This handbook provides a review of promising practices and strategies facilitating immigrant integration, especially in new settlement areas. The purpose of this handbook is to foster a constructive approach to newcomers and community change.
What behaviors do highly vital congregations have in common? How can all congregations move toward greater vitality? In Vital: Churches Changing Communities and the World, Jorge Acevedo passionately and effectively reveals how Grace Church in Cape Coral, Florida, has developed behaviors that result in vital and fruitful ministry. Focusing on spiritual pastoral leadership, lay leadership development, worship, small groups, and service and mission, Acevedo both inspires and coaches. He helps leaders of congregations act in their own contexts to develop behaviors essential to vitality, as identified by the recent study of 32,000 United Methodist congregations. The book includes brief summaries of learnings from the research and stories from other congregations illustrating vital behaviors in different settings. Approximately 15% of the 32,228 churches (4,961 churches) scored high in vitality based on the vitality index. What this means is that 15% of our churches have figured out some way to remain highly vital in spite of the fact that 85% have not. What this means is that we cannot assign all the blame for our congregational demise at the feet of the “institution” of the church. 4961 congregations have figured out ways to prevail in spite of our denominational condition. To me this is hopeful and promising! This book is my best attempt for us to learn from the 15% of United Methodist Churches that are vital, growing and prevailing. Jorge Acevedo
The world around us is a wreck. When there's so much conflict around the country and around the corner, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, powerless, and helpless. What can one person do to make a difference? Here's the good news. Millions of everyday people are ready to step into their power to transform their communities. And you are one of them. Take heart and be inspired by real stories of ordinary people who took action and changed their corner of the world, one step at a time. Equal parts inspiration, education, and Do-It-Yourself, Transforming Communities by veteran community activist Sandhya Jha will open your eyes to the world-healing potential within you, and give you the vision, the tools, and the encouragement to start transforming your neighborhood, one person at a time.
Changing Communities brings together policy analysis, theoretical understandings of migration and displacement, and illustrations of the diverse ways in which communities themselves perceive these processes of change. Marjorie Mayo draws from both previous studies and her own original research to examine a range of responses, taking account of the varying possibilities, challenges, and interests involved--both within and between communities, locally and transnationally. The book highlights examples of some of the creative, cultural ways in which communities--including diaspora communities--reflect upon their experiences of change and find modes of responding and expressing their unique voices, in such art forms as poetry, storytelling, and photography.
Experienced community organizer and professor Patricia Spindel provides a practical guide for producing change through community action and social activism in the updated second edition of Changing Communities. Spindel explores who has power in society and how communities can mobilize to create positive change by building capacity, developing community structures, and taking direct action to shift power relations. Outlining a practical approach to asset mapping, creating community economic development strategies, and critiquing some current approaches to community development, the chapters cover topics including the impact of corruption and the influence of powerful interests, community strengths and needs assessment, community-based research, various community development strategies, and the principles and some of the tactics used in community organization. Equipped with case studies and practical examples, this fundamental guide is an essential resource for students in community development, social service work, gerontology, and other human services and helping professions. FEATURES - Includes a community strengths-based assessment framework developed by the author, referred to as the Strengths, Assets, Challenges, and Opportunities Assessment (SACO) - Offers case studies and practical examples from Canada and the United States - Provides students with practical knowledge on how to build powerful coalitions, raise funds for grassroots projects, and deal with the press and social media, including how to write a press release
We live in a world of changing hearts and changing communities. Spiralling family violence and child abuse and neglect, often related to intergenerational trauma, are severely impacting many communities. On an international level threats from nuclear war, climate change, and artificial general intelligence in the hands of autocratic dictators, present disturbing challenges to our future. If we want to see change in families, communities, and nations it needs to begin in the motivational centre of our being. The scourge of insatiable approval-seeking, alienation from the Creator, intergenerational trauma, and the debilitating effects of a broken heart and spirit, simmers within us. How can we experience change? We need to identify what needs to change in what is motivating us and discover how we can be empowered to change deeply entrenched habits. As well as a change in the thought patterns of our minds, we need to experience a pervasive pivot in our attitudes. This publication draws from arguably the most significant change movement in history, exploring how we can discover the power to change and contribute toward transforming broken communities in an uncertain world of accelerating change.
Defining Memory uses case studies of exhibits from around the country to examine how local museums, defined as museums whose collections are local in scope or whose audiences are primarily local, have both shaped and been shaped by evolving community values and sense of history. Levin and her contributors argue that these small institutions play a key role in defining America's self-identity and should be studied as seriously as more national institutions like the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Read Along or Enhanced eBook: This empowering title will help readers discover that they have the ability to create positive changes in their communities. Inviting text and relatable examples prompt children to learn what it means to be a citizen of a community and find meaningful ways to act for the common good. Ideas include creating artwork to brighten up a local retirement facility and donating old books to a library or reading program.
The climate has changed and communities across America are living with the consequences: rapid sea level rise, multi-state wildfires, heat waves, and enduring drought. Living with Climate Change: How Communities Are Surviving and Thriving in a Changing Climate details the steps cities are taking now to protect lives and businesses, to reduce their vulnerability, and to adapt and make themselves more resilient. The authors included in this book have been directly involved in the successful design and implementation of community-based adaptation and resilience programs.