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Every group can benefit by evaluating their meetings. What are we doing well? What can we improve on?
"When planning for a year, plant corn. When planning for a decade, plant trees. When planning for life, train and educate people." -- Chinese proverb. Last month in this space I used some quotes from the website Proverbia to inspire thought about planning and planning processes. Think of this as part two.
Shared spaces and activities help us to forge bonds with each other. They build social capital.
This article explores challenges faced by entrepreneurs in rural communities.
Where does Power lie in your community? Are there different power centers depending on the issue?
In this month's blog entry John Turack ponders the importance of plans, planning processes, and who is best suited or equipped to plan.
Now that the elections are over, are you ready for the next round?
Individuals in communities across the nation came together this week to help victims of a major storm and then to vote in the presidential election.
There are a lot of research documents, case studies, and resources out there for communities to draw from, if they intend to become more vibrant. But not if there is no leader with the commitment and determination -- and the stamina -- to do it. What does this mean for your community?
When I give workshops on effective meetings, I like to ask people about their worst meeting experience.
Pennsylvania is celebrating 100 years of positive youth development through 4-H clubs this year. While you may think of 4-H as kids raising cows and garden vegetables and making robots, there is a very strong community development component too.
Suppose you and some of your friends and colleagues have decided supporting and growing entrepreneurs would be an important part of a strategy to improve the local economy. It would be important to agree about “Who is an entrepreneur?” and develop a strategy that targets those entrepreneurs.
A few months ago, a group of community leaders started talking about the challenge of creating affordable internet access for everyone.
Research shows that youths whose parents volunteer and who participate in family discussions about politics engage in more civic and political activities as adults than those whose families do not volunteer or discuss politics.
How would you answer the question “What is entrepreneurship? Your answer may include words such as business owner, job creator or perhaps innovator. Entrepreneurs are individuals that engage in entrepreneurship and can be categorized into two groups: Necessity entrepreneurs or Opportunity entrepreneurs.
Penn State Extension Economic and Community Development Educator and Blogger John Turack summarizes his thoughts on working at the 4-H Youth Building. The Extension Economic and Community Development Team presented "My Community: What's the Plan?" at this year's event.
One of my professors up at State College is fond of asking the question ‘What does good planning look like?’
Personal citizenship takes many forms. It is the Power of One, what any one individual can do for his/her community.
It’s all about jobs. According to the Kauffman Foundation most jobs are created by new businesses. Our communities need jobs and need the businesses that create them.
