Developing and Implementing a
Community-Based Plan
Gene L. Theodori, Ph.D.
Program in Rural Sociology & Community Studies
Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences
Texas A&M University
Individuals
Cute
Ugly
Smart
1
2
Dumb
4
3
Communities
Active
Not Active
Conscious
1
2
Not
Conscious
4
3
Working Definition of Community
Community: a place-oriented
process of interrelated actions
through which local residents
express a shared sense of identity
while engaging in the common
concerns of life.
Elements of
a Local Society
A geographic dimension
physical space
Human life dimension
people living there
Relatively complete organization
institutions and patterns of behaviors that
cover the broad range of human interests
Stanton Local Society
Sanderson Local Society
Fields
Emergent
Dynamic
Boundless
Wholes
Social Fields
Process of social interaction
Actions
Associations
Actors
Education
Government
Environmental protection
Faith-based
Economic development
Recreation
Economic development
Government
Faith-based
Education
Recreation
Environmental protection
Economic development
Government
Action
Environmental protection
Faith-based
Education
Recreation
Community is not a given.
Community is a variable.
Community Development
Community development: a process
of building and strengthening the
social and economic viability of the
community.
Community Development
Purposive
Positive
Structure oriented
Exists in efforts of people
Community Development
Community development is purposive.
It is the intentional consequence of
actors engaging in associational
actions to initiate and maintain
community.
Community Development
Community development is positive.
The purposive intentions of the actors
revolve around a shared commitment
to improving their community.
Community Development
Community development is structure
oriented. The purposive and positive
actions of actors are direct attempts
to establish and/or strengthen the
community as an interlinking and
coordinating structure of human
relationships.
Community Development
Community development exists in
the efforts of people and not
necessarily in goal achievement.
Simply stated, community
development is purposive action
undertaken with positive intentions
at improving community structure.
Community Development
Development in community
- Task accomplishment
Development of community
- Structure building
Principles of
Community Development
The long-term theme of community
development should be to develop the
community as a human relationship
structure, rather than to develop things
in or through the community.
Principles of
Community Development
Community development must reflect
and express the values and wishes of
the local population.
Principles of
Community Development
Community development requires a
commitment on the part of special
interest groups to align their efforts
with those of other groups.
Principles of
Community Development
Community development requires
that attention be given continuously
to problems and needs in all areas of
local life.
Principles of
Community Development
Sustained community development
requires an organizational structure.
Principles of
Community Development
Community development requires
communication.
Principles of
Community Development
Community development requires a
commitment beyond selfish gain, at
least by a small number of people in
any community who can really make it
work.
Credit for “Principles of
Community Development”
Kenneth P. Wilkinson. 1968. “The
Community: Its Structure and Process.” Pp.
86–90 in Eileen Zuber, Steve Nelson, and
A.E. Luloff, 1998, Community: A Biography in
Honor of the Life and Work of Ken Wilkinson.
University Park, PA: The Northeast Regional
Center for Rural Development.
Stages of Community-Based
Planning
Initiation
Organization of sponsorship
Identification and analysis of critical
community-level issues
Stages of Community-Based
Planning
Visioning, goal setting, and strategy
formation
Recruitment
Implementation
Evaluation