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<br />Volunteens, a summer program that provides a small v\'fite the details of a program based on citizens' values I
<br />stipend to teenagers who deliver recreation and other and dreams. .
<br />organized programs to children, other teens. and seniors. Brea has med a visioning process called Brca by .
<br />, The Volunteens program builds on the talents and Design, engaging 12; "communitv designers" in creating
<br />i energies of teenagers, not on their problems. a vision for the ne" dov\'llto"n. Based on the values I
<br />Likewise, in trying to help families who live in and concerns raised bv a cross section of residents and
<br />poorer neighborhoods, a local gov'ernment should try to businesspeople, the city is redeveloping its downtown as
<br />recognize and tolke adv'antage of these residents' strong ev'ervone's "second neighborhood" "ith the full support I
<br />sense of family and support for each other, as shown by of the cOllnHumty.
<br />the mothers who look after each other's children in front As urban planner "-{ichac! Do)'le has asked, "How
<br />of apartment complexes. Gov'ernments also should build can people act in the interest of the whole, if it isn't well- ,
<br />on the people's faith in religion and ties to the church, defined, beautiful, and ennobling?"
<br />should use the organizational abilities they exhibit when
<br />they organize block parties or fiestas, and otherwise Developing Community Leadership
<br />should build on their sense of community. These are In lowas '995 general elections: no one filed to run . I
<br />all tremendous assets. for the office of mayor 111 131 cltLes. ELghty-one councLl
<br />seats in that same election attracted no candidates.
<br />Likewise, public officials in southern California I
<br />Four Illustrative Strategies long have lamented that well-meaning, talented people
<br />While local government never will abandon completely are not stepping forward to take on leadership roles. In
<br />, its service-delivery or vending-machine role, managers response to this leadership crisis, Brea and four other
<br />need to confront their brave new world with more communities in North Orange County and Diamond I
<br />! collaborative problem-solving approaches. The barn- Bar in Los Angeles County joined forces to form the
<br />raising concept encompasses many kinds of strategies. North Orange County Leadership Institute. Coordinated
<br />To illustrate the approach, let us review quickly four by California State University at Fullerton, the nine- ,
<br />strategies that fit the model: month program aims to identify, train, and energize
<br />t potential community leaders who can take on leadership
<br />',.. Visioning positions on school boards and city councils, as well as in
<br />, Typically, local governments try two extreme approaches PTAs, church groups, business associations, and civic
<br />" '" cl ,,""' ,,"" eI" ,",""m"" M 0" e ,," ",,' " '" ,,"" co' e,""" '" ", m'"'" of ," kf" d, TO e ,"",",""" ·
<br />.:., "tell-and-sell" mode, which involves no real community just graduated its first class of 2; community leaders.
<br />. Without comrnunity leaders, local I
<br />governments have no one with \\'hom
<br />The tiLtllre for local uO\'emmellt lies ill trallsformillu !J"ssiye to work. Leadership development must
<br />. b .' ." b be a priority in building a civic
<br />COllSumers of fJllbhc serYlces mto re.sfJollSlhle cltl=ens. infrastructure and addressing I
<br />intr,.]ctable community problems.
<br />
<br />I participation at all. After local government agencies Working Through Mediating Institutions I
<br />.. have made a decision, they try tosell it, often with little As the survey results on confidence in institutions
<br />success and much negatLve reaellOn and mIStrust m the mdlcates (see Figure 1), people hav'e greater trust in
<br />'] decision-making process. churches, schools, and voluntary civ'ic organizations I
<br />!:.\ At the other extreme of the continuum of com- than in local government. Schools, religious organi-
<br />'!j munity participation is thc involvement of people in zations, and other voluntary groupS can mediate
<br />"/'1 mundane technical planning, such as the update of a between government and the people. Given this
<br />'?; Gene~al Plan element. At the beginning of the process, potential mediating role. it makes sense for local I
<br />~_''''I energized and mohvated city councl1-appomted go,'ernment agencies to form partnershIps with
<br />"" reSIdents and busmesspeople may attend monthly voluntary commumty orgamzahons.
<br />I;) meetings. After six months of dealing with mind- A good example of such a partnership is the I
<br />~I numbing technical minutiae, however, everyone is collaboration between city rcdevelopment agencies and
<br />t.J bored and drops out. HabLtat for Humamty, a nonprofit ChnstLan mmlstry
<br />Visioning is a barn-raising strategy that truly engages that helps lovv~income families build their own houses I
<br />people m expressmg what they know best: thm values, mth commumty support. Rcdevelopment agencies often
<br />hopes, and fears. Once people have articulated their offer free land, and Habitat for Humanitv enaaoes -.
<br />' 0 0
<br />aspirations, the technical people can develop a plan or churches, businesses, civic groups, and literally
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