Medoff & Sklar point to a number of challenges confirmed by other supporters of community based initiatives. Among the more common challenges faced by communities include allotting the time needed to plan, implement and evaluate a program, determining methods for including low income citizens in a beneficial way, dealing with conflicts that inherently exist among professionals involved in planning and addressing economics and politics associated with initiatives (Messinger 535). As Medoff & Sklar point out however, there is hope even in the worst case scenario. While the community rebuilding process may be a long one, in the end most initiatives will pay off for citizens and the public at large.
Conclusions
Streets of Hope is truly an inspirational work that lends support for community based initiatives in inner city communities. Medoff & Sklar offer urban inner city communities hope and a refreshing new approach toward restoration. The authors work diligently to defeat stereotypes that suggest that inner cities are doomed and successfully demonstrate how citizen involvement and collaboration between...
The book is meaningful and powerful, and will hopefully serve to inspire other communities to follow suit and take the action necessary to rebuild and revamp their communities.
References
Ewalt, Paul. L. The revitalization of impoverished communities. Social Work, 47(5):
1997.
Medoff, Peter and Sklar, Holly. Streets of Hope: The Fall and Rise of an Urban
Neighborhood. Boston: South End Press, 1994.
Messinger, Lori. "Comprehensive Community Initiatives: A Rural Perspective." Social
Work, 49(4): 2004: p. 535.
O'Connor, A. (1995). Evaluating comprehensive community initiatives: A view from history. In A.C. Kubisch, J.P. Connell, L.B. Schorr, & C.H. Weiss (Eds.), New approaches to evaluating community initiatives: Concepts, methods, and contexts (pp. 23-64). Washington, DC:…
