Gene L. Theodori, Ph.D.

1. Moving From Vision To Action Gene L. Theodori, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Extension Specialist for Community Development, & Associate Department Head Program in Rural Sociology & Community Studies Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences Texas A&M University

2. Individuals Cute Ugly 1 Smart 2 3 4 Dumb

3. Communities Active Not Active 1 2 Conscious 3 Not Conscious 4

4. Communities Active Not Active 1 2 Conscious 3 Not Conscious 4

5. Working Definition of Community Community: a place-oriented process of interrelated actions through which members of a local population express a shared sense of identity while engaging in the common concerns of life.

6. 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

11. Social Fields Process of social interaction Actions the projects, programs, activities, and/or events Associations the formal organizations and informal groups Actors the leaders and other persons participating in associations and actions

12. Education Government Environmental protection Faith-based Economy Recreation

13. Economy Faith-based Generalization Action Government Education Recreation Environmental protection

15. Economy Faith-based Community isnot a given. Generalization Action Government Education Community is a variable. Recreation Environmental protection

16. Community Development Community development: a process of building and strengthening the community.

17. Community Development Purposive Positive Structure oriented Exists in efforts of people

18. Community Development Community development is purposive. It is the intentional consequence of actors engaging in associational actions to initiate and maintain community.

19. Community Development Community development is positive. The purposive intentions of the actors revolve around a shared commitment to improving their community.

20. 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.

21. Community Development Community development exists in the effortsof people and not necessarily in goal achievement. Simply stated, community development is purposive action undertaken with positive intentions at improving community structure.

22. Community Development Development in community - Task accomplishment Development of community - Structure building

23. Principles ofCommunity 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.

24. Principles ofCommunity Development Community development must reflect and express the values and wishes of the local population.

25. Principles ofCommunity Development Community development requires a commitment on the part of special interest groups to align their efforts with those of other groups.

26. Principles ofCommunity Development Community development requires that attention be given continuously to problems and needs in all areas of local life.

27. Principles ofCommunity Development Sustained community development requires an organizational structure.

28. Principles ofCommunity Development Community development requires communication.

29. Principles ofCommunity 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.

30. Credit for “Principles ofCommunity 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.

31. Stages of Community-Based Planning 1. Initiation 2. Organization of sponsorship 3. Visioning, goal setting, and strategy formation 4. Recruitment 5. Implementation 6. Evaluation

32. Initiation Involves generating widespread consciousness of an issue among various fields of interest in a community.

33. Organization of Sponsorship Involves the formation of multi-interest networks and inter-organizational linkages to coordinate and integrate actions within and across the various social fields.

34. Visioning, Goal Setting, and Strategy Formation Involves developing a vision, short-term and long-range goals, and strategies that transcend the special interests of particular social fields.

35. Recruitment Involves building cohesion, encouraging participation, developing new leaders and leadership skills, and coordinating actions.

36. Implementation Involves building, strengthening, and maintaining the structure of the community field.

37. Evaluation Involves identifying and celebrating specific outputs and/or outcomes of the process.