Learning and understanding empowerment planning: An emergent model that builds community capacity to affect neighborhood planning outcomes

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Bengle, T. (2015). Learning and understanding empowerment planning: An emergent model that builds community capacity to affect neighborhood planning outcomes. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

This research explores empowerment planning (Reardon, 1996) for the purpose of adding to its body of theory, in order to build better, more inclusive planning processes. Through this research I develop a more nuanced understanding of empowerment planning via experiences in Reid Park, a historically marginalized black community on the west side of Charlotte. The community engaged in empowerment planning to organize for the implementation of a community-driven neighborhood park plan. This case study is unique in that it breaks empowerment planning into its three individual methodologies—popular education; participatory action research (PAR); and community organizing—and intentionally applies each methodology in a cumulative fashion to enable learning at each stage (Beard, 2003) via the introduction of three community-driven interventions. Each intervention is designed to develop participants’ capacity to engage in empowerment planning so that participants learn the process progressively. Based on this research I suggest a new conceptualization of empowerment planning that better explains how participants learn power through the application of popular education and empowerment planning. This research includes recommendations for community development and planning practice, as well as education in these fields. Also included are policy recommendations for local municipalities for the adoption of a more neighborhood-centric model of participatory planning in Reid Park.

Details
Author

Bengle, Tara

Title

Learning and understanding empowerment planning: An emergent model that builds community capacity to affect neighborhood planning outcomes

Physical Description

1 online resource (259 pages) : PDF

Date

2015

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

This research explores empowerment planning (Reardon, 1996) for the purpose of adding to its body of theory, in order to build better, more inclusive planning processes. Through this research I develop a more nuanced understanding of empowerment planning via experiences in Reid Park, a historically marginalized black community on the west side of Charlotte. The community engaged in empowerment planning to organize for the implementation of a community-driven neighborhood park plan. This case study is unique in that it breaks empowerment planning into its three individual methodologies—popular education; participatory action research (PAR); and community organizing—and intentionally applies each methodology in a cumulative fashion to enable learning at each stage (Beard, 2003) via the introduction of three community-driven interventions. Each intervention is designed to develop participants’ capacity to engage in empowerment planning so that participants learn the process progressively. Based on this research I suggest a new conceptualization of empowerment planning that better explains how participants learn power through the application of popular education and empowerment planning. This research includes recommendations for community development and planning practice, as well as education in these fields. Also included are policy recommendations for local municipalities for the adoption of a more neighborhood-centric model of participatory planning in Reid Park.

Genre

doctoral dissertations

Subjects--Topics

Geography
City planning

Degree

Ph.D.

Keywords

Community Development
Community Organizing
Empowerment Planning
Participatory Action Research
Popular Education

Subject Area

Geography & Urban Regional Analysis

Advisor(s)

Sorensen, Dr. Janni

Committee Members

Furuseth, Dr. Owen
Moore, Dr. Tyrel
Harden, Dr. Susan

Degree Note

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2015.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Bengle_uncc_0694D_10930

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:1031