Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Let's raise a flag to community building

Happy Flag Day everybody!



Yesterday I presented "Social Network Analysis: A Tool for Community Development" at the Center for Youth and Communities, which is part of the Heller School at Brandeis University. Thanks to Ginger Fitzhugh (whom I met at the Mass Bay OD Learning Group) for inviting me to speak in front of such an interested and interesting audience.

In my presentation I referred to a few key resources that I recommend to anyone interested in social networks and community development:

Start with the Barr Foundation's page of resources, which includes "Network Power for Philanthropy and Nonprofits," a high-level primer, along with two great case studies about Lawrence Community Works and The Appalachian Center for Economic Networks.

When you're ready to delve deeper, read "NGO Networks: Building Capacity in a Changing World," a truly brilliant study commissioned by USAID's Office of Private Voluntary Cooperation, which is stored in their extensive public database.

There are also some very practical materials relevant to inter-organizational collaboration published freely by NY Academy of Medicine's Center for the Advancement of Collaborative Strategies in Health.

If you'd like a copy of my presentation, just e-mail me and I'll send it to you.

[Ed: See also this closely related and more recent Living Bibliography for Leadership Network Development.]

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