GSLL 1501 - Approaches to Community Development

This course provides a framework for community development based on a participatory, bottom-up, multi-sector model. Various approaches have been used in community development with varying degrees of success. One approach that has consistently demonstrated effectiveness is the Village Earth model based on participatory practices.

Through personal and structural empowerment, the objectives of economic well-being, environmental sustainability, and socio-cultural vitalization can be met. By looking at an overview of the entire development process and using case studies, this course will prepare participants to work in the field of community development and illuminate how all of the development efforts fit together to support the overall goal of sustainability.

Upon completion of this course participants will be able to:

• Compare different development approaches and evaluate their effectiveness.
• Understand the basic principles that underlie sustainable development.
• Incorporate participatory practices into community development activities
• Design a development project based on the Village Earth model

Who should take this course? This course is suited for people who are interested in community development and work or plan to work in this field. This includes people working or volunteering at NGOs, NPOs, governmental organizations, without border organizations, or missionary organizations. In addition, people involved in funding community development projects benefit from this course.

All required reading materials for the course are available online.

This course can be applied towards:

• Community-Based Development Certificate

Noncredit courses do not produce academic credit nor appear on a Colorado State University academic transcript.

Important Information

Due to the condensed time frame for this course, students cannot withdraw and receive a refund once the course begins.

Instructors

Jamie Way
(970) 237-3002 x 505
jamie@villageearth.org

Jamie Way received her master’s degree in political science from Colorado State University. Her academic work has focused specifically on development, Latin America, and indigenous rights struggles. She is currently employed as part of Village Earth and the International Institute for Sustainable Development’s training faculty. She has worked on Village Earth’s Pine Ridge Reservation project and on their Amazon project in Peru. Jamie is also currently working as Research Coordinator at Alliance for Global Justice.

This course is taught on a rotating basis by Jamie Way, Dave Bartecchi and Kristina Pearson. To learn which instructor will be available during your session, please inquire at jamie@villageearth.org

David Bartecchi
(970) 491-5754
david@villageearth.org

David is a Ph.D. candidate in sociology. His B.A. and M.A. degrees are in anthropology. He is the director of program development for Village Earth: The Consortium for Sustainable Village-Based Development, and an instructor in CSU's anthropology department.

David's areas of expertise include community capacity building, social capital theory, participatory action research, survey and evaluative research methods, development with indigenous communities, and application of information communication technologies in rural development.