Mobilizing residents for action: The role of small wins and strategic supports

Pennie G. Foster-Fishman, Katie Fitzgerald, Cherise Brandell, Branda Nowell, David Chavis, Laurie A. Van Egeren

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

Yes we can! is a community-building initiative funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation that aims to improve educational and economic outcomes in Battle Creek, Michigan by mobilizing low-income communities and resident leaders and building their capacity to influence the decisions and policies that impact their lives. This paper describes the strategies pursued during the first phase of this initiative to foster resident mobilization by building small wins within the neighborhood. Primarily through a neighborhood-based mini-grant program and staff supports to encourage collective action, Yes we can! has started to increase levels of resident mobilization within the seven economically distressed neighborhoods that initially partnered with the W. K. Kellogg Foundation on this effort. The specific programming components and how they were implemented as well as the initial successes experienced are described. Lessons learned are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)143-152
Number of pages10
JournalAmerican Journal of Community Psychology
Volume38
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Capacity building
  • Community building
  • Community organizing
  • Community readiness
  • Comprehensive community change initiative
  • Neighborhood mini-grant program
  • Social planning

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