RESEARCH IN THE SERVICE OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Useful Websites
http://www.sustainablemeasures.com/index.html
This website for “Sustainable Measures” has a very succinct and comprehensible way of explaining how to develop indicators that measure progress toward a sustainable economy, society and environment. Also available are (1) free training materials, (2) a database of indicators, (3) explanations of indicators and sustainability, (4) a list of online, print and other resources, and (5) answers to frequently asked questions about indicators and sustainability. A copy of their book, Guide to Sustainable Community Indicators by Maureen Hart, can also be ordered.
http://national.unitedway.org/stateofcaring/datalinks.cfm
This may well be THE site for developing, using or finding community indicators. Links are provided to an array of excellent sources and resources. You can also type in your own zip code to contextualize what the existing quality of life is in your community, provides an” index of caring” to see what gaps need to be filled to improve the quality of life in your neighborhood.
An easy to use search engine to find general demographic and quality of life information on any given community. Simply input the zip code of your neighborhood and find out about the people, economy, housing, health, crime, climate, education, transportation, cost of living, religion and voting. All areas are described in percentages comparing that neighborhood to the national US average.
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/
Known as “Uncle Sam’s Reference Shelf”, this statistical abstract of the United States Census Bureau has a comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic life of the United States. This online “almanac” is a convenient volume for statistiacl reference.
www.sustainable.org/creating/indicators.html
Lists websites for organization from around the United States that are involved in the work of creating sustainable communities, plus a comprehensive list of related reading about developing and using community-based indicators published by people doing sustainable work around the United States. You can also find downloadable case studies from select communities.
http://www.iisd.org/measure/compendium/
A global directory, the “Compendium of Sustainable Development Indicator Initiatives”, supported by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, provides information on initiatives carried out at international, national, provincial/territorial/state, regional, sectoral, ecosystem and local/community levels worldwide. This website can be used to submit the information you are finding out about your community and you can update that information as necessary.
http://www.ag.iastate.edu/centers/rdev/Community_Success/entry.html
An online “interactive workbook” that describes a process to help communities learn how to measure the local or regional impacts of economic and community development processes that enhance rural community sustainability (applicable to urban settings as well). The workbook provides guidance to the possible ways to gather information that details progress toward community-established outcomes.
A simple search engine that brings you the relevant statistics you are looking for, by typing in the name or zip code of the area. Within this website you can also create thematic maps (housing, income, mortgage lending or demographic) to help you to visualize and sketch out the area and impact of your community transformation work.
This is the website for “The National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership” (NNIP), a collaborative effort by the Urban Institute and local partners to further the development and use of neighborhood-level information systems in local policymaking and community building. While the information is geared to those with experience or high interest in the topic it is a great place to find participating organizations or agencies with whom to network in select communities. This site has links to downloadable publications and case studies.
Known as the affordable housing and community development resource, this site contains various tools such as calendars, expert chat groups, multimedia and top news stories. Also available on this website are links to resources and stories related to a variety of topics, including fair housing, homelessness, land use and development, public housing and much more.
All about organic consulting and how to identify, develop, and implement solutions that align with visions and strategies of the people. Concretes ideas about workplace and leadership practices and marketing and customer practices are a part of the plethora of ideas that can be obtained from this website. Also home to the Gallup Poll which tracks the opinions of people on a variety of topics.
The website of Faith Communities Today, a group of researchers and religious leaders responsible for the largest survey ever of congregations in 2000. This project is attempting to gather information over time to assist congregational leaders in the effective use of quality research to improve their ministries. Their goal is to provide a public profile of the heart and soul of religion in America.
A research center of Pastoral Leadership and Practical Theology located at Duke Divinity School. Its vision is of a church dedicated to discipleship, focused in community, effecting real change, and embodying the New Creation brought into being by Christ Jesus. This website includes various research projects and publications, and an upcoming “tools” section, to equip churches with resources and research for effective ministry.
The Pew Charitable Trusts serves the public interest by providing information, advancing policy solutions and supporting civic life. The Trusts invests money to provide organizations and citizens with fact-based research and practical solutions for challenging issues. Guidelines for grants can be found on this website, in addition up to date information for the public.
www.dca.state.ga.us/commind/default.asp
This interactive on-line resource is where users can get information about their communities, specifically for the state of Georgia. This website has a great example of how all of the communities are intertwined and how each community can learn from the other about ways to improve the quality of life. A great link is present about understanding of community indicators.
Websites collected by Michael Mata, World Vision (worldvision.org )