SUBURBS, SLUMS & GHETTOS: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN AMERICA

What does community development mean? We will examine the historical framework of city and metropolitan development focusing on programs for low-income communities, and their degrees of success, failure and controversy. Theories of community development have been tested through a complementary, and sometimes competing, mix of programs and initiatives of non-profit organizations, foundations, businesses and civic groups, as well as government. The growth of suburbs and slums (barrios, ghettos) after World War II reveals two divergent paths of development. We will conclude with discussion of community development for selected Denver metro- area neighborhoods using data compiled by the Piton Foundation.