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Many people want to help bring about changes in their neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities. Leaders and scholars of change efforts are likewise eager for insights into what makes some organizations and coalitions capable of building and exercising power. Why are some groups successful in making changes in policies and systems and in sustaining their momentum over time, while others struggle or never really get off the ground? With Community Power and Empowerment, Brian D. Christens brings the most comprehensive analysis of empowerment theory yet conducted to bear on these questions, taking aim at many of the longstanding weaknesses and ambiguities of empowerment theory, research, and practice. For example, one major hindrance is that most notions of empowerment have not been coherently connected with community power. In addition, research has emphasized psychological aspects of empowerment over organizational processes, and has neglected community empowerment processes to an even greater extent. By linking empowerment and community power, Christens constructs a holistic framework for assessing and comparing community-driven change efforts. This book offers new guidance for inquiries into outcomes and impacts of empowerment processes on health and well-being, providing a resource for researchers, organizational leaders, practitioners, and anyone interested in collective action for change.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
- Series Foreword by Nicole E. Allen and Bradley Olson
- Foreword by Isaac Prilleltensky
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- Chapter 2: Community Power
- Chapter 3: The Rise of Empowerment
- Chapter 4: Human Development
- Chapter 5: Organizational Development
- Chapter 6: Community Development
- Chapter 7: Health and Well-being
- Chapter 8: Designing Research and Action
- Chapter 9: Conclusion
- About the Author
- Index
Über den Autor / die Autorin
Brian D. Christens is Associate Professor of Human and Organizational Development at Vanderbilt University. He studies processes that enhance people's and organizations' ability to take action to alter power structures and benefit their communities.
Zusammenfassung
Many people want to help bring about changes in their neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities. Leaders and scholars of change efforts are likewise eager for insights into what makes some organizations and coalitions capable of building and exercising power. Why are some groups successful in making changes in policies and systems and in sustaining their momentum over time, while others struggle or never really get off the ground? With Community Power and Empowerment, Brian D. Christens brings the most comprehensive analysis of empowerment theory yet conducted to bear on these questions, taking aim at many of the longstanding weaknesses and ambiguities of empowerment theory, research, and practice. For example, one major hindrance is that most notions of empowerment have not been coherently connected with community power. In addition, research has emphasized psychological aspects of empowerment over organizational processes, and has neglected community empowerment processes to an even greater extent. By linking empowerment and community power, Christens constructs a holistic framework for assessing and comparing community-driven change efforts. This book offers new guidance for inquiries into outcomes and impacts of empowerment processes on health and well-being, providing a resource for researchers, organizational leaders, practitioners, and anyone interested in collective action for change.
Zusatztext
This book is an indispensable reference for anyone working in community development. For public and community health professionals in particular, it is increasingly clear that community leadership is essential for addressing the most pressing issues affecting population health. In this rigorous text, Professor Christens offers the theoretical foundations for community empowerment work. In addition, the book offers concrete research and action plans for practitioners interested in working with communities empowered to identify local solutions to reduce inequities and increase social justice and population well-being.
