“Few people in this country know as much about community building as Jim Diers,” said  Fred Kent, President of Project for Public Spaces (PPS). From 1988 to 2002, Jim led Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods which is “widely known as the most innovative effort in the U.S. to empower local residents” (John P. Kretzmann, Co-director or [...]

[ The resources linked below are those referenced in the book, p179ff ] Easy Steps Sponsor community dinners. Slow Food Community meals Establish a community newsletter, bulletin board, and community roster. Establish a neighborhood watch program. National Sheriffs’ Association Neighborhood Watch Program Start neighborhood investment clubs, community sports activities and restoration projects. Form weekly discussion [...]

Thanks to Richard Layman for pointing us to PPS, and to Bill Berkowitz for recommending the book. The Project for Public Spaces (PPS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people create and sustain public places that build communities. It has identified 11 key elements in transforming public spaces into vibrant community places, whether they’re [...]

“We’re always thinking of ways to draw the community together the way neighborhoods were 70 years ago,” Waters said. The aim is to be “a community of friends and neighbors, not just houses — and have fun along the way.” The glue that holds everything together now is an active Listserv. “Even people who have [...]

click here for an updated version of this post: we added links to resources cited in the book Easy Steps Sponsor community dinners. Establish a community newsletter, bulletin board, and community roster. Establish a neighborhood watch program. Start neighborhood investment clubs, community sports activities and restoration projects. Form weekly discussion groups. Establish neighborhood baby-sitting coop. [...]

This list of free resources for neighborhood-based community building was developed with the help of people like you. To add to the list, please log in then use the submission form that will appear here. Thank you. We monitor this list regularly for broken links, but if you find any, please Leave a Reply below. [...]

Ask Richard Layman of Citizens Planning Coalition, Washington DC, who recently sent us an inspiring e-mail (we hope you don’t mind us sharing this on our site): Community building isn’t just about organizing, it’s about vision and having some sense of what are the components of “livability,” what makes a great neighborhood and a great city.  In other [...]

Majora Carter is a visionary voice in city planning who views urban renewal through an environmental lens. With her inspired ideas and fierce persistence, Carter managed to bring the South Bronx its first open-waterfront park in 60 years, Hunts Point Riverside Park. Excerpts: Why is this story important?  Because from a planning perspective, economic degradation  [...]

Reflections on Community Organizing and Resident Engagement in the Rebuilding Communities Initiative. Bill Traynor. Annie E. Casey Foundation. Reflections of a community’s struggle with resident engagement and community organizing. The report’s focus in on understanding the role and practice of community organizing and resident engagement in the context of a comprehensive community change initiative. Highlights: [...]