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How To Do It

The community development field has continued to experiment with efforts to move beyond single issue, project-based strategies toward more complex, inter-connected, and cross-sectoral approaches to community change.  The Institute for Comprehensive Community Development mines a rich body of rapidly accumulating experience within and outside the LISC network to develop case studies, templates, and other tools intended to help practitioners launch, expand, and/or strengthen comprehensive community development programs. 

These tools are organized to help practitioners through all stages of a comprehensive community development program—beginning with organizing and engaging a community, through planning and implementation.  We hope you find this on-line Comprehensive Community Development resource manual helpful. 

If you have a tool to share, please send it to us.

Introduction to Comprehensive Community Development

Comprehensive development -- 'How you approach everything', By Patrick T. Reardon, May 9,… Continue

    1. ENGAGING, ORGANIZING AND BUILDING COMMUNITY

    The work of building a community begins with old-fashioned organizing, sophisticated relationship… Continue

    2. PLANNING

    Planning has a unique power to bring people and groups together, and to get them talking about the… Continue

    3. LEVERAGING AND DEAL MAKING

    No single organization has the money or know-how to deliver every project in its community plan. … Continue

    4. COMMUNICATING

    Effective communication can not only galvanize a community, it can also help you tell your story to… Continue

    5. LEADING

    Dynamic leadership doesn’t just happen. It has to be nurtured, cultivated and rewarded. If… Continue

    6. PILLARS OF A HEALTHY COMMUNITY

    Neighborhoods are complex systems that require many elements to work well, from decent housing and… Continue

    7. EVALUATING

    How do we know if comprehensive community development is actually improving the quality of life in… Continue

    Getting It Done II

    This national conference will bring together 600 practitioners, funders, researchers, and policy… Continue

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