The Mission...

The Community Development Society furthers community work through teaching, practice, and research. CDS provides those who do community work with best practices, networking opportunities, tools, and other resources.

Welcome to the Community Development Society

  2013 Conference

Beyond the Boundaries: Creating Innovation
Through Regional Collaboration

July 21-24, 2013 Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Francis Marion Hotel

Click here for Conference information!

 

Join a national conversation between community development professionals and practitioners.  Share your thoughts on Community Wealth.

Have you read the most recent CDS newsletter, the May Vanguard?  It profiles current CDS news, topical issues, and resources. You are welcome to submit items for publication to the editors, Timothy Collins, assistant director of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Cindy Banyai, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Principles of Good Practice

We believe that adherence to the Community Development Society\'s Principles of Good Practice are essential to sound community development.

  • Promote active and representative participation toward enabling all community members to meaningfully influence the decisions that affect their lives.
  • Engage community members in learning about and understanding community issues, and the economic, social, environmental, political, psychological, and other impacts associated with alternative courses of action.
  • Incorporate the diverse interests and cultures of the community in the community development process; and disengage from support of any effort that is likely to adversely affect the disadvantaged members of a community.
  • Work actively to enhance the leadership capacity of community members, leaders, and groups within the community.
  • Be open to using the full range of action strategies to work toward the long-term sustainability and well being of the community.