Community Practice Mid-Term Exam Review

Community

A group of people living in the same place or sharing a particular characteristic in common.

Community Practice

Involves applying micro, mezzo, and macro practice skills in community, organizational, and systems contexts.

Community Development

A process to improve economic conditions, infrastructure, and access to social services in a community.

Capacity Building

Training and engagement activities designed to increase individual and organizational readiness for community change.

Social Action

Task-oriented activities aimed at achieving community-level, policy, or systemic change through engagement and relationship building.

Social Protest

Activities aimed at adopting or stopping laws, policies, or programs, requiring consensus among participants.

Social Movement

Large alliances advocating for social change, often involving marginalized groups seeking justice and rights.

Social Planning

A systematic approach by community planners to identify issues, develop plans, and evaluate outcomes.

Transformative Models

Education models emphasizing equal partnerships and mutual learning among community members and professionals.

Social Justice

The removal of barriers to empower individuals and communities, addressing inequities and fostering participation.

Community Practitioner

A facilitator, organizer, planner, activist, and lobbyist working to foster community change and collaboration.

Cultural Competence

A lifelong commitment to understanding and respecting cultural norms and practices of diverse communities.

Recruitment

Engaging individuals through various methods to participate in community initiatives and social movements.

Volunteer Motivation

Reasons people volunteer include belief in a cause, empathy, social justice commitment, and skill development.

Social Movement Participation

Driven by instrumentality, ideology, and identity, facilitating social and political change.

Framing

The use of values and conceptual outlines to recruit individuals for social activism and convey meaning.

Perceptions of Success

Leaders instill hope and celebrate achievements to foster a sense of collective efficacy among participants.

Community-Based Organizations

Formal structures with designated decision-makers focused on addressing community issues collaboratively.

Task Forces

Temporary groups formed to address specific community issues, often evolving into collaborative efforts.

Collaboratives

Partnerships among organizations to deliver services and engage in joint activities for community benefit.

Coalitions

Groups established for joint action to achieve specific goals, often involving multiple organizations.

Interfaith Alliances

Partnerships among faith-based organizations to mobilize resources and address community issues.

Dialogue

Dialogue focuses on understanding and building relationships, while deliberation applies critical thinking to problem-solving.

Problem-Solving Model

A framework for decision-making involving issue identification, assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Storytelling

A technique for group engagement that validates experiences and fosters understanding of collective issues.

Community Forum

Large meetings to examine community issues and set priorities, inviting diverse viewpoints for discussion.

Normal Group Technique

A method for engaging groups in setting priorities and identifying community needs through structured discussion.

Focus Groups

Group interviews used to gather detailed information about perceptions and experiences related to specific issues.

Study Circles

Deliberative dialogues among diverse community members discussing public issues over time.

Intergroup Dialogues

Facilitated discussions aimed at minimizing conflict and promoting understanding among diverse groups.