Locality Development is the macro-practice speciality that is used the least and most likely should be utilized the most. Locality Development is when social workers work for or with a group of people who are actually the ones needing or utilizing the services, they, the clients, initiate the relationship, and controls the process of development. Most importantly, the professional joins with the community members to help them achieve their goals.
The best example of this known to most people is The Peace Corp. Here, Americans go abroad and join with a project or event that is developed by or run by the government or the citizens of that country. the goals and objective come from the citizens, community members, participants themselves.
I just spoke with a family friend who is in a South American country as a Peace Corp volunteer. I asked David what he did for the first six months and he said: "Basically I hung out, getting to meet people, developing relaionships and some trust and working to learn what their needs were and what I then could do to help them."
Habitat for Humanity is another well-known international organization that does locatity development. When it goes into a country following an invitation from the government or other group of citizens and builds houses in the manner and style and number that the local peolpe determine is needed, that is locality development. Habitat for Humanity also utilizes social planning and advocacy methods, as well as direct service so that everything that they do is not based on a locality development model.
Some Web sites to check out for examples of locality development are:
www.freenet.hamilton.on.ca/Information/associations
Locality Development/Community Development 1999 Style
Terminology changes over time. In the decade of the 1990's, locality development is sometmes also called "community development".
Some American neighborhoods are using the Web to aid them in their community activities. Under the auspies of a "neighborhood association", an organization that came about via "macro practice principles, these organizations exist to serve their citizen members. The Urban Land Institute and Community Associations Institute (USA Weekend, August 27-29, 1999, p. 4) gives this brief history of America's Changing Neighborhoods:
| 1950's | Highway system launches Suburban Boom |
| 1960's | Desire for privacy and reduced traffic inspires Cul-De-sacs |
| 1970's | Bedroom communities give way to Edge Cities, suburbs where people live and work. |
| 1980's | Security concerns promote Gated Communities; Environmental awareness leads to curbside Recycling |
| 1990's | Need for legislative clout motivates subdivisions to form Polictical Action Committees (PACS). |
| 2000 | Desire for Instant communication expected to fast-tract community association Web sites. |
To check out what is going on in Atlanta, Georgia in how neighborhood based locality development is happening, click here.
This site remains under development. Returen for new "developments"