Week 11: Lit Review - Stephanie

Kubisch, A. C., Auspos, P., Taylor, S., & Dewar, T. (2013). Resident‐centered community building: what makes it different?. National Civic Review, 102(3), 61-71.

This article is very interesting as the content applies directly to what we are doing this semester. The article identified a set of ingredients that are needed for effective resident-centered community building. However, the article only provides the ingredients, not the recipe for the work as each community has its own unique history, conditions, capacities and potential.

The article stresses the importance of including residents in the community-building approach, which is an aspect of community work that is often left out. The authors of the article go on to explain that when residents are genuinely at the center of community building, a different process unfolds; relationships become the center of the work.

The article outlines that there are three types of relationships that must be built and maintained in resident-centered community building. Those relationships are:
1) Relationships among residents
2) Relationships between residents and neighborhood institutions
3) Relationships between residents and community change agents.

The article explains that relationship building is so important because the core of resident-centered community change work is about building personal relationships among people who live in the neighborhood. But why is relationships building so important? The truth is that relationships are the core of a vibrant community. As relationships are built, neighbors develop friendships, share information that useful and help each other out. Neighborhoods that are with a lot of trusting social relationships are high in “social capital” which is correlated with a pleasant, safe and nurturing community.

So, my question to the class is, how has your experience with building relationships in your community been this semester thus far? Difficult? Easy? Uncomfortable?  Has it unfolded at all? Has it been a simple task to include residents in the process of exploring your assigned community?