A national leader in the field of civic participation and community change, Everyday Democracy helps people of different backgrounds and views talk and work together to solve problems and create communities that work for everyone. Using innovative, participatory approaches, Everyday Democracy works with neighborhoods, cities and towns, regions, and states. It also runs the The [...]

The process planner helps you choose participatory methods that are suitable to your situation. It also helps you plan your process. You answer a series of questions which are compared to a database of methods to determine which methods best fit your needs.
The process planner will suggest a list of methods. It is often a [...]

Community empowerment is about motivated people actively engaged in making a difference to the places they know best. Residents need to know how they can get involved, and councils need to know how to help them do so. These methods and tools should help make engagement easier.

Questions to ask before you begin
Planning how you will [...]

[ 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 [...]

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 parks, [...]

Extracted from 150 Things You Can Do to Build Social Capital, The Saguaro Seminar: Civic Engagement In America, an initiative of Professor Robert D. Putnam at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. The project focuses on expanding what we know about our levels of trust and community engagement and on developing [...]

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 [...]