Nurturing grassroots initiatives for health and housing.
This article has discussed the need to support grassroots community development. Grassroots community development requires the development and maintenance of voluntary community organizations (e.g., block, neighborhood, and tenant associations). These organizations have proved effective in the social, physical, and economic development of a community. The challenge facing policy makers and strategists is to develop a system that supports a multitude of community initiatives. This article has discussed such an "enabling system" and structure, functions, and services required as part of this system. The challenge we face is to increase the problem-solving capacity of disenfranchised communities. One of the biggest barriers we face in this mission is the competition and lack of coordination among professional service organizations.
Chavis
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Center for Community Education, School of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.
Florin
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D003256:Community Participation; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States; D014837:Voluntary Health Agencies