Urban communities are undergoing a period of rapid change prompting concerns
about community fragmentation. By building social cohesion and revitalizing civic
participation, community development is viewed by many as a remedy to offset the
weakening of community ties. This thesis explores how a community agency- based
worker might help a fragmented community (re)build itself.
By employing a single case study methodology, this thesis applies community
development theories and related concepts to examine how a multicultural
neighbourhood in east Vancouver mobilized community action. The case study found
that a community capacity building framework, when supplemented with other
community development tools, is an effective model for strengthening community
leadership and building social connections. The study draws attention to the different
kinds of social and cultural capital required to develop neighbourhood solidarity and
bridge cultural differences in creating an inclusive community building process.
The community worker was based in a unique form of community agency called a
neighbourhood house. By providing resources needed for encouraging leadership and
developing social connectedness the neighbourhood house was found to be a key asset
for building community capacity. However, the study revealed that a neighbourhood
house's participation in community building is constrained by the multiple community
roles and relationships that it must maintain to ensure operational funding and a stance of
political neutrality in its everyday dealings. The case study concludes with a set of
recommendations for basing community development functions in a neighbourhood
house.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU./890 |
| Date | 05 1900 |
| Creators | Larcombe, Karen |
| Publisher | University of British Columbia |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | 7242925 bytes, application/pdf |
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