Community Class 1 Fall 2023

FAM1272 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
INTRODUCTION TO
UNDERSTANDING CHANGE Chapter 1
WHAT IS COMMUNITY?
•What is community?
•Where can you find community?
•What communities do you belong to?
•What community problems exist?
WHAT IS COMMUNITY?
A community is based on
relationships and consists of a
number of people with
something in common, that
connects them in some way and
that distinguishes them from
others.
WHAT ISSUES EXIST IN
COMMUNITIES ?
Poverty
 Low Income Cut Off (LICO) is a measure of poverty that is used to identify
low-income families.
 A family is considered to be below to LICO (i.e. Poor) if they are devoting a
large portion of their income on basic necessities such as food, housing and
clothing.
 Certain groups, such as single-parent families, single people aged 45 to 64,
persons with disabilities, recent immigrants and Indigenous people, are
more likely to live in low income than others.
 In 2015, 1 in every 8 or 12.1% of Canadians lived in poverty.
 In 2018, 1 in every 9, or 11% of Canadians were living in poverty.
 In 2020, 6.4% of Canadians were living in poverty.
FOOD SECURITY
Food Security exists when all people, at all times, have

physical and economical access to sufficient, safe and
nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food
preferences for an active and healthy life.
Marginal food insecurity:
Worry about running out of
food and/or limited food
selection due to a lack of money
for food
Moderate food insecurity:

Compromise in quality and/or
quantity of food due to a lack of
money for food.
Severe food insecurity: Miss

meals, reduce food intake, and
at the most extreme go day(s)
without food
INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT OF
COMMUNITY PRACTICE
Shift to a neo-liberal approach – state’s involvement in people’s affairs is
minimized
Governments have changed funding policies in order to balance budgets =
significant cuts to funds allocated for social services
Nonprofit, community and public social services often struggle to provide
service (less programs, longer wait times, shorter appointment times, etc.)
THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY WORKER:
WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT SOCIAL
PROBLEMS?
Think about how you can come together with

others to create social change.
EMPOWERMENT
SSW’s will assist community partners in developing stronger beliefs in their own personal power,
the power of interpersonal interactions, and the power of an organized group.
EMPOWERMENT
4 ways to further the process of empowerment:
1. Provide community members with opportunities to make
decisions and perform tasks.
2. Offer encouragement.
3. Recognize contributions and their results.
4. Act as a group whenever possible. This will help to unite
you.
WORKING WITH COMMUNITY
ISSUES
Issues help us see and to get a handle on the problems or
conditions that we face.
Specific issues possess a clearly identifiable source of frustration

or barriers to accomplishment that call for purposeful, distinct
action. These fit into three categories…
SPECIFIC ISSUES:
1. Mobilizing or Recruitment Issues
2. Long Range Issues
3. Maintenance Issues
ISSUES & ORGANIZATIONS
What type of issue it is will depend on the kind of organization providing the change. Different types of
organizations include:
Temporary, Single-Issue Organizations: Deal with a particular situation and bring about a distinct and
limited change; the organization does not develop and typically dissolves once issue is resolved.
Ongoing, Single-Issue Organizations: Works on a fundamental large issue over time. Draw on people
interested in this one issue and no real effort to attract other people interested in other issues.
Multi-Issue, Power Based Organizations: Established to contend with an array of issues affecting people in
a similar constituency.
 Strives to attract new members with a diversity of interests.
 Build the organization to strengthen ability to be an ongoing community influence.
UNDERSTANDING & WORKING
AGAINST DISCRIMINATION
It is important for community workers to understand how discrimination and
oppression operate within communities. Why???
Racism, sexism, homophobia, classism and ableism, as well as other social relations of
discrimination are central to understanding community change
 How do you think communities experience oppression?
Dominant groups are those groups that have the most access to resources and
systems of power. Marginalized groups may be forced to act in ways that are more
similar to the norms of the dominant culture/group
UNDERSTANDING & WORKING
AGAINST DISCRIMINATION
Oppression…
has consequences for everyone
is institutional
makes communities feel helpless
Tension and conflict are acceptable as long as you work toward the
common good.
You can make a contribution in a fundamental way.
Social problems affect communities and you need to work

with communities to solve them.
Change occurs when we believe it can.

DISCUSS PROJECTS, ASSIGNMENTS
AND GROUPS.
Community in the News, show example and set sign up sheet
Community Initiative Project set groups
Arrange groups, discuss Available projects and sign up.
https://ca.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/community-organizer
Duties:

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FAM1272 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Food Security exists when all people, at all times, have

Moderate food insecurity:

Severe food insecurity: Miss

Think about how you can come together with

Specific issues possess a clearly identifiable source of frustration

Social problems affect communities and you need to work

Change occurs when we believe it can.

Community Initiative Project set groups

Arrange groups, discuss Available projects and sign up.

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