10/25/2010

Community Building theory

Community Building theory

Definition: According to Phillips and Pittman (2009), community building refers to activities pursued by a community in order to increase the social capacity of its members. In the words of Gardner (1993), community building involves “the practice of building connections among residents, and establishing positive patters of individual and community behavior based on mutual responsibility and ownership.”

Application: The idea of “time banks” is based on the same theory. Time banks connect community members through the common ground of helping each other, while helping themselves. As a results the community members building connections with each other at the same time establishing positive patters of community behavior based on mutual need and responsibility, while at the same time increasing the social capacity.

Adaption: Community building theory could be adopted by school teachers to empower its students and take ownership. For example, teachers could encourage students to connect with others to accomplish a class project by synthesizing each others strengths through planning, strategizing and contributing to produce a quality product that will give them pride to take ownership.

3 comments:

  1. Apply: In the movie "Metropolitan Avenue" movie we saw a great example of community building across different communities of different race in the same neighborhood. These communities had never worked together before until a common issue joined them to fight for the same cause. Their neighborhood was being taken over by businesses and driving these communities out. it was through community building that they were able to join resources and gain a stronger voice to be hear by individuals in power.
    Adapt: Immigration has been a very controversial issue for the past few years an one that has been taken upon by several community building efforts to unsure that a comprehensive immigration reform is passed.

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  2. Apply: The idea of volunteerism is an example of the capacity that community building inherently exists. When people help people either for bringing awareness to a cause or rallying for change volunteering is taking place. If we look at volunteering we see that it is not just one individual who is passionate about a cause but a select few individuals who feel that a cause is important. They want to get the word out about the cause so they inform others in their community. By asking other people to join the cause this shows how community building plays a large role in person to person interactions.


    Adapt: An example of this can be shown in the "It Gets Better" movement that other communities have adapted. With the recent large number of suicides within the LGBT population. Communities have realized that this population is not alone when it comes to being victims of bullying. There has been a dramatic increase with bullying in schools and people are realizing how important this cause is to stop the bullying. We are now seeing how the media is contributing to this causes. 98.7 AMP Radio has decided to join the fight to stop the bullying and on their website they list the resources. Here is the link: http://987ampradio.radio.com/help-us-end-bullying/

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