Power, politics, and community development

Abstract

Across the US, vulnerable communities have been adversely affected by large-scale development led by universities, hospitals, and medical facilities. More often than not, much of the tension around university or hospital expansion has been around traffic congestion, rising land, and housing costs, displacement of lower income individuals, gentrification, and environmental pollution. Using interviews, focus groups, archival data and observant participation, this article analyzes how Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC) and other nonprofit community-based organization partners were able to form a public–private partnership with local hospitals, medical facilities, and research organizations that led to a community-focused workforce development and community benefits program in Boston. In addition, this case study demonstrates how Boston became one of the first cities in the country to link development to community-based outcomes and investments aimed at helping some of Boston's most disadvantaged and vulnerable residents.

Keywords:

• power
• community organizing
• community benefits
• land use
• workforce development

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholars program for their support. The author would also like to thank Sarah Griffen and the JPNDC staff for their help.

Notes

1. Multiple interviews and meetings with local residents between January 2005 and February 2006.

2. Entrepreneurship means the willingness to be creative, innovative, and flexible.

3. To ensure confidentiality, information gained from focus groups, interviews, and surveys is cited anonymously. Of the 68 individuals: 12 were organization staff members; 11 were hospital employers; 10 hospital staff supervisors; five workforce development specialists; four high-level hospital administrators; four community college staff members; 22 pre-employment participants (12 focus group participants; 10 completed surveys).

4. Mission works is a community-based nonprofit organization.

5. Community Benefits Program Database can be found at:http://www.cbsys.ago.state.ma. us/cbpublic/public/program_start.aspx (accessed November 28, 2011).

6. The skillWorks initiative had a goal of raising $25 million dollars.

7. Interviews with JPNDC administrative staff members August 30, 2005 and November 17, 2005.