Community communal capacity building for swiping out the

Community communal capacity building for swiping out the individualistic norms and values in socio-economic divide polarization trap society Dr. Kazi Abdur Rouf Visiting Scholar, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University and Noble International University, USA. Paper presented at the Noble International University Public Forum July 05, 2014

Individualistic Values and Norms Capitalism, consumerism, industrialization, globalization and corporations are promoting Individualism, privatization, competition, urbanization Sexism, classism, racism Increasing social polarization gap between rich and poor Create cultural, social and economic divide in the society Inequalities, injustice, and discriminations at the expense of human face They are not promoting environmentalism Do not give respect to Cinderella economy and people-centered green economic They have anti-community communal altruistic values and norms.

Community Communal Values Community organizing, community capacity buildings, community planning process and social networking excel in o o o Building a sense of community belonging Caring and supportive each other and cooperative exchange (social capital), and Altruistic local living sustainable economy Community development approach addresses the issues of unemployment, poverty, gender discrimination and class conflicts in the society -anti to individualism It is a living process that strives for creating communal identity Changing the dominating power structure of the society Community communal values can minimize power struggle Develop trust among community people instead create competition and conflict among people in the society o Hence promotion of community communal norms, values and practices of caring each other and o Helping each other are essential and important in the socio-economic cultural divide in the modern society.

Research Questions What does mean by community, virtual community, community organizing, community development, social capital development and deepening community? Is there a difference between a community and social network? Why community development work is essential in the society? How do people make the connection from self to others? What are the means and strategies could be developed for developing altruistic communal values and norms in the society?

Objectives of the Study To identify the meanings and characteristics of community To define virtual community, neighbourhood, community development, and deepening community To explore the contributions of social network in community organizing, and development community To discover the role of local or geographical boundaries and To find out role and challenges of communication technologies, social capital (social network) in community development.

Methodologies The paper contains Author`s own academic scholarships Working experiences working with the community agencies MCC, Noble Institute for Environmental Peace (NIEP) in Canada and Grameen Bank (GB), Grameen Motsho & Poshosampd Foundation (GMPF) in Bangladesh The paper contains literature reviews on community organizing and community development.

Significance of the study/ statement of the problems Individualistic norms and values have started from the pre-industrial and industrial capitalistic society However, individualistic economic divide polarization process increases in the post- industrial period through emerging giant cities and globalization This socioeconomic and cultural polarization process creates community divide, uneven ruralurban divide, socio-economic divide, cultural divide Environmental destructions Giant cities and globalization overexploited natural resources and human resources without giving return to Mother Earth and community

Significance of the study/ statement of the problems-continue Cities become so large that comparatively simple services and agencies have posed problems Even technology unable to solve social and economic problems Rather technology increasingly create socio-economic gap Injustice, anti-altruism unethical individualistic values and norms in the unsatisfactorily.

Terms Community Neighbourhoods Association Community development • Community organizing • Community capacity building and Community planning steps/process.

Definition of Community A community is a group of people “who live together” who belongs together, so that they share, not this or that particular interest, but a whole set of interests wide enough and complete enough to include their lives. ” Benefits of Community People can learn from sharing stories Developed collectivism Community belonging shape people identity more broadly Builds the conditions for mutual aid and prosperity Improves over all human well-being Embrace a communal approach

Ahamedhya Muslim Community and Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in Canada These are two community service agencies in Canada Aids its members They feel that their community members insurance for each other When there is a medical emergency, personal need, these community people takes up a collection to pay the hospital bill They are one another’s insurance. This is their definition of “Mutual Aid. ” Ahamedhya faiths beliefs ‘service is part of their worship’ By joining others, people have a better chance of being successful This allows people to support one another These community people trust success of one becomes the success of all.

In Bangladesh, Grameen Bank (GB) and Grameen Mostsho & Pashosampad Foundation (GMPF) Form village groups, center, conduct weekly meetings at members neighbourhoods Develop solidarity through regular social networks among marginalised people Share/exchange ideas and help each other Develop leaderships, enhance empowerment

Virtual Community Virtual/Cyber-communities are usually created through online interaction They exchange and share information with certain goals and aims Contemporary technologies, primarily digitalization and the Internet, have shrunk our world People can be smarter and more effective in community Facebook, Twetter, Linkedin, Flickr, Printerest are great virtual tool help people understand others and find patterns to follow Virtual community trend is increasing across the world because accessing the Internet has become relatively easy Computers, Tabulate, Smart phones and Internet-mediated communication connect people globally.

Neighbourhood In larger urban centers, communities are often defined in terms of particular neighbourhoods It is a smaller area in which relationships tend to be primary, or more or less intimate People living in an area posses a common set of institutions, customs, traditions, beliefs, attitudes, and ways of life Example Ahamadhya community neighbourhood and their community services/events/festivals, community kitchen, community garden in Mable • MCC neighbourhoods are in the town houses Waterloo and Cambridge in Ontario neighbourhood: • Pray together, celebrates harvesting, potluck, recreational activities together.

Community Social Capital Social capital refers to connections among individuals for creating social cohesion value, better health, education and security Bonding social capital facilitates in developing social relationships within the framework of community and development For example, the Toronto Bengali Cultural Club (TBCC), MCC members, NIEP members, GB and GMPF members have a network/circle Grameen Bank and GMPF field workers build networks among marginalized people in Bangladesh TBCC members share, exchange Bengali culture, music, dance, theatre and food In Canada community agencies have small library, people exchange books, movies Teach English to newcomers Coach Math to school children in Toronto Grameen Bank and GMPF field workers build networks among marginalized people in in Bangladesh.

Is Geographic boundaries are essential for Community? Automobiles and Internet have made it possible for people to live farther from where they work Still, space affects our access to jobs and public services (especially education) Community members access to shopping and culture and the availability of medical services Internet, email and other digital technology make social networking and space creation easier However, poor and working-class families are less likely to own instruments of eliminating or reducing the ‘digital divide’.

Community Development (CD) driven not by competition and deprivation, but by cooperation and affluence for the wellbeing of people It fundamentally about building partnerships, collaborations and information sharing and helping people Community people and community builders develop integrated actions and services to improve conditions of people’s lives in the society Community mutual learning and mutual helping among community members is central to common wellbeing of human life For example MCC, Ahamodhya, GB and GMPF are about to help poor and working class citizens improve their socio-economic status.

Community Development-continue Kuh-Ke-Nah Network (K-Net), a regional network of more than 60 aboriginal communities around northern Ontario and Quebec, is used For health, education and other social services

Diagram 1: Agencies involved in the CD capacity building process (Frank & Smith 2005). Business chamber of commerce , Financial Institution Community residents, Community and social services, churches Education, health, justice, safety Community planning participants Labour organizations, Government representative Communication and media Politicians

Community Economic Development different phenomenon • CED • Ced • c. Ed

Grameen Bank: Community Economic Development Grameen Bank operates nationwide through 2185 branches Loan repayment rate is (97%) since 1979 97. 9% borrowers are women Total of 6. 5 million borrowers through 130, 000 rural landless associations in 70, 370 villages in Bangladesh Total loan disbursement is $5. 65 billion since its inception Of them $5. 00 billion has been repaid Current borrower savings are $2. 5 billion

Grameen Bank: Community Economic Development-continue 100% loans financed from borrowers deposits 21, 500 staffs working at the village level nationwide GB never receives any grants from outside It is run based on its own borrower’s savings, an internal fund mobilization, which makes it economically sustainable.

Community Organizing Community organizing is essential for community development and community wellbeing of its members The value of mutual cooperation, participations, mutual aid Mutual actions, mutual voices, autonomy, collective affords Develop and solve local problems by using local resources Anti-community organizing phenomenon: o Influence, imposition, exploitations, injustice, competitions o Top down decisions and top down executions are Community builders need to be successful motivators and selflessness.

Community Organizing-continue In Toronto, many community agencies are successful to make networks among its community members Examples are Food Share, Regent Park Community Services Islamic Social Services and Rehabilitation Services (ISSRA), Ahamodhya Association Noble Institution for Environmental Peace (NIEP) MCC, Scott Mission and Red Cross Programs etc.

Community Capacity Building and Community Development Problem-solving, conflict resolution skills and team building skills are important in the community capacity building process To be effective in problem solving, community builder need have the ability to identify the issue, or problem Look at options and alternatives Help individuals understand the views of others Manage conflict when it occurs, help find common ground Assist members to recognize, make agreement when it happens Both community development and community capacity building are being viewed as community-based participatory model of development.

Community Planning Process: Diagram 2: Community planning steps, (Frank and Smith (2005). 7. Evaluate progress & results 6. Implement the plan 5. Develop action plans 4. Establish Objectives 3. Set goals 2. Assess the current situation 1. Create the vision

Deep Community • Paul Born, Director of Tamarack Institute, Canada believes • In “deep community” • Deepen community means to make consciousness, proactive, intentional effort to hold on to and build on the connections between community members • The deepening community creates the opportunity for people to care for and about others • Deeper connection and relearning the skills of community engagement and collaboration • Could reach the goal of reducing poverty for one million families in Ontario.

Limitations of the Study The study is not an analytical/empirical paper rather it is a thematic paper Narrates author’s own experience on community development work in Canada and in Bangladesh Paper does not measure their socio economic development that is also significant Paper does not have primary survey data on the impact of community development in community members’ life Study only reviews community development literatures, community organizing process and community planning process.

Implications of the Paper To develop effective community buildings, methods of community organizing This knowledge can help community people organize themselves to use their community resources Create opportunities for local initiatives Feeling of “We” instead “I” These processes assist people Engaging in community development activities and Uphold deepening community solidarity communal values in their life.

Paper finds It is possible to build the conditions for mutual aid in DCs and UDCs Prosperity among community members even in the giant cities Paper generates new knowledge of community organizing where People can generate green jobs Address their poverty and Environmental degradation in their neighbourhoods.

Community development is a living process Conclusion It brings about change, forges new relationships and shifts power However, power struggle can arise in the community development process Some community members may perceive it a loss of power Or be threatening by the new relationships that they see being developed Community builders can minimize power struggle issues by aware their community people about community development involves change Talk about change with those who will be affected Assess confusion and power struggles are likely to occur and identify action Community builders/agencies need to promote the vision and Goals of community development plan to create a common purpose and focus.

Thank You Comments/Questions