My article is called "Barriers to Citizen Participation: the missing voices of people living with low income" by Frances Ravensbergen and Madine Vanderplaat.
Found on: http://cdj.oxfordjournals.org/content/45/4/389.full
Summary
This article is very educational in the fact that it deals with many different views of low income communities. The authors portray these communities as having no say within their decision-making process. The authors believe that in order to acquire a sense of community, the people within it must speak up and say what they want and what they need. Instead, many governments in North America are taking control of these low income communities and telling them what they need and want. They believe that people in these communities must interact better with government and non-government agencies in order to hear their voice.
Analysis
This article has meaning behind it because it is important for a community to speak its voice and be heard by people of higher power. Community development is more important towards these lower income communties because they desperately need a "confidence boost" so to speak. This mean that they are just following the rules set out by the government to keep them happy, but in reality no one knows if they are happy except the people within the community. Therefore, their voice needs to be spoken.
These communities would definately benefit from using the community development framework. By using the 10 topics, they could possess a very strong community. Assigning people to engage others, interact with outside people (ie. government), celebrating, speaking about their strengths and research would make these lower income areas better. It will give the people empowerment, and as the definition of community development is stated as, "People helping to help themselves" this would work to their advantage.
I feel that after reading this article, these low income areas must incorporate a community advisor, someone that the city or town could hire to help them become a better community. From the article it states that, "Participants talked about their physical marginalization within their communities. For example, not having access to cultural and recreational opportunities because they cannot afford them" this is sad and unfortunate because everybody should have access to a recreation center or even a facility where the community can come together and enjoy themselves (ie. rec center). Therefore by allowing the people to speak their minds it will allow for the community to grow and get stronger as one.
There will be no need for discouragement because they will have had their voice heard and hopefully with have better implications to help their lives in the long run.
Interesting article Ryan! It's so true that low-income communities and people really need the benefits associated with recreation and community to boost their morale and confidence. The government should employ a member of these communities they fund to be a middleman between the community and government to ensure the communities voice is heard, rather than them being told what they need and want. I agree with your analysis.
ReplyDeleteGreat article Ryan, this is one that relates perfectly to what our class is about. Many programs and services offered to communities tend to be top-down type organizations. It is easy as a funding sponsor to get carried away with what their own vision is and believing themselves to be the experts on what is needed to help a community, unfortunately this tends to result in the community that is being served get lost. Especially for low income communities it appears that they require more people to speak-up in order to be heard. A good lesson for all of us future programmers/community development facilitators.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact that the top-down approach to community involvement with low-income people is not effective. I also agree with the fact that these people need to have their voices heard. I feel a lot of this has to do more with the stigma associated with the low-income community placed on them by the rest of society. For example, during the month of December volunteerism increases in major cities all over North America. People who have the capacity to give are more willing to help those in need at Christmas time. This is all well and good, and I'm not saying this should end but more of the "haves" should be willing to help the "have nots" year-round. In order for programs for the low-income community to be effective I feel that a change needs to be made both within the low-income community itself as well as the larger community. Without the support of the larger community these programs would fail. I fully agree that the low-income community would greatly benefit from following the 10 steps as you mentioned, but I feel that true success in this area would involve further growth in the greater community as well.
ReplyDeleteNice article Ryan. I liked how it was focused on a darker issue such as lower income communities. I agree that thir voice does need to be heard! great article choice Ryan.
ReplyDeleteRyan I enjoyed reading your blog. Your points on low income communities made alot of sense to me. I agree that everyone should have access to a recreation facility! Good read.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Good Blog Ryan. I completely agree with your thoughts on how communities would benifit if they used the community development framework as a guide.
ReplyDeleteReally impressive, thanks for your such important post. http://www.developmentstep.blogspot.com social development, success in business and self improvement.
ReplyDelete