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Question: Can you suggest resources that show the value of involvement and participation by community members. Our local city Housing and Neighborhood Development - HUD funded department is doing top down reorganization of input process. City council is not knowledgeable about value of participation by neighbors.

Answer: While there is a lot of mixed opinion on this issue, the involvement of people in the process of community is a basic American value. There are a couple of other resources that can provide some help with your question, however. One is the Association for the Study and Development of Community (http://www.capablecommunity.com/), and the other is AHEC/Community Partners (http://www.ahecpartners.com/). Both organizations take the value of local participation seriously, and have done research in this area.

Question Date: Sat, 06/12/2004