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Differential Effects of Strategic Planning on Community Change in Two Urban Neighborhood Coalitions

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American Journal of Community Psychology

Abstract

Community coalitions represent a promising approach for addressing the interrelated and multiply- determined issues affecting urban neighborhoods of concentrated poverty. The literature suggests a number of community processes that may affect coalition efforts to change and improve communities. This study uses an interrupted time-series design to examine the effects of a strategic planning intervention on community change in two urban neighborhoods in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Results showed that strategic planning was associated with increased rates of community change in the two urban neighborhood coalitions. Under appropriate conditions, such as the presence of consistent leadership, strategic planning may be a particularly effective mechanism for stimulating community change and addressing locally-determined goals in urban neighborhoods.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to support and evaluate the contributions of local community coalitions to change and improve community conditions to promote healthy youth development. We thank the former staff of the Kauffman Neighborhood Initiative, especially Andres Dominguez, Gloria Jackson, and Jim Koeneman, who provided the opportunity to learn in collaboration with our community partners. We would also like to thank former KU colleagues Rod Bremby and John Cyprus who helped to provide technical support during the strategic planning phase of this project. In particular, we are grateful to the staff, board, and partners of the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council and the Northeast Coalition for their ongoing commitment and dedication to transforming their communities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Work Group for Community Health and Development, University of Kansas, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, 4082 Dole Center, Lawrence, KS, USA, 66045-7555

    Jomella Watson-Thompson, Stephen B. Fawcett & Jerry A. Schultz

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  1. Jomella Watson-Thompson
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  2. Stephen B. Fawcett
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  3. Jerry A. Schultz
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Correspondence to Jomella Watson-Thompson.

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Watson-Thompson, J., Fawcett, S.B. & Schultz, J.A. Differential Effects of Strategic Planning on Community Change in Two Urban Neighborhood Coalitions. Am J Community Psychol 42, 25–38 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-008-9188-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-008-9188-6

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