COMMUNITY ACTIVISM IN OAK PARK: COMPETING AGENDAS ...
COMMUNITY ACTIVISM IN OAK PARK: COMPETING AGENDAS ...
COMMUNITY ACTIVISM IN OAK PARK: COMPETING AGENDAS ...
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class does not view the lifeways of the lower-income residents in a positive light and<br />
yearns to live in a diverse neighborhood that is more like a cultural hub. In these<br />
neighborhoods, community groups often serve the interests of the middle-class and leave<br />
the poor out of neighborhood planning activities. Oropesa (1989:435) further stresses<br />
another important aspect of citizen groups—when residents are not successful in their<br />
initiatives or do not approve of certain initiatives, some of these residents move to other<br />
neighborhoods. Low-income neighborhoods can then end up losing increased attention<br />
that was fueled by the arrival of middle-class residents. Thus, there is no easy solution.<br />
Amidst the dilemmas and controversy of revitalization projects, it is largely<br />
argued that community organizations aid the development of a collectively defined good.<br />
They provide a valuable function, especially for communities with diverse populations<br />
facing many problems, with potentially conflicting solutions. But this potential<br />
advantage remains speculative, as there is little evidence about the ability of democratic<br />
organizations to go beyond the aggregation of individual preferences in defining goals<br />
(Bennett 1995:75). And although community-based organizations may materially<br />
contribute to a sense of community, and are often politically effective, their contributions<br />
should not be confused with their capacity for management and distribution. More often<br />
than not, community groups have only enough power and resources to fail (Grigsby and<br />
Corl 1983:93). Community-based organizations often suffer from having a lack of<br />
resources and a lack of members that are able to effectively manage the organization.<br />
Community-based organizations and the programs created by them require planning,<br />
time, and financial stability.<br />
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