a critical part of any community development project. Which organizations are the best collaborative partners for your initiative?rnEvaluation How do you build a strong project plan that clearly articulates your intended goals and outcomes? What are funders looking for before choosing to invest?rnFind out more about today’s data-driven decision-making environment and tools, and its impact on your business planning.rnAdaptability What tools are available to get your project financed? What happens when funding gaps exist? As any veteran of this work knows, projects rarely go asrnplanned. People move, missions change and funding sources dry up. But that doesn’t mean good initiatives need to be canceled or put on hold. Find out how flexibility andrnresilience are often the answer to the question,“How did this community development project finally get off the ground?”rnHowever, there are some barriers/obstacles in community development:rnEleven constraints, including the paternalistic posture of authorities, prescriptive role of the state, embellishment of successes, selective participation, inattention to negative results, hardâissue bias, intra/interâgroup conflicts, gateâkeeping by leaders, excessive pressures for immediate results, lack of interest, population size, and belief systemsrnAre you interested in pursuing a career in community development?rnAs the world is changing, we need to change with it. Enhance your leadership skills to meet today's challenges with a master's in community development degree.
rnTop Community Development Courses offered by institutions.rn1.
Masters in Applied Community Development By Future Generations UniversityrnFuture Generations University helps people learn to shape better futures for their communities and the world. Learn from our faculty of experts the interdisciplinary field of Applied Community Development, start, and scale up community-driven change that is inclusive and sustainable.rn1. Master in Community Development and Social Innovation By Keystone master studiesrnStarting from the UN sustainable development goals, this master's program in Community Development and Social Innovation offers a platform for learning about cooperation and leading for change.
rn1. Master's in Community Development and Planning By Clarke UniversityrnIn Clark's Community Development and Planning program, students learn about the relations between power and capital that produce inequity; They know how to use this knowledge to build partnerships and capacity in people, places, organizations, and institutions to promote structural change.rn1. Community Development and Action (M.Ed.) From Peabody CollegernLead social change and transform the world. The master's degree in Community Development and Action (CDA) combines theory, research, and practice to equip you to become a change agent in organizations and communities that support positive human development.rnThe Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Community Development and Action is a two-year graduate program. It is through the Department of Human and Organizational Development. It attracts students from around the world committed to learning how to create positive, community-level change.