Citizens as community experts: The benefits of a neighborhood leadership program

Abstract

Referring to citizen leadership and expertise in participatory processesat community level, research emphasizes the necessary balance betweeninclusiveness and knowledgeability. Both conditions provide efficiency andlegitimacy for policy making, so as to avoid governance based either on elites,or on mass democracy. Scholars propose the inclusion of “expert citizens”as mediators between scientific and lay knowledge. In a practical manner, thisis to be achieved by the formation of community leaders, able to address theneeds and improve the quality of life for residents. A neighborhood leadershipprogram develops capacities in human relations, public speaking, conflictresolution, rebuilding of trust and acting inside a network, as well as practicalskills related to grant writing, fundraising or completing a community project.To what extent is the implementation of a professional training programable to provide sustainable solutions in the field of community development?The study addresses this research question by means of a review, synthesisand analysis of previous literature. Its empirical section approaches threeparticular case studies, from the United States and Canada. Results show thatthe initiative of training citizens to become community leaders has positiveeffects at an individual and collective level - it fosters personal development,mutual understanding and social cohesion, contributing to an ongoingeducational process.