Lastfirst Networks

‘This is unlike any text book I’ve ever read. It is an easy read. Very engaging and absorbing. Yet you constantly have to put it down to assimilate (its) ideas. It is gently affirming, yet demanding.  Optimistic, even idealistic, yet thoroughly realistic. May it sow seed of hope in the grounds for despair in our cities, towns and neighbourhoods.’

                      David Busch, National Broadcaster and Social Commentator

We all have visions of the ideal community—where mutual acceptance, respect, and justice guide our actions and relationships. But this heart of community renewal has almost become lost in a complex professional superstructure, to the point of discouraging many who would like to get involved. Living Community provides a beacon of hope and practical guidance for the aspiring—and struggling—community worker. 

This simple introductory course spells out the principles and practices involved in building those better communities. It has been written for use by individuals or study groups, in many diverse settings: in the community, or at college, or university. It will be invaluable as a guide for those new to the field, as well as for already experienced fieldworkers.

The book offers a searching analysis of the isolation that plagues society, a critical to-do-list of issues that the community workers need to attend to, with practical advice on breaking down the barriers and building bridges. It considers the vocational, ethical, cultural and legal frameworks of community work, and outlines the skills required to work for change in the local community: researching, communicating, planning, project submission, etc.

‘Living Community is an important resource for today’s community workers - by which we can all benefit.’                                                                  

                                                                              Tina Lathouras, Nambour Community Centre

 Living Community ‘. . provides a map, with clear and empowering directions, to help us move from a warm glow of appreciation to a place where we too are resourced to have a go.’

                               Lin Hatfield Dodds, President of ACOSS and National Director of UnitingCare

Community Praxis Co-operative was established in December 1998 by a group of colleagues who live in Brisbane, Australia, and have worked together over the past 12 years. It is a not-for-profit workers’ coop offering professional services in community and youth development, planning and evaluation.

Contents

Introduction ix

Facilitator’s Guide xvi

Part One Principles of Living Community 1

Session 1 Introduction to Community 2

Session 2 Possibilities and Problems 12

Session 3 Community Development 26

Session 4 Breaking through the Barrier of Fear 36

Session 5 Breaking through the Barrier of Futility 44

Session 6 Breaking through the Barrier of Selfishness 54

Session 7 Breaking through the Barrier of Spitefulness 64

Session 8 Building Bridges to People 75

Session 9 Building Bridges on Relationships 87

Session 10 Building Bridges through Groups 99

Session 11 Building Bridges for Cooperation 108

Session 12 Bringing About Personal Hope 117

Session 13 Bringing About Social Empowerment 130

Session 14 Bringing About Problem Resolution 142

Session 15 Bringing About Real Transformation 152

Part Two Community Work Practices 169

Session 16 Working within a Vocational Framework 170

Session 17 Working within an Ethical Framework 183

Session 18 Working within a Cultural Framework 197

Session 19 Working within a Legal Framework 212

Session 20 Community Work Skill 1: Communicating 219

Session 21 Community Work Skill 2: Negotiating 229

Session 22 Community Work Skill 3: Facilitating 238

Session 23 Community Work Skill 4: Supporting 250

Session 24 Community Work Skill 5: Researching 260

Session 25 Community Work Skill 6: Planning (A) 266

Session 26 Community Work Skill 6: Planning (B) 273

Session 27 Community Work Skill 7: Budgeting 284

Session 28 Community Work Skill 8: Reporting 291

Session 29 Community Work Skill 9: Promoting 302

Session 30 Community Work Skill 10: Persevering 312

Appendix A The UN Declaration of Human Rights 320

Appendix B List Of Additional Readings 326

Appendix C Funding Options for Practical Community Work 329

Additional readings for Living Community downloadable

from http://www.daveandrews.com.au/lc3.html