Laserfiche WebLink
Southeast Quality of Life <br />Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan <br />Anthony Downs, Senior Fellow, at the Brookings Institution, writes in his book <br />Neighborhoods and Urban Development about the critical role neighborhoods <br />play in transferring and supporting social values. <br />The creation of values and social structures and their transmission from <br />each generation to the next are among the most vital social functions <br />within individual neighborhoods. Moreover, deficiencies in these elements <br />are among the most important and most intractable aspects of <br />neighborhood life in many areas, especially where poverty is concentrated. <br />Family structures are weak, with many single -parent households in which <br />adolescent children are often influenced more by peer groups than by <br />adults. Values dominating interpersonal relations are often grounded on <br />low self-esteem, feelings of personal powerlessness, hostility toward <br />others, admiration of criminal and other antisocial behavior, lack of respect <br />for hard work or education and general cynicism ... the elderly fear going <br />out on the streets; and interpersonal relationships become laden with <br />suspicion. Young people are discouraged from adopting attitudes toward <br />learning and work that would enable them to escape from such conditions <br />by developing skills marketable in the larger society. Hence their <br />dependence upon public assistance and illegal activities is perpetuated. <br />If we take his words at face value it is critical that the structures of community <br />be upheld. This cannot be dictated from outside the neighborhood but must <br />come from within the neighborhood. The neighborhood must look within itself <br />for answers to the stresses it is dealing with. <br />Each of the above issues has as its underlying cause the lack of capacity of <br />individuals, families, organizations and the neighborhood in general. How is it <br />that we can begin to build the capacity of individuals and institutions to address <br />these issues on an immediate level and prevent their recurrence in the future? <br />Recreating a Sense of Community Within the Neighborhood <br />The first step to rebuilding capacity within the neighborhood is recreating a <br />sense of community within the neighborhood. As neighbors work together to <br />identify issues and priorities and chart a course of action for the future, a sense <br />Of community is built. That alone is unlikely to be enough to reestablish <br />community once it has broken down. The strategic plan will need to contain <br />strategies that establish and reinforce community. <br />57 <br />