Nexus Case Study Community Engagement and Community Development

Traditional community development work focuses on the built environment. Nexus Community Partners believes that community development should also be mindful of the people who live in and interact with

the built environment every day. Nexus also believes that neighborhood- based development activities will only be successful in the long term if they are paired with strong community engagement efforts. To that end, Nexus supports community-based organizations in low-wealth neighborhoods to engage with and to reflect the vision and creativity of the people who live
and work there. Nexus also supports organizations that wish to integrate community engagement into their organizations and into their programming. Read more here; NEXUScase study 8 PAGE WEB[1]

Art as an Engagement Tool – by Jay Bad Heart Bull

Jay Bad Heart Bull

“Generations ago, one of my grandfathers was a tribal historian for my people, the Oglala Lakota of Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Amos Bad Heart Bull was a ledger artist who depicted many events that happened in the lives of my people and it is through those paintings that I have the ability to connect to my rich history. His artwork tells the story of how my people lived long ago with all the beauty and sadness that sweeping cultural change brings.

“Through it all, art has remained a catalyzing force for how my people communicate and is used to impart teachings whether through paintings, storytelling, or song. In fact, all three of those  media play an integral part in our spirituality as well, which permeates every aspect of our traditional lifestyle. And we are not unique in this regard as all people have historically used art as a way to engage and build a sense of community and identity.”

Read more here…

Building the Field of Community Engagement Launches New Website

Edit 2021: The Building the Field of Community Engagement collaborative became Nexus Community Engagement Institute in 2016, and the Building the Field website has since been taken down and absorbed into Nexus website. Learn more here. 

Building the Field

The Building the Field of Community Engagement collaborative has launched a new website!

 

The Building the Field of Community Engagement’s new website is meant to be a resource to community, where you can access key community engagement publications, presentations, tools and links, and learn more about the Building the Field initiative. You can also register to receive updates for upcoming Engaged Learning Series events.

Check out the website here: www.buildthefield.org

 

Community Engagement Model

Building the Field of Community Engagement is a collaborative initiative that includes six core organizations: Casa de Esperanza, Cultural Wellness Center, Hope Community, Lyndale Neighborhood Association, Native American Community Development Institute, and Nexus Community Partners.

Visit the website for more information, or feel free to contact Janice Barbee at janicegwb@yahoo.com or Theresa Gardella at tgardella@nexuscp.org. Or contact one of the Building the Field partners.

Knight/Nexus Forum on Community Engagement

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Nexus Community Partners present the Community Engagement Forum.

Community engagement is a foundational component for all community development and community building work. Come to an interactive forum with funders, government officials, community residents, and community organizations to share your experience and learn together about the value of community engagement.

Thursday, October 3, 2013, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

CEF