Power shifting to communities

Two powerful outcomes of community-led processes that focus on strengths and assets are:

1. the broad range of change opportunities and

2. the interconnectedness of the issues that are often identified and addressed when the community leads.

In rural communities, low-income communities and systemically-excluded communities, most residents know what is needed but seldom have access to the resources (funding, person power, etc.) or the decision-making power to effect real and lasting change.

One example of a project that started out addressing health issues and has led to community revitalization and trails projects is the West Marion Community Forum in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. Community engagement efforts to address health disparities in a county that is 92% white, 6% Hispanic, 4% Black, 1% Indigenous and 1% Asian have led to collaboration across race, age, gender, ability, sexual preference, geography and more. The collaboration, community-building, leadership development and power building has led to projects that are addressing multiple issues simultaneously, including a $2 million trails development project (see “Trails for All: Reconnecting the Black Community to the Outdoors” on Blue Ridge Outdoors) being implemented with strong leadership from people and communities of color.

In Glenwood Springs, Colorado, local residents partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Forest Service on a community planning process to develop shared goals and priority action items. Initially focusing on improved economic development opportunities in recreation, the community is working to engage and expand opportunities for all residents, including the growing Hispanic community (now at 27%). Additional community priorities include increased affordable housing, sustainable management of popular outdoor recreation amenities and recovery from the impacts of the COVID pandemic and a wildfire.