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• 1. [Article] The Kazaks of Istanbul: A Case of Social Cohesion, Economic Breakdown and the Search for a Moral Economy

  This research is focused on understanding the ways in which the community orientation of the Kazak ethnic community in Istanbul, Turkey have contributed to their economic success which in turn encourages ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Kazaks of Istanbul: A Case of Social Cohesion, Economic Breakdown and the Search for a Moral Economy Author: Auger, Daniel Marc Year: 2016 This research is focused on understanding the ways in which the community orientation of the Kazak ethnic community in Istanbul, Turkey have contributed to their economic success which in turn encourages strong community, and the nature of their community-based support networks for providing material and cultural support. It examines the role of social capital and cohesion in maintaining the community with its positive implications for the continued building of wealth or sourcing of funding on a community level. The theoretical concepts relevant to this project are based on the ideas that the shared values of a community are a positive force that allow communities to achieve common goals and is particularly important in the context of an economy that favors cheap labor and a highly mobile workforce, both factors that negatively affect the asset building and place-based rootedness that communities require for their stability. Key community entrepreneurs and leaders were the main sources of information for this research. The findings of this thesis suggest that it is a combination of factors such as the failure of the community to maintain its stable economic position through unfortunate business practices and choices coupled with external market forces that slowed this community economic development and disabled its continued growth. Title: The Kazaks of Istanbul: A Case of Social Cohesion, Economic Breakdown and the Search for a Moral Economy Author: Auger, Daniel Marc Year: 2016 This research is focused on understanding the ways in which the community orientation of the Kazak ethnic community in Istanbul, Turkey have contributed to their economic success which in turn encourages strong community, and the nature of their community-based support networks for providing material and cultural support. It examines the role of social capital and cohesion in maintaining the community with its positive implications for the continued building of wealth or sourcing of funding on a community level. The theoretical concepts relevant to this project are based on the ideas that the shared values of a community are a positive force that allow communities to achieve common goals and is particularly important in the context of an economy that favors cheap labor and a highly mobile workforce, both factors that negatively affect the asset building and place-based rootedness that communities require for their stability. Key community entrepreneurs and leaders were the main sources of information for this research. The findings of this thesis suggest that it is a combination of factors such as the failure of the community to maintain its stable economic position through unfortunate business practices and choices coupled with external market forces that slowed this community economic development and disabled its continued growth. Close

• 2. [Article] An Anatomy of a Community-University Partnership: The Structure of Community Collaboration

  Portland State University for the past twelve years has been engaged in a transformation of its general education program and a renewal of its urban mission. A major thrust of this reform has focused on ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: An Anatomy of a Community-University Partnership: The Structure of Community Collaboration Author: Messer, W. Barry, Kecskes, Kevin Year: 2008 Portland State University for the past twelve years has been engaged in a transformation of its general education program and a renewal of its urban mission. A major thrust of this reform has focused on broadening the involvement of students and faculty in community-based learning and scholarship. Curricular and administrative changes have significantly raised the presence of the university in the community and resulted in numerous academic units actively engaging in community collaboration. The collaboration has proven to be an important platform by which the university has expanded its boundaries into the community through actions involving many challenges to the university and community collaborators. In this article we explore the elements that have contributed to the success and achievements of this engaged work by closely examining a long-term community university partnership. Title: An Anatomy of a Community-University Partnership: The Structure of Community Collaboration Author: Messer, W. Barry, Kecskes, Kevin Year: 2008 Portland State University for the past twelve years has been engaged in a transformation of its general education program and a renewal of its urban mission. A major thrust of this reform has focused on broadening the involvement of students and faculty in community-based learning and scholarship. Curricular and administrative changes have significantly raised the presence of the university in the community and resulted in numerous academic units actively engaging in community collaboration. The collaboration has proven to be an important platform by which the university has expanded its boundaries into the community through actions involving many challenges to the university and community collaborators. In this article we explore the elements that have contributed to the success and achievements of this engaged work by closely examining a long-term community university partnership. Close

• 3. [Article] Planning at the Roots: Low-income and Communities of Color in Portland, Oregon

  In an effort to highlight community-planning efforts in low-income populations and communities of color, a group of Masters of Urban and Regional Planning students conducted interviews with community leaders ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Planning at the Roots: Low-income and Communities of Color in Portland, Oregon Author: Parzych, Allison, Porter, Jennifer F., Rehberg, Shayna, Ruether, Sarah, Sheinfeld, Gwen Year: 2003 In an effort to highlight community-planning efforts in low-income populations and communities of color, a group of Masters of Urban and Regional Planning students conducted interviews with community leaders and wrote this chapter of cases to be incorporated into ONI’s Community Involvement Handbook. These cases are meant to provide inspiration and understanding about the strengths and differences between planning approaches used in diverse communities working outside of the neighborhood association structure. This chapter may also help to inform opportunities for neighborhood associations and other organizations to better collaborate with diverse community groups. Title: Planning at the Roots: Low-income and Communities of Color in Portland, Oregon Author: Parzych, Allison, Porter, Jennifer F., Rehberg, Shayna, Ruether, Sarah, Sheinfeld, Gwen Year: 2003 In an effort to highlight community-planning efforts in low-income populations and communities of color, a group of Masters of Urban and Regional Planning students conducted interviews with community leaders and wrote this chapter of cases to be incorporated into ONI’s Community Involvement Handbook. These cases are meant to provide inspiration and understanding about the strengths and differences between planning approaches used in diverse communities working outside of the neighborhood association structure. This chapter may also help to inform opportunities for neighborhood associations and other organizations to better collaborate with diverse community groups. Close

• 4. [Article] Lents Strong: Community Action Plan for a Livable, Affordable Neighborhood

  This is a community action and advocacy plan, created in consultation with neighborhood organizations and underrepresented communities most at risk for displacement. It focuses on actions where collaboration ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Lents Strong: Community Action Plan for a Livable, Affordable Neighborhood Author: Brunelle, Adam, DeVitis, Drew, Groecki, Carson, Lust, Claire, Sellin, Katie, Todoroff, John Year: 2016 This is a community action and advocacy plan, created in consultation with neighborhood organizations and underrepresented communities most at risk for displacement. It focuses on actions where collaboration and community engagement will have the largest impacts. This is a plan for the next five years. The overarching goals of the plan are to: Ensure the viability of Livable Lents. Livable Lents should remain a transparent, accountable, accessible, and holistic community engagement process that works collaboratively with nonprofits, city agencies, and community members. This plan serves in part as a collaboration strategy which integrates engagement on a wide range of projects that are integral to livability and affordability. Build community capacity for advocacy on key issues. This plan is intended as both the continuation of conversations that have been occurring for years as well as the impetus for community-driven advocacy efforts around the issues most important to Lents residents. Through its 2015 survey, Livable Lents identified a list of community priorities for future attention. Lents Strong expands and diversifies the conversation around these priority areas. Foster effective collaboration. Commitment by those already doing important work in the community is crucial to the successful implementation of the recommendations in this plan. This will ensure that the work is both wide reaching and lasting. This project was conducted under the supervision of Ethan Seltzer, Marisa Zapata, Susan Hartnett, Lisa Bates, and Vivek Shandas. Title: Lents Strong: Community Action Plan for a Livable, Affordable Neighborhood Author: Brunelle, Adam, DeVitis, Drew, Groecki, Carson, Lust, Claire, Sellin, Katie, Todoroff, John Year: 2016 This is a community action and advocacy plan, created in consultation with neighborhood organizations and underrepresented communities most at risk for displacement. It focuses on actions where collaboration and community engagement will have the largest impacts. This is a plan for the next five years. The overarching goals of the plan are to: Ensure the viability of Livable Lents. Livable Lents should remain a transparent, accountable, accessible, and holistic community engagement process that works collaboratively with nonprofits, city agencies, and community members. This plan serves in part as a collaboration strategy which integrates engagement on a wide range of projects that are integral to livability and affordability. Build community capacity for advocacy on key issues. This plan is intended as both the continuation of conversations that have been occurring for years as well as the impetus for community-driven advocacy efforts around the issues most important to Lents residents. Through its 2015 survey, Livable Lents identified a list of community priorities for future attention. Lents Strong expands and diversifies the conversation around these priority areas. Foster effective collaboration. Commitment by those already doing important work in the community is crucial to the successful implementation of the recommendations in this plan. This will ensure that the work is both wide reaching and lasting. This project was conducted under the supervision of Ethan Seltzer, Marisa Zapata, Susan Hartnett, Lisa Bates, and Vivek Shandas. Close

• 5. [Article] Providing Capacity in Rural Communities: Planning for Alternative Transportation

  This technology transfer proposal linked service learning with rural multimodal transportation planning through a collaborative partnership between University of Oregon (UO) experiential learning programs ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Providing Capacity in Rural Communities: Planning for Alternative Transportation Author: Smith, Megan Year: 2011 This technology transfer proposal linked service learning with rural multimodal transportation planning through a collaborative partnership between University of Oregon (UO) experiential learning programs and three rural Oregon communities. As this planning and technical support to rural communities occurred, lessons learned were gathered and will support future servicelearning projects focused on transportation planning. The primary products for this project are the: (1) Completion of multimodal transportation planning projects that increase rural community capacity; and (2) a website with resources for communities, faculty and students. Three further outcomes were: (1) Increased capacity for transportation planning in rural communities; (2) Increased capacity in existing transportation planning professionals working in rural communities; and (3) Increased capacity in young planning professional and graduate students. This project was be led by the Community Service Center (CSC) at the UO and engaged two programs of the CSC. Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE), founded in 1994, is a field based service learning program, affiliated with the UO’s Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management (PPPM). Each year RARE places 20 graduate level participants in rural Oregon communities where they live for 11 months while working for local agencies on planning and community development projects. Community Planning Workshop (CPW) is an experiential learning program also affiliated with PPPM. Established in 1977, CPW is campus-based, with teams of graduate students working on projects for public and non-profit organizations. Product One: Three community projects focused on multi-modal transportation planning were selected as RARE host sites. These projects included: a bike/pedestrian trails planning project with the City of Lebanon and Build Lebanon Trails, a local non-profit; a bike/pedestrian trails planning project with the City of Warrenton and Warrenton Trails Committee; and transportation needs assessment for the Rogue Valley Transportation District. These projects were selected from a pool of applicants based on project feasibility, community support, and host agency support of the CSC’s service learning objectives. In October 2007, three RARE participants were placed in these three communities and worked closely with local community supervisors to complete planning projects that specifically address multimodal transportation planning. The deliverables were multi-modal planning and projects, specifically addressing public, bike/pedestrian and recreation-related transportation, in three rural communities. Product Two: Through the creation of a website with lessons learned and example projects, the knowledge gained in developing the plans and projects is being disseminated. Title: Providing Capacity in Rural Communities: Planning for Alternative Transportation Author: Smith, Megan Year: 2011 This technology transfer proposal linked service learning with rural multimodal transportation planning through a collaborative partnership between University of Oregon (UO) experiential learning programs and three rural Oregon communities. As this planning and technical support to rural communities occurred, lessons learned were gathered and will support future servicelearning projects focused on transportation planning. The primary products for this project are the: (1) Completion of multimodal transportation planning projects that increase rural community capacity; and (2) a website with resources for communities, faculty and students. Three further outcomes were: (1) Increased capacity for transportation planning in rural communities; (2) Increased capacity in existing transportation planning professionals working in rural communities; and (3) Increased capacity in young planning professional and graduate students. This project was be led by the Community Service Center (CSC) at the UO and engaged two programs of the CSC. Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE), founded in 1994, is a field based service learning program, affiliated with the UO’s Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management (PPPM). Each year RARE places 20 graduate level participants in rural Oregon communities where they live for 11 months while working for local agencies on planning and community development projects. Community Planning Workshop (CPW) is an experiential learning program also affiliated with PPPM. Established in 1977, CPW is campus-based, with teams of graduate students working on projects for public and non-profit organizations. Product One: Three community projects focused on multi-modal transportation planning were selected as RARE host sites. These projects included: a bike/pedestrian trails planning project with the City of Lebanon and Build Lebanon Trails, a local non-profit; a bike/pedestrian trails planning project with the City of Warrenton and Warrenton Trails Committee; and transportation needs assessment for the Rogue Valley Transportation District. These projects were selected from a pool of applicants based on project feasibility, community support, and host agency support of the CSC’s service learning objectives. In October 2007, three RARE participants were placed in these three communities and worked closely with local community supervisors to complete planning projects that specifically address multimodal transportation planning. The deliverables were multi-modal planning and projects, specifically addressing public, bike/pedestrian and recreation-related transportation, in three rural communities. Product Two: Through the creation of a website with lessons learned and example projects, the knowledge gained in developing the plans and projects is being disseminated. Close

• 6. [Article] Cathedral Waterfront Plan

  The Cathedral Park Neighborhood Association anticipated the imminent development of 15-acres of waterfront property (the Steel Hammer Site) in the heart of their community and worked with the PSU MURP ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Cathedral Waterfront Plan Author: Murthy, Mathangi, Boschetti, Tabitha, Anderson, Michelle, Kini, Saumya, Lehman, Rosa, Brown, Violet Year: 2015 The Cathedral Park Neighborhood Association anticipated the imminent development of 15-acres of waterfront property (the Steel Hammer Site) in the heart of their community and worked with the PSU MURP team to bolster the voice of the community through public engagement and thoughtful urban planning. The student team reached out to the neighbors, talked with shareholders, conducted site analysis, and developed a shared community vision for the Steel Hammer Site, which resulted the Cathedral Waterfront Plan that includes: Twelve community goals for future development Three scenarios demonstrating how development on the Steel Hammer Site could contribute to community priorities without disregarding practical and business considerations Strategies for negotiating community benefits on the site The PSU student team also developed a toolkit of strategies and tips for future public engagement in the neighborhood and ways the neighborhood can influence the development process in light of the current and intense market pressures in North Portland. This project was conducted under the supervision of Sy Adler, Marisa A. Zapata and Susan Hartnett Title: Cathedral Waterfront Plan Author: Murthy, Mathangi, Boschetti, Tabitha, Anderson, Michelle, Kini, Saumya, Lehman, Rosa, Brown, Violet Year: 2015 The Cathedral Park Neighborhood Association anticipated the imminent development of 15-acres of waterfront property (the Steel Hammer Site) in the heart of their community and worked with the PSU MURP team to bolster the voice of the community through public engagement and thoughtful urban planning. The student team reached out to the neighbors, talked with shareholders, conducted site analysis, and developed a shared community vision for the Steel Hammer Site, which resulted the Cathedral Waterfront Plan that includes: Twelve community goals for future development Three scenarios demonstrating how development on the Steel Hammer Site could contribute to community priorities without disregarding practical and business considerations Strategies for negotiating community benefits on the site The PSU student team also developed a toolkit of strategies and tips for future public engagement in the neighborhood and ways the neighborhood can influence the development process in light of the current and intense market pressures in North Portland. This project was conducted under the supervision of Sy Adler, Marisa A. Zapata and Susan Hartnett Close

• 7. [Article] The South Kelso Revitalization Plan

  The city of Kelso has a rich history based in a strong community ethic, hard-working people, and an economy deeply rooted in the bounty of the natural environment. This economy has changed over the last ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The South Kelso Revitalization Plan Author: Harris, Ashley, Lande, Aaron, Myers, Chris, Otto, Beth, Verssue, John, Williams, Kate Year: 2013 The city of Kelso has a rich history based in a strong community ethic, hard-working people, and an economy deeply rooted in the bounty of the natural environment. This economy has changed over the last several decades, however, and the difficult transition has left its mark on the community. South Kelso in particular- one of the four neighborhood quadrants- is battling its fourth generation of disinvestment and widespread poverty. To help the City revitalize South Kelso, the aim of the South Kelso Revitalization Plan is to give voice, strength, and direction to the concerns and priorities of the South Kelso community. The South Kelso Revitalization Plan consists of five focus areas and ten strategies: Community Organization: Form a Neighborhood Association. Public Safety: Develop a Neighborhood Crime and Safety Plan Community Gathering Places: Improve Parks and Open Spaces, Establish Wallace Elementary as a Community School, Build a South Kelso Community Center. Pedestrian Safety and Neighborhood Appearance: Conduct a Pedestrian Mobility and Safety Audit, Improve Housing and Neighborhood Appearance. Downtown Revitalization: Revive and Restructure the Main Street Association, Coordinate Business Support Services through an Economic Gardening Initiative, Implement Streetscape Improvements to Revitalize South Pacific Avenue. This project was conducted under the supervision of Lisa Bates, Jeanne Lawson, Connie Ozawa and Gregory Schrock. Title: The South Kelso Revitalization Plan Author: Harris, Ashley, Lande, Aaron, Myers, Chris, Otto, Beth, Verssue, John, Williams, Kate Year: 2013 The city of Kelso has a rich history based in a strong community ethic, hard-working people, and an economy deeply rooted in the bounty of the natural environment. This economy has changed over the last several decades, however, and the difficult transition has left its mark on the community. South Kelso in particular- one of the four neighborhood quadrants- is battling its fourth generation of disinvestment and widespread poverty. To help the City revitalize South Kelso, the aim of the South Kelso Revitalization Plan is to give voice, strength, and direction to the concerns and priorities of the South Kelso community. The South Kelso Revitalization Plan consists of five focus areas and ten strategies: Community Organization: Form a Neighborhood Association. Public Safety: Develop a Neighborhood Crime and Safety Plan Community Gathering Places: Improve Parks and Open Spaces, Establish Wallace Elementary as a Community School, Build a South Kelso Community Center. Pedestrian Safety and Neighborhood Appearance: Conduct a Pedestrian Mobility and Safety Audit, Improve Housing and Neighborhood Appearance. Downtown Revitalization: Revive and Restructure the Main Street Association, Coordinate Business Support Services through an Economic Gardening Initiative, Implement Streetscape Improvements to Revitalize South Pacific Avenue. This project was conducted under the supervision of Lisa Bates, Jeanne Lawson, Connie Ozawa and Gregory Schrock. Close

• 8. [Article] Transportation Planning Through Mobile Mapping Technology

  This report describes the development and testing of the Fix This Tool, a spatial, participatory, active transportation and built environment assessment tool created on an iPhone platform. The goal of ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Transportation Planning Through Mobile Mapping Technology Author: Schlossberg, Marc, Larco, Nico, Kato, Ken, Maher, Dana, Evers, Cody, Brehm, Christo Year: 2011 This report describes the development and testing of the Fix This Tool, a spatial, participatory, active transportation and built environment assessment tool created on an iPhone platform. The goal of this tool development was to create an instrument that could be widely distributed to communities across the country to develop a spatially based assessment of the micro-scaled elements of their local active transportation environment such that public officials and community members could focus energy in making appropriate improvements. The development of this tool emerged out of previous work with such tools built on a GIS platform and a workshop-based format to engage residents in data collection of their walking and biking environments. While this past work proved successful in both data collection tool use and in facilitating community conversations, the technological infrastructure had significant limitations in terms of being able to widely distribute the effort. In a GIS-based approach, GIS technicians must be present and when combined with community training and data processing, the cost of development, collection, and distribution is a significant limit to which communities could adopt such assessment tools for their own use. The Fix This Tool is designed to overcome these distribution and cost barriers by developing a tool that can be easily downloaded by community members using technology they already own. The report that follows outlines the philosophical positioning of a community-based data collection process, describes the tool itself, and provides some reflections between this smart phone based model and the previous GIS-based model of community-engaged active transportation assessment tools. Title: Transportation Planning Through Mobile Mapping Technology Author: Schlossberg, Marc, Larco, Nico, Kato, Ken, Maher, Dana, Evers, Cody, Brehm, Christo Year: 2011 This report describes the development and testing of the Fix This Tool, a spatial, participatory, active transportation and built environment assessment tool created on an iPhone platform. The goal of this tool development was to create an instrument that could be widely distributed to communities across the country to develop a spatially based assessment of the micro-scaled elements of their local active transportation environment such that public officials and community members could focus energy in making appropriate improvements. The development of this tool emerged out of previous work with such tools built on a GIS platform and a workshop-based format to engage residents in data collection of their walking and biking environments. While this past work proved successful in both data collection tool use and in facilitating community conversations, the technological infrastructure had significant limitations in terms of being able to widely distribute the effort. In a GIS-based approach, GIS technicians must be present and when combined with community training and data processing, the cost of development, collection, and distribution is a significant limit to which communities could adopt such assessment tools for their own use. The Fix This Tool is designed to overcome these distribution and cost barriers by developing a tool that can be easily downloaded by community members using technology they already own. The report that follows outlines the philosophical positioning of a community-based data collection process, describes the tool itself, and provides some reflections between this smart phone based model and the previous GIS-based model of community-engaged active transportation assessment tools. Close

• 9. [Article] Planning Ahead for Livable Communities Along the Powell-Division BRT: Neighborhood Conditions and Change

  New transit investments can be a double-edged sword for disadvantaged communities (e.g., those included in environmental justice and Title VI protected classes). Transit investments improve communities’ ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Planning Ahead for Livable Communities Along the Powell-Division BRT: Neighborhood Conditions and Change Author: Bates, Lisa K., Golub, Aaron, Macarthur, Devin, Sung, Seyoung Year: 2017 New transit investments can be a double-edged sword for disadvantaged communities (e.g., those included in environmental justice and Title VI protected classes). Transit investments improve communities’ mobility and access, and may improve health with reduced driving. However, there is also the potential for transit-oriented development (TOD) to spur gentrification and displacement if affordable housing is lost. Understanding transit corridor conditions and change with new infrastructure is important for learning how to mitigate negative effects and support inclusive communities with access to transit for lower-income households. The planning of a new bus rapid transit line along the Powell-Division corridor in Portland-Gresham provides an opportunity to understand neighborhood impacts of transit investment and evaluate programs designed to preserve and create affordable housing; include residents in economic development on the corridor; and build livable communities in an underserved area of the region. This proposal is for a research partnership between Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning faculty and the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability to evaluate current conditions and potential for impacts of TOD, and to build a long-term program of assessment of neighborhood change and program evaluation as the city pilots new approaches to equitable TOD. The first phase will document the potential costs to communities if an integrated approach to livable communities were not taken, by assessing the risk of housing loss and displacement. DOT priorities are developing, evaluating and disseminating a coordinated approach to livable communities that includes housing and transportation. This work will speak to the scholarly debates about gentrification and public infrastructure investment, and will be presented to practitioner audiences through venues such as New Partners for Smart Growth, the PolicyLink think tank, and other learning opportunities for professionals. Title: Planning Ahead for Livable Communities Along the Powell-Division BRT: Neighborhood Conditions and Change Author: Bates, Lisa K., Golub, Aaron, Macarthur, Devin, Sung, Seyoung Year: 2017 New transit investments can be a double-edged sword for disadvantaged communities (e.g., those included in environmental justice and Title VI protected classes). Transit investments improve communities’ mobility and access, and may improve health with reduced driving. However, there is also the potential for transit-oriented development (TOD) to spur gentrification and displacement if affordable housing is lost. Understanding transit corridor conditions and change with new infrastructure is important for learning how to mitigate negative effects and support inclusive communities with access to transit for lower-income households. The planning of a new bus rapid transit line along the Powell-Division corridor in Portland-Gresham provides an opportunity to understand neighborhood impacts of transit investment and evaluate programs designed to preserve and create affordable housing; include residents in economic development on the corridor; and build livable communities in an underserved area of the region. This proposal is for a research partnership between Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning faculty and the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability to evaluate current conditions and potential for impacts of TOD, and to build a long-term program of assessment of neighborhood change and program evaluation as the city pilots new approaches to equitable TOD. The first phase will document the potential costs to communities if an integrated approach to livable communities were not taken, by assessing the risk of housing loss and displacement. DOT priorities are developing, evaluating and disseminating a coordinated approach to livable communities that includes housing and transportation. This work will speak to the scholarly debates about gentrification and public infrastructure investment, and will be presented to practitioner audiences through venues such as New Partners for Smart Growth, the PolicyLink think tank, and other learning opportunities for professionals. Close

• 10. [Article] The Social Bottom Line of Community Development Financial Institutions: What Facilitates or Inhibits the Uptake and Use of Meaningful Social and Community Impact Reporting?

  Businesses, governments and communities are increasingly interested in measuring the non-financial impacts of their activities and investments. This assessment often takes the form of measurement models ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Social Bottom Line of Community Development Financial Institutions: What Facilitates or Inhibits the Uptake and Use of Meaningful Social and Community Impact Reporting? Author: Haines, Kelly Year: 2009 Businesses, governments and communities are increasingly interested in measuring the non-financial impacts of their activities and investments. This assessment often takes the form of measurement models that utilize a Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework, namely looking at the areas ofthe environment, the economy, and the social simultaneously. Despite its many accounting flaws, more and more organizations adopt this philosophy by applying it literally in the form of impact reports. In this framework, the social dimension is the most challenging to measure. Because of its complexities, this aspect of TBL reporting has often been vague and lack rigor. The research question I am addressing is: what facilitates or inhibits the uptake and use of meaningful social bottom line reporting? From conducting case studies that include document analyses and in-depth open-ended interviews with key decision-makers of organizations in the Community Development Financial Institution industry (CDFI), I examined how and why these organizations effectively measure their social and community impact. Given that there are inherent flaws with the logic of the social dimension of Triple Bottom Line reporting but organizations nevertheless are using it, this study looked in-depth at Community Development Financial Institutions that utilize various measurement methods to assess their particular impact on the social dimension of communities. The struggles, experiences, processes and content of social bottom line reporting by CDFls revealed that their uptake and use is facilitated by being mission driven, having a compatible business model, and by demands from their stakeholders, funders, and regulation requirements. It is hindered by a lack of sufficient capacity, unclear social bottom line definitions, and a lack of embedded ness in their day to day operations. Title: The Social Bottom Line of Community Development Financial Institutions: What Facilitates or Inhibits the Uptake and Use of Meaningful Social and Community Impact Reporting? Author: Haines, Kelly Year: 2009 Businesses, governments and communities are increasingly interested in measuring the non-financial impacts of their activities and investments. This assessment often takes the form of measurement models that utilize a Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework, namely looking at the areas ofthe environment, the economy, and the social simultaneously. Despite its many accounting flaws, more and more organizations adopt this philosophy by applying it literally in the form of impact reports. In this framework, the social dimension is the most challenging to measure. Because of its complexities, this aspect of TBL reporting has often been vague and lack rigor. The research question I am addressing is: what facilitates or inhibits the uptake and use of meaningful social bottom line reporting? From conducting case studies that include document analyses and in-depth open-ended interviews with key decision-makers of organizations in the Community Development Financial Institution industry (CDFI), I examined how and why these organizations effectively measure their social and community impact. Given that there are inherent flaws with the logic of the social dimension of Triple Bottom Line reporting but organizations nevertheless are using it, this study looked in-depth at Community Development Financial Institutions that utilize various measurement methods to assess their particular impact on the social dimension of communities. The struggles, experiences, processes and content of social bottom line reporting by CDFls revealed that their uptake and use is facilitated by being mission driven, having a compatible business model, and by demands from their stakeholders, funders, and regulation requirements. It is hindered by a lack of sufficient capacity, unclear social bottom line definitions, and a lack of embedded ness in their day to day operations. Close