Community Development

SW650, Section 001

This course examines methods of community development as a process in which people join together and develop community-based programs and services at the local level to create community change, with or without assistance by outside agencies. It emphasizes ways in which residents can take initiative, contribute to collective action, and help themselves through community-based business and economic development, health and human services, popular education, and housing and neighborhood revitalization projects. It includes innovative examples of community development in urban and rural areas, as well as examples that involve diverse communities of interest taking into account ability, age, class, color, culture, ethnicity, family structure, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), marital status, national origin, race, religion or spirituality, sex, and sexual orientation. Special emphasis is placed on initiatives which involve individuals and families in positive pluralist and multicultural efforts to integrate human, social, economic, and community development to build upon their strengths and assets rather than focus solely on their problems and needs.