Community Development Efforts Research Articles

Toward a Beloved Community: Facilitated Group Listening as a Tool for Community Development and Civic Engagement

Toward a Beloved Community: Facilitated Group Listening as a Tool for Community Development and Civic Engagement

What compels bipartisan lawmakers to support coral reef legislation in the U.S. Congress

As coral reef ecosystems disappear at an alarming rate, the United States and the wider world need bold policy action to stop the loss of climate sensitive ecosystems like coral reefs. How are coral reef conservation policies making it onto the policy agenda? This research analyzes the rationale behind partisan policy-maker support for conservation of climate-vulnerable ecosystems. Using public policy theory that focused on theories of communication including framing and ambiguity, the authors evaluated 137 policy documents from three cases of conservation policy at international, national, and subnational scales. This research finds that legislators from different political parties have two main rationales for supporting coral reef conservation policy: ideas of governance and economics. Coral reefs are used by legislators to showcase their capacity to enact governance in a bipartisan way. Lawmakers from both parties increasingly prioritize grass roots or community-based conservation conservation as their preferred institutional framework for governance as seen in our data. For economic rationale, lawmakers emphasize community development efforts that complement coral reef conservation. Other significant predictors of rationale for support for coral reef conservation policy include lawmakers belonging to the Democratic Party, possessing a long-term liberal ideology, and coming from states that have coral reefs or coastlines.This study proposes a new model of why decision-makers support conservation policy which includes the presence of agreement on governance, human well-being, economics, geography, home ecosystems amid differing political parties. This research provides evidence of how conservation policy agendas are set despite gridlock in legislatures, and how more controversial policies (e.g. those that address climate change) may come to be included on the future agenda.

“We’re all in the same boat”: The role of group physical activity in community (re) development following a natural disaster

ABSTRACT After the 2018 Camp Fire decimated the town of Paradise, California, a group physical activity (PA) program was developed to support the community. The PARADISEU program (Physical Activity Reduces Anxiety and Depression Increases the Stress Response and Energizes You) was based on evidence that participating in PA has the potential to positively impact mental health. The current study explored the potential of PA programs to assist in individual and community growth and (re)development efforts following a natural disaster using a qualitative case-study method. Fourteen participants in the community PA program were interviewed. From their experiences, four themes emerged: benefits of physical exercise, a sense of place, social connection, and importance of leadership in the group PA classes for creating community. A composite vignette shares participants’ experiences surrounding these themes. This study provides valuable information for future community development in post-disaster recovery scenarios.

Urban community development: Reviewing non-profit impact in the USA and Africa

Urban community development: Reviewing non-profit impact in the USA and Africa

The Influence of Community Drought Risk Management on Community Development in Tiaty Constituency, Kenya

Climate change contributed to an increase in the rate of disasters, particularly those with meteorological origins. This study assessed community drought risk management strategies and community development in Tiaty Constituency, Kenya. The objective was to determine the influence of disaster risk reduction programs in promoting community development in the area, grounded in the Environmental Community Development Theory. A mixed-methods research approach was adopted, with a target population of 12,153 people. The sample size comprised 395 respondents selected using stratified sampling techniques. Statistical Analysis Software version 25 was utilized for data analysis. Descriptive statistics were conducted to offer descriptive features of the study variables, with quantitative survey data expressed as mean averages. The study revealed that risk reduction programs focusing on environmental conservation and sustainable practices contributed to the long-term sustainability of communities in Tiaty Constituency. It was found that building community resilience extended beyond disaster management and contributed to overall community development, aimed at achieving sustainable self-reliance. The findings highlighted the significant positive impact of drought risk reduction programs in aiding community development and resilience-building efforts. Based on the comprehensive findings, the study recommended prioritizing and expanding risk reduction programs, with a specific focus on environmental conservation, social cohesion, and community participation in hazard assessment, to inform planning and decision-making processes.

Association between subjective well‐being and cognition of neighborhood places: An online questionnaire study conducted in the Tokyo metropolitan area

AbstractImproving individuals' subjective well‐being has become a focus of policymaking globally in recent times. The current study examined the association between cognition of neighborhood places and subjective well‐being, with the aim of informing urban planning and community development efforts to improve the latter. An online questionnaire was distributed among residents in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and 2600 individuals responded. Regression analysis showed that respondents with greater neighborhood awareness and higher levels of education and household income exhibited better subjective well‐being. Moreover, psychological distress, loneliness, and sense of coherence were observed to be associated with amount of cognition of neighborhood places. Another regression analysis revealed that amount of cognition of neighborhood places was associated with education levels and household income independently, suggesting the possibility of amount of cognition of neighborhood places playing a mediatory role in health disparities, a global public health concern. The findings of the current study suggest that urban planning and community development policies should aim to increase individuals' amount of cognition of neighborhood places by improving accessibility and providing information on the history, available facilities, and culture of their neighborhood. These measures should also be conducted in areas with residents from lower socioeconomic strata.

NEIGHBORHOOD ENVIRONMENT AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS OF OLDER ADULTS IN URBAN AND RURAL CHINA : A MODEL OF SOCIAL CAPITAL

Abstract Depression is a significant mental health issue among older adults worldwide. This study aimed to examine the mechanisms linking neighborhood environment to depressive symptoms among Chinese older adults and how other levels of social environment influence this relationship. Using data from the China Family Panel Studies, mediation and moderated mediation models were tested among 3,483 urban and 3,812 rural adults aged 60+ years. Results showed that community-level social capital (trust, reciprocity, belonging) partially mediated the association between built neighborhood environment and depressive symptoms in both urban and rural areas. The indirect pathway linking neighborhood environment to fewer depressive symptoms through community social capital was more evident when older adults reported less society social capital, suggesting a compensatory relationship between these two types of social capital. However, this relationship was significant only for urban older adults. The findings highlight the importance of distinguishing different levels of older adults’ social environment. Fostering community social capital through improving neighborhood walkability, safety, and amenities could benefit older adults’ mental health. Community development efforts may play a compensatory role for urban older adults lacking societal-level social resources.

Black Arts/West and the ironies of development in Seattle’s ‘Other America’

ABSTRACT It is now commonplace to weave arts initiatives into community planning and development efforts. One historical foundation for this practice was the U.S. federal Model Cities programme, which promoted a role for the arts in the demonstration projects it funded. The reasons and purposes for doing so were worked out not by federal officials, but by funded projects on the ground in specific places. This essay tells the story of a federally funded performing arts programme in Seattle – Black Arts/West – and the intellectual landscape its supporters navigated to make a case for art’s role in neighbourhood development. That case was based on a belief that the Black Arts could contribute not only job training and consumer dollars to neighbourhood development, but also a cosmopolitan vision of a welcoming and diverse city. Ironically, even as Black Arts/West helped root the Black Arts in Seattle’s Central Area, it helped establish ways of thinking about the arts and diversity that would contribute to the neighbourhood’s gentrification.

Basic Counseling and Emotional Regulation Training for Guwosari Village Cadres in Bantul Yogyakarta

Purpose: This research focuses on addressing challenges in Guwosari Village by enhancing the counselling skills of village cadres and providing emotional regulation training.
 Method: The research utilized a community service approach to achieve its objectives. It involved training sessions to enhance the counselling skills of Guwosari Village cadres and provided emotional regulation training. Data collection methods included participant observation and pre-and post-training assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.
 Practical Applications: The study's outcomes benefit Guwosari Village and similar communities, aiding in community development and cadre performance. By enhancing the counselling skills of village cadres, this research contributes to the improvement of community development efforts.
 Conclusion: This research underscores the significance of equipping village cadres with essential counselling skills and emotional regulation abilities. It has practical implications for community development and the well-being of cadres, ultimately contributing to the betterment of Guwosari Village and similar communities.

Enlivening popular education in community development: Action research with neighborhood Centres and Landcare groups in Australia

ABSTRACT This article, drawing on an action research project, argues for the revitalized use of two under-utilized practice frameworks for community development in the pursuit of social change. The two frameworks – Participatory Development Practice and the Spiral Model of Community Education – support a citizen-led approach to practice, one that focuses on the relational and dialogical elements of group processes. Starting with stories of citizens’ lived experiences, a structural or community analysis about the root causes of oppression is enabled and supports community action that can be sustained over time. Findings from the action research showed that groups benefitted from foregrounding their own need for social sustainability and that the educational approach of Freire helped them shift from an antagonistic conflict mode to a dialogical or agonistic conflict mode which created confidence to engage in difficult conversations supporting their community development efforts.

Communication Competency and Positive Communication Among Women in Bihar, India: A Case Study of Heifer International’s Community Development Efforts

ABSTRACT Nonprofit humanitarian organizations work to alleviate poverty and are evaluated in part on their effectiveness in doing so. One such organization is Heifer International, a global humanitarian nonprofit whose mission is to “end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth.” In this study, we assessed the impact of Heifer International’s Values-Based Holistic Community Development approach on beneficiaries’ interpersonal communication competency and positive communication behaviors. The article offers a cross-sectional study of 815 women in Bihar India across four-time periods: baseline, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months. Compared to baseline, participants reported higher levels of positive communication behaviors and interpersonal communication competence across 6, 12, and 24 months. Implications of these findings for future research are offered.

The role of community capital in rural renewal

ABSTRACT The community capitals framework was developed to evaluate community development efforts by taking stock of existing assets and examining how various types of capital are invested within a community. For rural communities with narrow prospects for dramatic, high-dollar development opportunities, the framework provides a promising alternative strategy, allowing communities to focus instead on the smaller, incremental approaches that can slowdown economic decline and potentially lead toward sustainable renewal. In this paper, we use a wide assortment of publicly available data sources to quantify each type of capital across a study area of 1,442 counties in 17 states. We then employ a set of OLS regression models to estimate the relationship between community capital levels and county job creation rates from 2010 to 2019. Our results highlight numerous findings with implications for how rural counties may adjust their approach toward community development.

Community Empowerment in the New Normal Period Through the Utilization of Information Technology

Purpose: This study aims to see how community empowerment is carried out using technology and information in the new normal period. When the pandemic finally begins to pass and enters the new normal period, it is at this time that community empowerment can start to be developed again. Community development and optimization efforts are part of community empowerment. Theoretical framework: The idea is that every individual and every civilization has the potential to develop, which indicates that no individual or society is powerless. Design/Methodology/Approach: This research will be carried out using a qualitative approach and a literature review method. The research data that has been collected will be analyzed carefully using qualitative analysis techniques. Findings: This study found that technology has been widely applied in various fields. Meanwhile, the empowerment of the community by using information technology can be seen in the Village, UMKM, and Cyber Libraries; International Tourism Village; learning the Qur’an online; using appropriate technology to overcome various daily problems in the community. Research, Practical & Social implications: To continue to advance and not be left behind, the people in Indonesia need to be able to develop their territory. Of course, an area can develop if its people also develop. This becomes even more relevant when the emergence of Covid-19 has caused various sectors of society to decline drastically. Originality/Value: In addition, this research can also make new contributions in the scientific literature by combining and analyzing information from various relevant sources.

The Steller's Sea‐Eagle in North America: An economic assessment of birdwatchers travelling to see a vagrant raptor

Abstract Birdwatching—a cultural ecosystem service—is among the most popular outdoor recreational activities. Existing economic valuations of birdwatching typically overlook the economic contributions of birdwatchers travelling to see vagrant (out‐of‐range) birds. Economic valuations of vagrant birdwatching are few, and to date, no valuation of a large, charismatic vagrant species—or of a recurring individual vagrant bird—has been reported. During 2020–2022, a vagrant Steller's Sea‐Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) was reported in several locations in North America, representing the first record of this species in these locations. In Winter 2020–2021, the eagle spent nearly a month on the eastern seaboard of the United States, and thousands of people travelled to see it. We conducted an online survey of individuals who travelled to see the eagle to estimate the individual and collective non‐consumptive use value of this vagrant birdwatching event. Using individual travel cost methodology, we estimated an average individual expenditure and, together with estimates of the total number of birdwatchers, we estimated non‐consumptive use value of the vagrant birdwatching event. Finally, we used a willingness to pay framework (via hypothetical donations to view the eagle) to evaluate the non‐consumptive use consumer surplus of the event. We estimated that, on average, individual birdwatchers spent $180 USD (95% CI = $156–$207) ignoring travel time—or $277 (95% CI = $243–$314) when accounting for travel time—to view the eagle. Furthermore, we estimated between 2115 and 2645 individuals travelled to see the eagle during December 2021 to January 2022. Thus, we estimated that the eagle generated a total expenditure between $380,604 and $476,626, or between $584,373 and $731,809 when accounting for travel time. Finally, based on travellers' willingness to pay, we estimated a non‐consumptive use consumer surplus of the event between $139,036 and $174,114. Assigning economic value to nature gives policymakers and business leaders footing to advance conservation in decision‐making. Although often overlooked in these decisions, vagrant birds supply ephemeral ecosystem services that might bolster community development efforts, particularly if vagrancy events occur with some predictability (e.g. recurring annually). Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Open Network Infrastructure for the Commons

An ongoing challenge in the day-to-day reality of research work is the disparate, disconnected array of tools they must piece together to manage their work. What’s more, there is a clear hierarchy in the research tools landscape, preferencing “traditional” scholarly output, elevating certain disciplines over others (both in direct and indirect ways), and obscuring the very human work of doing research. While there is no single solution to these challenges, academy-owned and -designed infrastructure is emerging to help address them. This poster will explore one such effort: HCommons. The Commons model is a natural ally for open research work, and, critically, centers the social dimensions alongside resources and protocols. Crucial to a healthy Commons is infrastructure, which HCommons provides. Hosted at Michigan State University, HCommons facilitates: Collaboration, communication and sharing, both public and private Open publication & archiving, including of so-called “grey literature" Public-facing sites and profiles With more than 30,000 users worldwide, HCommons started life in the Humanities – a rarity in the open research space that offers a unique perspective – and is expanding into other disciplines, with explicit support of open education and open data, in addition to the broadest possible range of open publications. Work is also underway to integrate open peer review, and future features could include user-curation and annotation. In addition, community development efforts are focused on equipping users to organise and manage their own communities, and to contribute back to the governance of HCommons itself. As an example of commoning in action, HCommons has partnered with STEM education research experts to establish a new STEM-focused Commons node, which will be developed in line with CARE, FAIR and Open standards. This initiative recently received a National Science Foundation (NSF; one of the largest federal science funding bodies in the United States) grant, which includes funds to migrate to CERN-developed Invenio as the underlying Commons repository software, further establishing robust infrastructure for the network. Aside from the technical components, the new Commons will be seeded with a wide range of initiatives underway by our STEM education research partners, demonstrating the power of a holistic approach. These include: Creating collaborative spaces for discipline-based education research Launching a public site to recruit post-doctoral candidates via a transparent, equity-driven process Transitioning an established listserv to offer increased value to subscribers By consolidating multiple related efforts, the team can bring their work into alignment, reduce barriers to participation, reduce management overhead, and put their values into action. Our goal is to use our experience to create a replicable model to develop new nodes in an open network, whether discipline-focused, institutional, project-based, serving scholarly societies or specific geographic areas, which in turn will foster a vibrant, interdependent, collaborative Commons for sharing knowledge globally. We invite you to join us.

Strategy for Building Political Literacy Through Peace Education in Society

The high rate of spread of hoax news about politics influences the emergence of conflict in society, including conflicts due to differences in support for political figures and leading to disputes on social media and even directly in the community. On the other hand, the community promoting peace in the Greater Malang area is thriving. This study explored the best strategy for building political awareness through peace education organized by civic communities. Qualitative methods were used with a comparative-evaluative design, and the study was conducted in the community based in Malang Raya. The results showed that the strategy of building political awareness through peace education was carried out by focusing on several things, namely: 1) the form of activity was adjusted based on age and social background; 2) the materials included information on national insights, hoaxes, and tolerance; and 3) activities were evaluated periodically and program participants were involved for continuous improvement. Almost all programs which were adapted to the characteristics and needs of the community were able to help build political awareness in the field of fighting hoaxes. However, community development efforts by the government should also be appropriately considered.
 Keywords: political literacy, peace education, civic community

Development of Tofun: A new sweet confection made from soymilk and honey

Tofu, a common part of the Asian diet, is soft, making it a good candidate for developing foods for people with dysphagia. Honey can coagulate soymilk proteins due to high levels of gluconic acid. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the soymilk-coagulating ability of 19 honey varieties to develop a soft sweet for people with dysphagia. We found that honey gathered from flora on Awaji Island had a higher coagulating ability than those of 18 other tested honey varieties. Based on the volume-to-weight ratio of honey, trial products were processed at honey concentrations of 20%, 25%, and 30% (w/w). The hardness, adhesiveness, and cohesiveness of products were examined according to the Consumer Affairs Agency's permissible criteria for foods for people with dysphagia. The hardness and adhesiveness of products at 25% and 30% honey concentrations were significantly higher than those at 20% honey concentration. Overall, the product evaluation was consistent with Permission Criteria II (can be swallowed after slight maceration). In terms of physical properties and product cost, the added honey concentration was determined to be 25% (w/w) for commercialization. The sweet was named “Tofun” and commercialized via collaboration with a local company as part of our community development efforts. The introduction of Tofun will encourage further innovation in the sugar confectionery industry.

Community reinvestment challenges in the age of gentrification: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as a case study for wide bank lending disparities

Abstract Racially unequal home mortgage loan patterns are alive and well today with many financial institutions. Efforts to change these trends are difficult when few question the ‘reinvestment thesis’—an environment in which financial institutions are assumed to meet community needs, even when data suggest the opposite. In this article, we analyze thirteen years of financial institution lending data from 2007 to 2019 in Pittsburgh that show how the city’s African American neighborhoods are starved for private capital as vastly more loans and loan dollars were approved in white neighborhoods. Conversely, an analysis of public expenditures for affordable housing between 2010 and 2020 demonstrate the majority of government dollars went to minority neighborhoods. These data provide a partial explanation as to why Pittsburgh lost > 10,000 Black residents over the past decade. These wide disparities are a significant barrier to building African American wealth and present challenges to community development efforts.

A scoping review of the evaluation and effectiveness of technical assistance

BackgroundAlthough the benefits of evidence-based practices (EBPs) for advancing community outcomes are well-recognized, challenges with the uptake of EBPs are considerable. Technical assistance (TA) is a core capacity building strategy that has been widely used to support EBP implementation and other community development and improvement efforts. Yet despite growing reliance on TA, no reviews have systematically examined the evaluation of TA across varying implementation contexts and capacity building aims. This study draws on two decades of peer-reviewed publications to summarize the evidence on the evaluation and effectiveness of TA.MethodsGuided by Arksey and O’Malley’s six-stage methodological framework, we used a scoping review methodology to map research on TA evaluation. We included peer-reviewed articles published in English between 2000 and 2020. Our search involved five databases: Business Source Complete, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), PsycInfo, and PubMed.ResultsA total of 125 evaluation research studies met the study criteria. Findings indicate that publications have increased over the last two decades, signaling a growth in the recognition and reporting of TA. Technical assistance is being implemented across diverse settings, often serving socially vulnerable and under-resourced populations. Most evaluation research studies involved summative evaluations, with TA outcomes mostly reported at the organizational level. Only 5% of the studies examined sustainability of TA outcomes. This review also demonstrates that there is a lack of consistent standards regarding the definition of TA and the level of reporting across relevant TA evaluation categories (e.g., cadence of contact, and directionality).ConclusionsAdvances in the science and practice of TA hinge on understanding what aspects of TA are effective and when, how, and for whom these aspects of TA are effective. Addressing these core questions requires (i) a standard definition for TA; (ii) more robust and rigorous evaluation research designs that involve comparison groups and assessment of direct, indirect, and longitudinal outcomes; (iii) increased use of reliable and objective TA measures; and (iv) development of reporting standards. We view this scoping review as a foundation for improving the state of the science and practice of evaluating TA.

Leveraging Community Schools for Community Development: Lessons from Baltimore's 21stCentury School Buildings Program

This study leverages data collected from a study of Baltimore's 21stCentury School Buildings Program to understand the potential of a school facilities investment to catalyze community development. We leverage a school-community partnership typology to examine partnerships at 21CSBP schools in three neighborhoods. We found that schools provided critical resources to their school and place-based communities and were linked to community development efforts. We argue that community development partnership models are possible when schools and their partners view their work as going beyond the schoolhouse door. The study extends the field's understanding of the interdependence of school and neighborhood improvement.