Community Building Curriculum

Community building is a recognized strategy for revitalizing community life, through on developing the skills and relationships among residents in geographic communities. At the same time, grassroots community leaders have limited access to capacity building programs. The Community Building Curriculum, designed by and for grassroots leaders and resident activists, highlights the strengths, lifts the voices, and builds bridges among those on the front lines of community building work in low–income communities. The goal of the Community Building Curriculum is to create a more just society by increasing the capacity of grassroots leaders and resident activists to make positive change in their communities.

Benefits for Participants

You will learn specific skills, tools, and models that will enable you to:

• Incorporate those directly affected by policies at the heart of dialogue and community building
• Value racial and cultural diversity as the foundation of wholeness
• Promote active citizenship and political empowerment
• Build on community strengths and assets
• Ensure access to fundamental opportunities and remove obstacles to equal opportunity
• Support and enhance the well-being of children and their families
• Foster sustained commitment, coordination and collaboration based on a shared vision and mutual respect

The Curriculum increases your capacity to make positive change in your community. As you build your base of skills, experience and networks, you develop more hope–filled, effective, imaginative and resourceful responses to the opportunities and challenges your community faces.

Benefits for Your Community

Participants in the Community Building Curriculum build confidence as they build skill in communicating their ideas, organizing meetings, and contributing to community processes. Your community will reap the benefit of this newly unlocked power as grassroots leaders play even more active roles within initiatives, associations, and formal organizations.

Workshop Description

A different learning experience has been designed for each of the seven principles, along with an introductory session about community building. There is a total of eight workshops that may be offered as a single day-long event or as a series of three shorter sessions. Offered in partnership with local community organizations, the Curriculum is available in English and Spanish.