The Council works with community-based organizations (CBOs), residents, public agencies, elected officials, foundations and other stakeholders to build community capacities, to create and sustain change that improves outcomes for children, families and residents of low-income neighborhoods. Our projects include providing capacity building, technical assistance and training; strategy and program development, and tool development for community building initiatives at the neighborhood, community and national levels. Our approach is to improve the myriad conditions affecting low-income neighborhoods and residents by working comprehensively to apply community building principles and practices. For more information see the Council's “Community Building Principles and Practices.”

The Council works with partner organizations across the country in building organizational and collective capacities within the community building field to support community building practitioners. The Council engages in a variety of activities -- from research and publication, to fiscal sponsorship and organizational development, to participation in national organizations -- that are aimed at developing the field of community building.

Contact

Liz Johnson
Program Associate
lizj at urbanstrategies.org

Current Projects

• San Antonio Neighborhood Network - Making Connections Initiative
• Center for Community Builders
• Community Building Workshops
• Community Governance Materials

Program Goals

Neighborhood and Community Building

• Increase capacity of residents & CBOs in low-income neighborhoods to plan and problems-solve issues in their neighborhood
• Reduce the number of families in poverty

Field Building

• Increase the number of residents, CBOs, public agencies & philanthropists practicing and supporting community building
• Build capacity of local and national organizations supporting community building
• Contribute to the development of knowledge, practice and policy for community building

Program Strategies

Neighborhood and Community Building

• Use Community Building Initiatives as vehicles for reducing poverty by building vibrant, healthy communities
• Build local and national capacity and tools for community builders

Field Building

• Build the field of community building by developing community building support organizations
• Participate to the development of knowledge, practice and policy for community building