Toward Sustainable Communities, Fifth Edition: Solutions for Citizens and Their Governments

Toward Sustainable Communities is the go-to guide for creating resilient, healthy, equitable, and prosperous places, with an expanded Community Capital framework and the Community Capital Compass process. It is packed with concrete, proven strategies and is essential reading for current and aspiring professionals, practitioners, policymakers, educators, purpose-driven organizations, engaged citizens, and anyone concerned about their communities and a sustainable future.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 28 November 2023
Publisher: New Society Publishers

The ultimate guide to sustainable community development, from the neighborhood to the regional level, is now fully revised and updated in the fifth edition of Toward Sustainable Communities. This comprehensive guide offers a comprehensive approach to sustainable community planning and development, covering everything from an expanded Community Capital framework to the Community Capital Compass process, collaborative governance, community mobilization, public engagement, capacity building, infrastructure, policymaking, and promising practices.

Packed with concrete, proven strategies, this living book is a must-read for current and aspiring professionals, practitioners, policymakers, educators, purpose-driven organizations, engaged citizens, and anyone concerned about their communities and a sustainable future.

The fifth edition introduces the innovative Community Capital Compass as a powerful tool for maximizing the environmental, economic, and social benefits of complex community and regional decisions. It has been completely revamped to serve readers in the US, Canada, and abroad.

An expanded Community Capital framework organizes community resources into eight interrelated forms of capital, including human capital, social capital, natural capital, built capital, financial capital, cultural capital, and political capital. The Community Capital Compass process is a step-by-step guide for navigating complex situations involving various aspects of community development, such as municipal services, land-use planning, housing, climate change, and more.

Collaborative governance involves engaging stakeholders in decision-making processes to ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of the community. Community mobilization involves organizing and empowering community members to take action on issues that affect them. Public engagement involves involving community members in decision-making processes and providing them with information and opportunities to participate. Capacity building involves providing community members with the skills and resources they need to participate effectively in decision-making processes. Infrastructure involves developing and maintaining the physical and social infrastructure that supports community development. Policymaking involves developing and implementing policies that promote sustainable community development. Promising practices involve identifying and implementing practices that have been successful in promoting sustainable community development in other communities.

A companion website featuring case studies, profiles, online resources, interactive tools, videos, and more complements the book. This website provides additional information, examples, and resources to support readers in their efforts to create resilient, healthy, equitable, and prosperous places.

In conclusion, Toward Sustainable Communities is the go-to guide for sustainable community development, offering a comprehensive approach to planning and development from the neighborhood to the regional level. With its expanded framework, Compass process, collaborative governance, community mobilization, public engagement, capacity building, infrastructure, policymaking, and promising practices, this book provides concrete, proven strategies for creating resilient, healthy, equitable, and prosperous places. Whether you are a current or aspiring professional, practitioner, policymaker, educator, purpose-driven organization, engaged citizen, or anyone concerned about your communities and a sustainable future, this book is essential reading.

Weight: 762g
Dimension: 191 x 226 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780865719743
Edition number: 5 Revised edition