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Community Practice Skills: Local to Global Perspectives resources

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COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITY PRACTICE IN LOCAL TO GLOBAL CONTEXTS ■ 9 CHINA UNITED STATES In Guangzhou, a large city in the Guang- The nonprofi t South Eastern Efforts De- dong Province of South China, more veloping Sustainable Spaces (SEEDS) than 12 percent of the population is program in Durham, North Carolina, comprised of older adults, and 365 people has been working to build community, are offi neighborhood by neighborhood. SEEDS cially recorded as 100 years or older. To meet the needs of the growing workers establish neighborhood pro- population of older adults, especially grams that teach gardening, cooking, ed- older women, both the national and pro- ucational, and art skills to the children, vincial governments are working with youth, and adults of Durham. The over- the families, who have traditionally been all goal of the SEEDS programs is to responsible for care of older relatives. teach “respect for life, for earth, and for Although much remains to be done to each other” (City Farmer 2006). The meet the needs of China’s older adults, neighborhoods served by SEEDS are especially those living in rural areas, composed of a mix of African Ameri- the provincial administration has shown can, Latino, and Anglo families, refl ect- a remarkable commitment to making ing the city’s recent population changes. adult ser vices a priority. Already, adult Children in the “Seedlings” program ser vices centers have been built in every plant snow peas, and later carrots and neighborhood and district within Guang- onions, both to eat and to sell at the lo- zhou city. The goal of these centers is to cal farmers’ market. Parents and other provide social, educational, recreational, volunteers build raised gardening beds, health care, and respite care for the older teach classes, and help with the general adults and their families. focus of “gardening, nurturing, gather- (Lee and Kwok 2006) ing, and education.” (City Farmer 2006) people interested in community practice, whether in professional capacities or as neighborhood leaders. Although these examples focus primarily on local communities, they recognize connections to a larger environment, and some acknowledge both the past and present forces that are part of their experience. These examples are representative of deep and enduring aspects of commu- nity. Equally important, they describe the varied roles of neighborhood leaders, organizations, and collaborative public and private efforts in strengthening and promoting community structures that are just and supportive. The community improvements and struggles described in these examples relate to “meaning, context, power, history, and possibility,” the fi ve concepts Janet Finn and Maxine Jacobson (2008a) identifi ning a “just practice framework.” According ed as defi to these researchers, this framework emphasizes social work intervention guided by social justice, human rights, and progressive change (42– 50). Throughout

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