UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY

1
UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY

• Often when we think of
• the term community, we
• think in geographic terms.

2
UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY

• When defined through physical location by
  precise boundaries, Our community is the location
  (i.e. city, town or village) where we live.

3
COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST

• Communities defined by common cultural heritage,
  language and beliefs or
• shared interests.

4
COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST

• Most of us belong to more than one community,
  whether we are aware of it or not.
• For example, an individual can be part of a
  neighborhood community, a religious community and
  a community of shared interests all at the same
  time.

5
COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST

• RELATIONSHIPS
• whether with people or the land, define a
  community for each individual.

6
COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT

• KNOWING YOURSELF
• LOOKING INWARD
• A SELF-ASSESSMENT OF YOUR CAPACITY, STRENGTHS,
  WEAKNESSES, RESOURCES, SERVICES etc.

7
Your Capacity Inventory

• Every person has some gift or capacity of value
• to others. A strong community is a place that
• Recognizes those gifts and ensure that they are
• given. A weak community is a place where lots
• of people cant give their gifts and express
  their
• capabilities.
• Source Buildings Communities from the Inside
  Out John Kretzmann and John McKnight

8
IDENTIFYING COMMUNITY RESOURCES

• COMMUNITY RESOURCES
• INCLUDE
• Natural Resources
• Human Resources
• Financial Resources
• Infrastructural Resources

9
NATURAL RESOURCES

• NATURAL RESOURCES ARE ALL THE
• THINGS THAT NATURE PROVIDES SUCH AS
• Land, air and water
• Minerals and surface/subsurface metals and ores
• Oil, gas and petroleum
• Trees and other plants
• Wildlife
• The standards, legislation and policies relating
  to
• the above.

10
HUMAN RESOURCES

• Human resources are about people. People are at
  the heart of all community matters and, as such,
  they are critical to success.
• It is important to have the right people in the
  right jobs with the right skills, knowledge and
  abilities.

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HUMAN RESOURCES

• HUMAN RESOURCES INCLUDE
• Healthy families and lifestyles
• Skills building, education and training
• Career planning and employment
• Effective and legal hiring practices
• Workers compensation and pensions
• Human rights and labor laws.

12
FINANCIAL RESOURCES

• FINANCIAL RESOURCES MEANS MONEY AND IT OFTEN
  IMPLIES HAVING THE ABILITY TO ACQUIRE IT.
• FINANCIAL RESOURCES INCLUDE
• Family or Earned Income
• Fundraising and grant-seeking
• Banks and other financial institutions
• Community loan funds and lending circles
• Access to capital and investment funding

13
FINANCIAL RESOURCES

• Government loans and program funds
• Cooperatives and other forms of investment
• Policies and guidelines related to finance
  lending and reporting.

14
INFRASTRUCTURAL RESOURCES

• Infrastructure is part of the resources needed
  to be effective in community development and
  includes such obvious things as
• Physical buildings and structures
• Transportation and access
• Communication systems
• Electrical, hydro, sewage, garbage and heating.

15
INFRASTRUCTURAL RESOURCES

• Infrastructure also refers to the political
  systems and leadership needed to support a
  community.

16
Draw YOUR Community Resource Map
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Questions?