Online Course Explores Community Development


Community Word Cloud

Would you like to understand how communities work? Are you curious about why good ideas sometimes fall flat? Do you watch groups struggle to make decisions without adequate data? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions we invite you to register for Understanding Communities and Their Dynamics, a unique online course presented jointly by eXtension and a team of nationally recognized Community Development professionals. 

The seven-week series begins October 6, 2016 and concludes November 19, 2016. Weekly webinars will take place from 3:00pm-4:30pm (Eastern). Each of the seven weeks features a 90-minute webinar focusing on topics including demographics, economic development, strategic planning and power structures. Supplemental resources and online discussion opportunities will be available on the course website. Participants should plan to login at their convenience during the week to explore these topics further, pose questions, investigate additional resources and visit with colleagues in similar situations. 

 
 “The course covered a lot of topics, giving us concrete information as well as a lot of food for thought,” said a recent course graduate. “I have a new understanding of community dynamics, leadership structures and best practices for collaboration.”
Understanding Communities and Their Dynamics is a Level 1 introduction for the Foundations of Practice Program. It is appropriate for individuals working with community groups in any subject area. Past participants have included those working across a broad spectrum of areas including agriculture, economic development, youth development, entrepreneurship, energy and natural resource-related issues.  If you find yourself called upon to facilitate community-based initiatives, or you just want to better understand how communities function, this course is for you! 

Registration is $100 per person but early registration discounts are available throughSeptember 30, 2016 at https://catalog.extension.org/product?catalog=UnderstandComm.