The challenge for community building is this: While visions, plans and committed top leadership are important, even essential, no clear vision, nor detailed plan, nor committed group leaders have the power to bring this image of the future into existence without the continued engagement and involvement of citizens. In most instances, citizen engagement ends when the plan is in place. The implementation is put into the hands of the professionals. In concept, the master plan provides some parameters for development and the use of space, but in real life it is usually a call to let the arguing begin. For all its utility, it rarely builds interdependence or strengthens the social fabric of a place.
Peter Block, Community: The Structure of Belonging. Hat tip to local community organizer and recent Bush Fellow Neeraj Mehta for introducing us to Block’s writing. Add this one to the reading list!
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