Frankl back in 1972….
Serious implications for what we choose to recognise in our communities – problems and threats – or apirations and dreams?
Community, economic and social development…
While Pittsburgh’s government and business leaders pressed for big-government solutions – new stadiums and convention centers – the city’s real turn- around was driven by community groups and citizen-led initiatives. Community groups, local foundations, and nonprofits – not city hall or business-led economic development groups – drove its transformation, playing a key role in stabilizing and strengthening neighborhoods, building green, and spurring the development of the waterfront and re- development around the universities. Many of Pittsburgh’s best neighborhoods, such as its South Side, are ones that were somehow spared from the wrath of urban renewal. Others, such as East Liberty, have benefited from community initiatives designed to remedy the damage done by large-scale urban renewal efforts that left vacant lots in place of functioning neighborhoods and built soulless public housing high-rise towers. That neighborhood is now home to several new community development projects, including a Whole Foods Market, which provides local jobs as well as serving as an anchor for the surrounding community. This kind of bottom-up process takes considerable time and perseverance. In Pittsburgh’s case, it took the better part of a generation to achieve stability and the potential for longer-term revival.
The Great Reset copyright © 2010 Richard Florida (emphases are mine)
If this IS true, and could also be true of Leeds, then what does it mean for the focus of community development workers in the city?
Cameron as PM on Community…
Some extracts from David Cameron’s first speech that seem relevant to the community development sector. There is much here to hold him to. Emphases are mine!
One of the tasks that we clearly have is to rebuild trust in our political system…it’s about making sure people are in control and that the politicians are always their servants and never their masters.
Real change is not what government can do on its own. Real change is when everyone pulls together, comes together, works together, when we all exercise our responsibilities to ourselves, to our families, to our communities and to others.
And I want to help build a more responsible society here in Britain, one where we don’t just ask ‘what are my entitlements?’ but ‘what are my responsibilities?’. One where we don’t just ask ‘what am I owed?’ but more ‘what can I give?’. And a guide for that society, that those who can, should, and those who can’t, we will always help.
I want to make sure that my government always looks after the elderly, the frail, the poorest in our country.
Above all it will be a government that will be built on some clear values — values of freedom, values of fairness, and values of responsibility.
I want us to build an economy that rewards work, I want us to build a society with stronger families and stronger communities, and I want a political system that people can trust and look up to once again.
“About making sure the people are in control and that politicians are always their servants.” Perhaps time for a serious consideration of person centred and responsive methodologies instead of policy centred and strategic. Be interesting to see what happens to Communities and Local Government under the new coalition.
Cameron’s full speech is reported here.
Transformation at Tower Works – Grass Roots or Astroturf?
Seems ironic that I should pick up on this on a day when I have been quoting Barack Obama on real change being a grass-roots phenomena.
It seems that someone has decided that the ‘regeneration’ that is underway at Tower Works in Leeds needs to catch the eye a little more. So why not install a grass mosaic spelling out TRANSFORM so as to be visible from the top of nearby local landmark the Candle Building. Why not indeed? Such metaphorical power…..
I am surprised that they did not use Astroturf. At least it has no pretence at being grass-roots and can be laid quite happily on concrete. The grass-roots here are destined to whither.
Regeneration is not about buildings and developers. It is about people, passion, skills and aspirations. It is about community, networks and creativity. In s
Real Change, Grass Roots, Bottom Up….
“I learned as a community organiser in Chicago, real change comes from the bottom up, the grass roots, starting with the dreams and passions of individuals serving their communities.” – Barack Obama – Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship 2010
We know this as community development practitioners.
Our funders know it too.
So why do we still so often corrupt the community development process in order to impose the strategic objectives of our planners and policy makers on the grass roots? Just to pay the mortgage?
In the second city of the Empire
Mother Glasgow watches all her weans
Trying hard to feed her little starlings
Unconsciously she clips their little wings
Are we still clipping wings….?