Directory of Community Building Resources

Home > Society > Activism > Community Building

Community building has come to refer to a variety of intentional efforts to (a) organize and strengthen social connections or (b) build common values that promote collective goals. Literally, community building means building more community (an interim goal) as a way of achieving some set of desired outcomes (safer neighborhoods, healthier children and families, better-preserved cultural traditions, more profitable businesses, and so forth). While specific meanings vary widely depending on context, community building emphasizes the beneficial aspects of key processes (actions) that shape relationships, values, psychological attachment, and other aspects of community. As such, community building bears important connections to community organizing and community development." (Xavier de Souza Briggs) This category is for groups which directly build community and for groups which enable community building and maintenance, through actions such as providing grants or feedback. It also includes sites which discuss, criticize, or study "community".

Subcategories

• Saul Alinsky

Resources in This Category

• A Case Study of Electronic Community Building in a Freshman Dorm

  http://www.stanford.edu/~holeton/wired-frosh/
  Study of how Stanford college students living together use and perceive electronic communication as a tool for critical dialogue and community building.

• Berkana Institute

  http://www.berkana.org/
  This US-based nonprofit promotes "leadership development" projects based on community conversations on issues of interest. They provide much high-level discussion of their methodology.

• Common Focus

  http://www.commonfocus.org/
  A nonprofit organization dedicated to providing resources for community building and creative citizen dialogue and engagement.

• Community Building Institute (CBI)

  http://communitybuildinginstitute.org/
  Founded to help communities improve the way they conduct public business to be more inclusive, more collaborative, and more effective. Based in Annandale, Virginia.

• Community Consultation: Best Practice

  http://angelfire.com/home/consultation/firstpage/consultationlinks.htm
  Annotated listing of best practice community consultation, consumer participation, community development and qualitative analysis tools, practices and theories.

• Conversation Cafe

  http://www.conversationcafe.org/
  Includes the background of this structured form of conversation, with a list of existing cafe groups, and information and resources about how to start a new one.

• Global Citizens Circle

  http://www.globalcitizenscircle.org/
  Sponsors town meeting-style discussions led by a diverse community of world dignitaries, which focus on current global issues, with a goal of constructive change. Describes organizations history, with details of past program topics and leaders.

• National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation

  http://www.thataway.org/
  Organizations and individuals committed to strengthening and uniting the growing dialogue and deliberation field.

• National Park Service - Civic Engagement

  http://www.nps.gov/civic/
  US agency offers resources and case studies for using historic sites as venues for civic dialogue on sensitive topics, along with calendar of events.

• Shelterforce Online

  http://www.shelterforce.org/
  Online version the nation's oldest continually-published housing and community development magazine. A primary forum for organizers, activists, and advocates in the affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization movements.

• The Citizen's Handbook

  http://www.citizenshandbook.org/
  Community organizing handbook designed for use in urban settings. Created by Vancouver, B.C. group.

• The World Cafe

  http://www.theworldcafe.com/
  This process for leading collaborative dialogue and knowledge-sharing, particularly for larger groups, is described, with a bibliography and resources for implementation.

• Tom Wolff and Associates

  http://www.tomwolff.com/
  US-based consultant offers services in collaboration-building and community planning. Provides overview of experience and philosophy, with client list, resource links, and description of areas of work.

Related Categories

• Home > Computers > Internet > On the Web > Online Communities
• Home > Science > Environment > Sustainability > Community Sustainability
• Home > Science > Social Sciences > Urban and Regional Planning > Community and Economic Development
• Home > Society > Lifestyle Choices > Intentional Communities
• Home > Society > Religion and Spirituality > Community

 

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