Summary
Contents
Subject index
The Handbook of Community Practice is the first volume in this field, encompassing community development, organizing, planning, and social change, and the first community practice text that provides in-depth treatment of globalization—including its impact on communities in the United States and in international development work. The Handbook is grounded in participatory and empowerment practice including social change, social and economic development, feminist practice, community-collaboratives, and engagement in diverse communities. It utilizes the social development perspective and employs analyses of persistent poverty, policy practice, and community research approaches as well as providing strategies for advocacy and social and legislative action.
Rural Community Practice: Organizing, Planning, and Development
Rural Community Practice: Organizing, Planning, and Development
The basic principles of community practice are as relevant in rural areas as they are in cities. The major models of community practice have been successfully applied in rural communities (Weil, 1996a, 1996b; Weil & Gamble, 1995). Indeed, a number of basic practices used throughout community practice were also evident in the earliest work in the Rural Development Movement in the United States (Christenson & Robinson, 1989; Weil, 1996b). There is a long tradition of rural community practice, and aspects of the rural locale give it a unique character. Historical forces that affected rural areas have, however, left their influence, creating specific challenges to effective practice. Community practice strategies have been applied in rural areas in ways that draw on the assets of rural communities while addressing the challenges these communities face. Rural life is distinctly different from life in more population-dense environments, however, and rural community practitioners must understand and appreciate these differences. The most successful practitioners will recognize and draw on the unique aspects of these tight-knit and often tradition-rich communities while building on current strengths, addressing current needs, and finding strategies to deal with specific economic, social, and political challenges that accompany rural life. For these reasons, a chapter focused on rural practice is included in this volume.
Identifying the Community
Residents of rural areas generally have a strong sense of place and/or belonging to a community. Early rural communities in the United States generally encompassed an area that was accessible on foot or by horse and buggy with a social and commercial hub comprising a general store, a school, at least one church, and perhaps a post office. Over the last 50 to 75 years, however, good “farm-to-market” roads, along with automobiles and trucks, have made it possible to travel considerable distance to transport crops or purchase needed products in a reasonable time frame. As a result, rural communities have become less isolated. As rural residents increasingly interact with city dwellers, or have to travel to towns or cities to find work, the time to invest in close “hometown” relations may diminish, and it becomes more difficult to maintain the expected level of interactions with family and friends. Local or small town stores in rural America are increasingly threatened by “Walmartization” and many local businesses have failed as a result of the growth of “big-box-low-price” stores. The political economies of rural areas of America have been greatly affected by these trends and by the rapid industrialization of farming, resulting in large agribusinesses squeezing out family farmers. Increased mobility, the necessity to commute to cities for jobs, and the incursions of strip malls have caused a blurring of community boundaries.
The increased economic pressure involved in living on the land or in rural townships has major effects on social and community life, and community practitioners may have to work harder in nourishing or rebuilding connections. Community practice in rural areas is based on involving local players and stakeholders as well as local formal and informal organizations in community services and development. Practitioners now often have to facilitate regeneration of local investment and commitment. Positive engagement with and acceptance by local informal networks is a necessary function for rural social workers.
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