Welfare Reform on the Web (December 2010): Community regeneration and development - overseas
Art spaces, public space and the link to community development
C. Grodach
Community Development Journal, vol.45, 2010, p. 474-493
Recent literature credits community art spaces with both enhancing social interaction and engagement and generating economic development. This article argues that the ability of art spaces to realise these outcomes is linked to their role as public spaces and that their community development potential can be expanded with greater attention to this role. This research examines the relationship between public space and community development at various types of art spaces in Texas, including artist co-operatives, ethnic-specific art spaces, and city-sponsored art centres.
Barriers to citizen participation: the missing voices of people living with low income
F. Ravensberger and M. VanderPlaat
Community Development Journal, vol.45, 2010, p. 389-403
This article reflects on the involvement of people living with low income in the development of policies and plans aimed at the eradication of poverty in Canada. It reports on the process and outcomes of a one-year project, developed by KAIROS, aimed at identifying tools, strategies, and policies to increase the engagement of people living in poverty. It highlights the use of learning circles as one approach to enhance citizen participation in policy development. It concludes by calling for:
- an increase in local learning and action opportunities for poor people
- more supportive frontline interactions between governmental and non-governmental agencies and people living on low incomes
- government policy initiatives to reduce poverty
- action to increase public understanding of poverty to reduce stigma and discrimination.
Regenerating through collaborative innovation: the changing role of universities in urban and regional regeneration
L. Johnston
Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal, vol.4, 2010, p. 180-193
In the post-industrial economy, and following the 2008/09 recession, universities are becoming increasingly prominent within urban regeneration and renewal. Much emphasis has been placed on encouraging universities to develop 'collaborative innovation networks' to foster creativity and innovation. Using international and European case study examples, this paper highlights the potential of 'engaged universities' to become catalysts of regeneration and considers the constraining factors which hinder interaction between universities and business communities.
The State of African cities 2010: governance, inequality and urban land markets
UN-Habitat
Nairobi: 2010
The State of the African Cities 2010 goes above and beyond the first report, which provided a general overview of housing and urban management issues in Africa. With the subtitle: governance, inequity and urban land markets, the report uncovers critical urban issues and challenges in African cities, using social and urban geography as the overall entry points. While examining poverty, slum incidence and governance, the report sheds more light on inequity in African cities, and in this respect follows the main theme of the global State of the World's Cities 2010 report. Through a regional analysis, the report delves deeper into the main urban challenges facing African cities, while provoking dialogue and discussion on the role of African cities in improving national, regional and local economies through sustainable and equitable development. Through an analytical survey of several African cities, the report examines urban growth, social conditions in slums, environmental and energy issues and, especially, the role of urban land markets in access to land and housing.
URL: http://www.unhabitat.org/pmss/listItemDetails.aspx?publicationID=3034