My personal interests represent a juxtaposition of themes. This means that I cover a variety of subjects not often related to one another. The intersection of these themes represent my most critical interests. Much of my sabbatical work will be to locate other work that focuses upon these intersections.
The broad themes are -
Central to this theme is Community Development. Community Development principles identify the basis for building local relationships and organizations, evaluating community needs, organizing decision and participation processes and offering technical assistance.
Participation in planning and analysis is complicated by political implications, limited resources, limited data, absence of practical models and the size of the problems being addressed.
Neighborhood analysis involves a perspective that is timely, sensitive to trends, comprehensive, aware of assets and liabilities, scaled to very local differences, inclusive of case and other qualitative information and enriched by information available from residents and other local actors.
The use of technology in neighborhood development can be an empowering process. Technology can improve opportunities for access, communication and persuasion. This does not eliminate, but transforms, the role of advocates and others who have mastered the technology. Emerging computer networks may further communication and collaboration but costs, structure and other barriers could work against these opportunities.
The size and responsibility of the non-profit sector is growing rapidly. Assumptions about the funding and control of non-profit organizations are changing. System serving organizations play a critical role - providing development support, intra-organizational collaboration, information and direct assistance to specific organizations.
Support for neighborhood-based community development organizations is increasing. But as critical is the relationship of larger scale organizations to neighborhoods and neighborhood organizations.
The segregation of neighborhoods and society by race and class is a pervasive factor. It limits the potential of collaborations. It is the basis for structures - largely economic - that continue to exacerbate the extent of problems more rapidly than they can be addressed by local organizations.
The changing technology for working with data systems permits tapping the data collected as organizations do their work. Working Management Information Systems can also transform the way that an organization works. The data from many sources can now be organized, geocoded, integrated and summarized.
Public access to information is a critical democratizing process. The interpretation of data is not a value free process. Key social indicators can help to focus the attention of the public on the success or failure of broad objectives. Detailed information supports the role of citizens in planning and oversight of individual services.
Policy and organizational analysis is enhanced by new methodologies. Organizational, program and policy evaluation models are evolving. The rush to "rational" policy analysis approaches is settling down with a more realistic assessment of appropriate uses. Questions of process and politics should be a part of this assessment.
Geographic Information Systems is an integrating technology that permits integration of data, presentation of data and a focus upon very local changes in communities. GIS can be made available to a broad range of organizations with no such access in the past.
Computer tools can be powerful mechanisms to make a point. Less frequently, the analysis leads to the discovery of new information or perspectives.
Computer networks such as Internet will radically change access and use of information as well as the nature of communication. The open-ended philosophy of an Internet is critical to a process in which anyone can publish and distribute information. But specialists are required to weave together the flood of information. And non-profit and neighborhood organizations face many barriers - especially cost and training.
Access to local information and convenient mechanisms for local communication require a greater commitment of time and resources than many realize. A critical mass of content and use is require to make such networks relevant to local users. Competition among alternative solutions may complicate this movement.
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