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Understanding Community Rhythms
Every community is different, but over 20 years of research The Harwood Institute has identified 5 stages of community life. When we simply try to copy programs from one community to another we too often ignore one of the most critical variables in community change - that community's stage. To better understand your community's stage, consider these four questions.
After answering these questions, click ahead to read a description of the 5 stages, and read more about what you can do and should not do for each stage.1. How
broad and deep is the leadership - at
all levels of the community (including official
leaders, quasi-official, people on neighborhood
blocks, connectors between organizations), who
understand the true concerns of the community
as a whole, and who hold strong credibility and
trust?
A. Not much depth beyond some official
leaders and civic leaders (if they even meet
the definition above).
B. A core group of such leaders starting to
emerge.
C. Core group expanding; depth within the
community starting to form.
D. Rich supply of leaders at all levels of and throughout the community.
2. How
strong and constructive are the community norms
for public life - that help guide how
people and organizations act individually,
interact, and work together?
A. Stuck into old patterns such as finger
pointing; looking for ways to place blame; turf
battles;
mistrust; divisive, frustrated, or
non-existent community conversations.
B. While old patterns still exist, can see
new ones starting to develop. People starting
to work
more toward solutions, hold more
constructive conversations, take greater
personal responsibility. Seeds of trust
appearing.
C. A common sense of direction and purpose
flourishes throughout community; people in
the
community work well together; things get
done; constructive community-wide discussions
are
the expectation. Trust exists.
3. How
broad and deep are the "informal networks and
links" - that connect various
individual, groups, organizations, and
institutions together to create a
cross-fertilization effect of experiences,
knowledge, and resources in the community;
where people carry and spread ideas, messages,
and community norms from place to place?
A. Tattered.
B. Forming, but not yet strong, broad,
and deep.
C. Strong, growing, widespread,
functioning really well.
4.
How strong is the collection of catalytic
organizations - those that help engage
people in public life, spur discussion on
community challenges, and marshal a community's
resources to move ahead? These organizations
help lay the foundation for community action -
often convening different groups and resources
- but once an initiative is up and running,
they move on to the next challenge.
A. We've got lots of
organizations, but can't really see more than
one or two catalytic organizations - and I am
not sure if they're even the real thing.
B. We've got one or two true
catalytic organizations but they're often
overworked and/or overwhelmed; they often tend
to have a hard time keeping their focus.
C. We've got a real handful of true catalytic organizations; you can feel their presence and good work. They enjoy strong credibility and trust across the community.