The Role of Community- Based Organizations
This article discusses the differences in between different types of community- based organizations (CBOs). This article discusses community development corporations (CDCs) and local development corporations (LDCs) and how they operate and have effect and outcomes within a community. It also talks about how neighborhood associations, youth organizations, and faith-based organizations and how they help maintain quality and improve communities. This article first discusses how CBOs are more effective in regards to community action. These authors say how they create power, provide continuity, help develop expertise, and improve ability for residents to respond more quickly to problems. One large advantage that these authors discuss about CBOs is that they have the advantage of local social networks. The networks provide resources and information in order for programs can take off and run smoothly. Having social networks within the community definitely seem like it would be a huge advantage because you are getting the inside scoop of what the community wants/needs.
CDCs primary goal according to these authors is to serve low-income communities and empower residents. CDCs specifically deal with housing projects and building houses for low-income areas. This article discusses the three generations of CDCs. These three generations include the Activist Organizations (1960s), Specialization (1970s), and Professionalization (1980s and 1990s). Although there are three generations these three all focus on housing projects. Although in the third generation the authors discussed more the organizations having more of a professional staff than the activists that were in the original generation. There are debates over CDCs as well though. Even though they are doing great things, they are not without flaws. These authors say they rely too heavily on external sources for financing. This being said their focus then shifts from the needs of the community and itsresidents to focusing on that financial gain. Another criticism is they focus too heavily on housing projects. Yes, this is a need, but there are plenty more areas at this point in time that need to be addressed. Some of those things that the authors said were workforce development and social service deliveries. These things are what are in more demand now.
LDCs make it easier to conduct economic development activities over local governments. These authors talk about three main advantages of LDCs over local governments. 1) Provide a one-stop shop for businesses unlike local governments. 2) Provide stronger and longer lasting relationships in which will help develop policies that have more of a reflection of the communities interests rather than outsiders. 3) Provide more in order to promote development of the community. “LCDs are simply a legal device to accomplish many of these goals for communities.”
When these authors discussed the neighborhood associations I immediately thought of North Grand Neighborhood Services. They defined neighborhood associations as, “a civic organization oriented toward maintaining or improving the quality of life in a geographically delimited residential area.” I think that these are great ways to get the community involved especially on the issues the residents deem the most important. This article discusses why residents become involved in neighborhood associations and one was the longevity of the residents living in the neighborhood and wanting to protect the value of their homes. After attending the JVL block meeting this factor makes even more sense to me. Seeing the people at the meeting who have lived their there whole lives want the best for where they live, not just for themselves but for their neighbors as well.
Youth organizations and faith-based organizations were the last two items in this article. I think that after reading both of these sections it strengthened what I already knew about youth organizations but not the faith-based organizations. This article reveals that participation in youth organizations increases success in their lives (academic, life skills, etc.). The shocking part to me was that this article says less than 15% of CDCs are faith-based. This was surprising to me because of all the work of the churches in JVL that I have witnessed. JVL’s faith-based organizations show great accomplishment and I was surprised to see that the percentage was not higher.
I haven't read the chapter yet, but wouldn't CBO's be more likely to be faith based than CDC's?
ReplyDeleteThe article focused on the fact that many CDC's rely on outside sources for financing, this issue was mentioned by Debbie (the JVL resident that I interviewed). She said that there are many great opportunities in the community and people to help CDC's and faith-based organizations. However, the funding is not there for people to take full advantage of these opportunities. There aren't enough outside resources and surly not enough finances within the community to improve the overall living environment. Debbie said that even when it comes to housing it's challenging to get approved for bank finances, which just adds to the problems the community is dealing with. Like the article mentioned, then the needs of the community and the members are put on the backburner and the focus of the CDC's is to gain more finances.
ReplyDeleteI found the section on Community Youth Organizations interesting and very important. It seems that in JVL there is a struggle to keep children in school and for them to receive a quality education when they are there. The Community Youth Organizations that are developed in other areas strive to encourage attendance, graduation and teach the kids social skills as well as other skills that are necessary to be successful. Also, if kids are more involved in their community they are less likely to engage in illegal activity. When we met with Father Gary and Marty the first time they said that most criminal activity occurs between 3-6 which is when kids are out of school and parents are working. If there was an organization that provided activities to the kids then it could possibly decrease some of the delinquent activities. Also this reminds me of the kids in the video that we watched in class that were involved in the community revitalization and then became leaders of the movement as adults. I really feel that it is important for the kids to be involved which I think is a goal for the residents of Ferguson with their Youth Initiative. JVL has Herbert Hoover but I am not sure how accessible or practical that is for all the residents in the community. It would be interesting to find out more about the population they serve. Herbert Hoover is such a large entity too that it may not provide as much benefit as a grass roots Community Youth Organization would in allowing the kids to be involved in hands on activities in their immediate community.
ReplyDeletePoint 2 of your review on LDC's made me think about the needs as they are being addressed in Ferguson related to their actual primary needs verses what the outside community sees as their primary needs. The residents of Ferguson would really benefit from a more cohesive relationship with local government. This could come about through more voter registration, yes, but also through efforts made on the part of the local government. In doing so, we would see more effective change. For example, as an outsider I thought that perhaps the communities greatest struggle were racial divides. However, nearly every person of spoken to there speaks to the lack of jobs. It is apparent that local organizations are doing what they can to get the word out about their community.
ReplyDeleteI think this article did a great job of showing how different types of organizations benefit a community. I think it is important to learn about the difference between organizations and their positive and negative attributes. However, I was not surprised that most faith-based organizations are not CDC's. Based on the time we spent in JVL, most of the faith based organizations I have heard of, focus only on a small area, or population, in the neighborhood. I understand why they do this because members of a faith-based organization are more likely to be located near the church.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is important to know the different types of organizations that benefit a community but it is also important that they overlap with each other. For a community to function these organizations have to work with and need each other to function at the highest level.
ReplyDeleteSusanna I agree with you as well about the LDC's point number two. Once stronger and longer lasting relationships are provided with the local government then there can be more change in communities. Also, when I went to the Ferguson community more jobs as well as possible education training to get higher paying jobs was a major concern. Also, Allie the faith based organizations was surprising to me as well. I am not sure were I heard this, maybe class, but faith based organizations do not last long because they basically serve the surrounding community versus everyone.
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