Community Development

Statewide Trends

[go to National Trends]

Wisconsin continues to focus on community as an asset for youth, as well as youth development and engaging youth in civic practices, leadership, and service learning. By working with youth and focusing on their assets to the community, leaders for the future are cultivated. Wisconsin groups working with youth and community include:

Wisconsin Promise

As the state-level organization of America's Promise, led by General Colin Powell, Wisconsin's Promise provides technical assistance to current and potential Communities of Promise in the state and is a resource to support and facilitate local efforts.

Voice of Wisconsin (VOW)

Citizens of all ages VOW to make a difference through consumer education, advocacy and action to ensure the health and safety of all citizens in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Regional Teen Institute

The Wisconsin Regional Teen Institute builds teams of youth and adults to implement alcohol, tobacco, other drug and violence prevention programs and activities in their communities.

An increasing number of public housing managers are utilizing a previously little-used resource: the energy and efforts of residents of public housing themselves. The strategy of strengthening the public housing community builds a supportive social environment, fulfilling community needs and helping residents move toward independence. Increasingly, building community is a strategy for fighting poverty, especially during this time of declining federal housing subsidies and welfare reform.

For more information about this trend see:

"Community building: Revitalizing the nation's public housing," Journal of Housing and Community Development, Sep/Oct 1997; Volume: 54 Issue: 5.