Green & Haines: “The Role of Community Based
Organizations”
Community
Development Corporations have become the principle organizations for carrying
out local development activities in many urban neighborhoods and rural
communities. Over the years these
corporations have taken on many different names identified with development
activities. First, Corporate organizations represent power because they are
seen as representing large number of people. Secondly, organizations represent
continuity because membership may change but an organization can continue to
sustain an activity. Thirdly, an organization helps to develop expertise over
the long haul with the ability to get better with the passing of time. Finally,
organizations improves the ability of residents to respond to problem solving
more quickly. And corporations have perpetuity.
Corporate
organizations struggle with some downsides as to how to remain relevant in the
changing of time. How to maintain participation in the organization. How to
avoid becoming too bureaucratic with the passing of time. How to obtain external
resources without losing control of the process of bringing in new resources.
In
conclusions, community based organizations in poor communities do not have the
spread of internal leadership to give a broad base representation. Because
formally educated people choose not to live in those communities. The resources
in poor communities are limited and no community can have all the resources it
needs. Education and the involvement of young people is the key to people
developing a strong community based organization
This was a great summary of the reading. I also believe that CDC's do a great job when they have a empowerment and involvement from the community, a goal, focused target, and produce a finished outcome.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the summary Daniel. A big part of CBOs that I have noticed is simply getting people to listen. Communication is made more accessible with a CBO involved and as you said involving young people and education is key in getting this communication out. It bothers me that residents cannot be heard nearly as well without an organization. Everyone has a voice that is important in the change and I wish every voice could be heard. But CBOs are a good way to bridge that gap and offer more communication options for the residents of the community they are representing.
ReplyDeleteI recently attended a meeting of the Ferguson Youth Initiative. This is a CBO specifically for getting the input of young people and encouraging the youth to be participatory members of their community in areas like politics. It gives them a voice and treats them as active members of the community. During the meeting the President, Dwayne James asked about making a video to advertise an event on Youtube. The teenagers said that no one was using that form of social media to advertise and it would not work, so Dwayne took that option off the agenda as then asked them for options that would work. It was refreshing to see a group dedicated to helping young people engage as partners in their community. Seeing civic leaders take recommendations from teens and then acting on those ideas was inspiring.
ReplyDeleteAt a time when even the IRS is enduring staff cuts, I worry that CBOs without a robust development plan may find themselves even more understaffed than usual, with the resultant decline in client engagement.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this great summary, Daniel! I think it's important that CBOs work of empowering individuals in the community that they serve.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this great summary, Daniel! I think it's important that CBOs work of empowering individuals in the community that they serve.
ReplyDelete