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Books and Links

  • Kretzmann & McKnight (1993).  BUILDING COMMUNITIES FROM THE INSIDE OUT.  ACTA Publications, Chicago.  This is the basic explanation of Asset-Based Community Development.  Churches could follow the lead of community groups which have purchased several copies and held discussions about what this means for us in our work.  It is an excellent guide to a way of thinking and working with people based on their assets compared to focusing upon needs or what’s wrong with people and communities.  Practice tips, and activities to use locally.
  • Littrell & Littrell (2006).  PRACTICING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.  University of Missouri Extension Publications, Columbia.  This book is written in approachable language for people working at the community level and as a basic textbook.  It gives many examples of how to put the principles of community development into practice.  The authors are consultants to CBF’s Together for Hope, Rural Poverty Initiative.  Individual or group orders can be placed by phone at 1-800-292-0969 or ordering online. http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/commdm/dm7616.htm 
  • Jacobsen (2001). Doing Justice: Congregations and Community Organizing. Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis. Inspirational and practical, it provides a theological foundation as congregations go about doing justice through community organizing. In a concise fashion, Jacobsen provides practical insights and deals with a range of topics from relating to the media to the role of power, self-interest and agitation in community organizing. This book is a short but meaningful read.
  • Nored (1999).  REWEAVING THE FABRIC, How Congregations and Communities Can Come Together to Build Their Neighborhoods.  Black Belt Press, Montgomery, AL.  This is an excellent case study/example of how a small black church gave leadership to the social, housing and economic redevelopment of their area (Ensley, AL).  It has an excellent short chapter on leadership plus it demonstrates how external resources can be used to help carry out the community agenda.
  • Medoff & Sklar (1994).  STREETS OF HOPE, The Fall & Rise of an Urban Neighborhood.  South End Press, Boston.  This an outstanding case report covering 10 years of work within a given setting.  It clearly shows how over time community people, working with professional people, foundations, churches, government and their own resources including a strong political will, can redevelop an area.
  • Lappe & DuBois (1994) THE QUICKENING OF AMERICA.  Jossey-Bass Inc, San Francisco.  A very effective book on helping people think about community life and what is possible.  It is full of ideas and approaches to community work that is both practical and stimulating.   
  • Mathews (1999). POLITICS FOR PEOPLE.  University of Illinois Press, Champaign/Urbana.  This book introduces the reader to the concepts of citizen-based politics and makes the argument that future political success will demand much greater public input.  A stimulating, fairly easy read.  Mathews is President of the Kettering Foundation, and former president of the University of Alabama.  THIS BOOK HAS BEEN PRINTED IN SPANISH.
  • McKnight (1995).  THE CARELESS SOCIETY.  Basic Books, New York.  This book will trouble many people, for it calls the traditional social service model into question.  It explores how professional service workers tend to deal with people from a need orientation rather than a developmental approach.  A very interesting, thought-provoking book.
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