Queer and Trans Community Building in Post-NALSA and Post-377 India
By Ruth Pearce
I am very excited to see the publication of the most recent issue of the Community Development Journal (CDJ), which focuses on queer and trans lives and collectivity in India.
The issue, titled Queer and Trans Community Building in Post-NALSA and Post-377 India, is edited by Pushpesh Kumar, Sayantan Datta, and Neha Mishra. Across the editorial and seven articles, it explores pathways and barriers to community organising across a range of settings, including in families, religious contexts, community health programmes, universities, and the media.
As editor-in-chief of CDJ, it was an honour to support the hard work of the special issue editors and authors, who have put together a truly groundbreaking collection. LGBTIQ+ organisations, and others with a broader remit who seek to work with LGBTIQ+ people, are increasingly taking community development approaches and (where they can afford to do so) employing community development workers. However, community development research has been slow to catch up, with very little literature examining queer or trans community development theory and practice. This special issue therefore represents an important act of leadership in the field, which I hope will pave the way for more expansive discussions of LGBTIQ+ issues within community development globally.
The issue also represents methodological innovation, bringing literary and media studies methods to consider opportunities and issues for community building in India, alongside the social sciences approaches more typical of research in the field of community development.
The editorial for the issue is free for anyone to read, as is Anannya Dasgupta's article Queerious communities: building writing centres in Indian universities. The remainder of the issue is available to all individuals and institutions who subscribe to CDJ.
50 years of the Community Development Journal
14th February
For the past 50 years, since 1966, the Community Development Journal (CDJ) has been the foremost journal in its field and remains so today as recognised, among other things, by its current impact factor score of 1.174.
Commons against and beyond capitalism?
28th May 2015, Cork
Organised by in association with University College Cork, UNIDEV and Kimmage Development Studies Centre, "Commons against and beyond capitalism?" was a day-long Thinkery based around an exploration and conversation about the commons.
An introduction to the day was provided by Mary McDermott:
There was then a discussion by Silvia Federici and George Caffentzis, who invited attendees to listen, think and converse with others about anti-capitalist commoning. Based in New York, they are part of an international movement that asserts ‘commons’ can be the seeds of a society beyond state and market. An overview of their perspective on the commons can be found in the article Commons against and beyond capitalism from the CDJ Special Supplement "Commons Sense: New thinking about an old idea".
The afternoon focussed upon actual and emergent commoning in Ireland. Anne B. Ryan discussed her work on the radical concept of ‘enough’, and her practical experience of Community Supported Farming:
Resources from previous event "Commons Sense: A Thinkery on the Commons" can be found here.
50th Anniversary Blogs
Blog posts reflecting upon the CDJ 50th Anniversary Conference, Why Community Development? Continuity and Innovation.
Community Development - is there anything new to say?
Jo Howard - writing for Institute of Development Studies
Don't label us!
Rituu B Nanda - writing for Gender and Evaluation
Community Participation is Community development: Lessons for Post 2015 Development Agenda
Pradeep Narayanan - writing for CDJ Plus
50th Anniversary Videos
Videos shown at CDJ 50
"Somewhere in a Village"
A film by the Centre for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia, looking at the role of women in community development.
"Work With Us"
Video produced by Real Time for the Institute of Development Studies and Beyond 2015. The purpose of the film is to both illustrate the kinds of knowledge that emerge through participatory research, and how change can happen. It highlights the need for on-going commitment, involvement, and support from decision-makers and for collaborative dialogue and action. Further information can be found here.
RESOURCES: CDJ 50th Anniversary Conference
We were delighted to welcome delegates to Edinburgh at the beginning of July for the CDJ 50th Anniversary Conference: Why Community Development? Continuity and Innovation.
In the spirit of widening participation, we will be gradually uploading resources from this event - including presentation slides, video and critical reflections - to CDJ Plus in the coming weeks.
We've already got some initial materials up on our new dedicated page:
50th Anniversary Conference.
Please do keep checking back to see what else we've added!
50th Anniversary Presentations
Powerpoint and PDF presentations from the CDJ 50th Anniversary Conference, Why Community Development? Continuity and Innovation.
Youth in Community Development Process: Responding to Changing Times
Nataliya Drozd (Ukraine)
Raising Refugee Women’s Voices
Refugee Women's Strategy Group and Scottish Refugee Council (UK)
50th Anniversary Photos
Photographs by Kirsty Lohman, Ruth Pearce and Dave Vanderhoven.
50th Anniversary Conference
Why Community Development?
Continuity and Innovation
1-3 July 2015, Edinburgh
To celebrate its 50th year, the Editorial Board of the Community Development Journal organised a number of exciting activities in 2015, including a special issue, themed issues of critical contemporary relevance, and an international conference.
This page links to resources generated during the 50th Anniversary Conference. The event, which was held at the University of Edinburgh brought together scholars, policy makers and practice-based participants and activists with a common interest in the issues of social justice, equality and community.
New resources from this event are gradually being added. Please check back for updates!
EVENT: CDS 46th Anniversary International Conference
19th-22nd July 2015
Lexington, Kentucky, USA
Registration for the Community Development Society’s Conference on “Creativity and Culture: Community Development - Approaches for Strengthening Health, Environment, Economic Vibrancy, Social Justice and Democracy” is now open.
Full details can be found on the CDS website.
Early bird rate available for those who register before 20th June.
EVENT: Commons against and beyond capitalism?
A Thinkery with Silvia Federici, George Caffentzis and Anne B. Ryan
Thursday 28th May 2015
University College Cork, Ireland
During the first part of this day-long Thinkery, which will be led by Silvia Federici and George Caffentzis, you will be invited to listen, think and converse with others about anti-capitalist commoning. Based in New York, they are part of an international movement that asserts ‘commons’ can be the seeds of a society beyond state and market.
A long-time feminist and anti-globalization activist, teacher and writer, Silvia Federici’s books include Revolution at Point Zero: Housework, Reproduction and Feminist Struggle (2012) and Caliban and the Witch. Women, the Body and Primitive Accumulation (2004). Founding member of the Midnight Notes Collective, George Caffentzis’ latest book is In Letters of Blood and Fire: Work, Machines and the Crisis of Capitalism (2013). An overview of their perspective on the commons can be found in this article http://cdj.oxfordjournals.org/content/49/suppl_1/i92.full.pdf+html
Learning together about the commons will continue in the afternoon, but here the focus will be on actual and emergent commoning in Ireland. Discussing her work on the radical concept of ‘enough’ and her practical experience of Community Supported Farming, this will include a contribution from Anne B. Ryan. She is the author of Enough is Plenty: Public and Private Policies for the 21st century (2009).
There is no charge for participation but booking in advance is essential. Please book by emailing Órla O’Donovan at o.odonovan@ucc.ie.
The event follows on from Commons Sense – A Thinkery on the Commons held in Kimmage Centre for Development Studies in 2014 and addressed by Gustavo Esteva, Mexican post-development theorist and commoner. A video of that event can be watched here and a transcript of the conversation can be found here.
10.00am - 4.30pm, Thursday, 28 May 2015
CACSSS Seminar Room (ORB G27), University College Cork
This event is organised in association with the Community Development Journal, University College Cork, UNIDEV and Kimmage Development Studies Centre.
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: The Ashgate Research Companion to Community Development
Abstracts due by 29th May 2015
Edited by Dr Lynda Shevellar and Dr Peter Westoby of The University of Queensland, Australia, the aim of the (provisionally titled) Ashgate Research Companion to Community Development is to provide scholars and graduate students with a comprehensive and authoritative state-of-the-art review of the current research in this subject.
As a topic, it is particularly attractive owing to its inter-disciplinary nature. In addition to community development scholars, the work will appeal to graduates and academics working within the fields of social work, sociology, political science, and development studies. The research companion will be aimed towards the academic library market. Authors will be drawn from around the world, with their writing receiving assistance from an international peer review panel, including Emeritus Professor Marjorie Mayo, Emeritus
Professor Jim Ife, Associate Professor James DeFilippis and Dr Akwugo Emejulu.
The process
Abstracts of 500 words are due by 29th May 2015. All authors will be notified of the final decision by 31st August 2015. Selected authors will then be invited to contribute a full chapter of 6,500 words, due March 2016. Chapters will undergo a peer review process with senior scholars in community development, to assist in the further development of writing.
The final manuscript will be delivered to Ashgate in February 2017, for publication and release in 2017.
What we are seeking
Abstracts are now being sought for book chapters from authors undertaking
community development research in any of the following areas:
- Populations facing forced displacement such as asylum seekers, refugees and
people enduring development induced displacement - Social development in post-conflict or transition communities
- Violence in a domestic sphere such as domestic violence and child protection
- Responses to indigenous marginalization
- Climate change mitigation and adaptation
- Food sovereignty and security and the politics of food
- Survival development – including responses to natural disasters and pandemics
Although the book is focused upon community development, scholars engaged in community-oriented research in cognate disciplines are also encouraged to submit an abstract.
Interested?
Please send your 500-word abstract, (including contact details and affiliations) by email to Dr Lynda Shevellar by the 29th May 2015. Email: l.shevellar@uq.edu.au
CDJ 50th Anniversary Virtual Issue
The CDJ 50th Anniversary Virtual Issue is now freely available online for anyone to read.
The Virtual Issue includes 11 articles from the Community Development Journal archives - selected for their ongoing significance and contribution to thinking - plus an editorial introduction from Keith Popple.
Links to individual articles can be found below. The Virtual Issue can also be found in full on the Oxford University Press website, accompanied by short contributions from the individuals who has made each selection explaining why they chose the paper.
Editorial
Keith Popple
Popple, K. (2008) ‘The first forty years: the history of the Community Development Journal'
Selected by Mick Carpenter and Keith Popple
Batten, T. R. (1974) 'The Major Issues and Future Direction of Community Development'
Selected by Sue Kenny
International Advisory Board member
Waddington, P. (1979) ‘Looking ahead: community work in the 1980s’
Selected by Marilyn Taylor
Editorial Board member
Smiley, C. W. (1982) ‘Managing agreement: the Albilene Paradox’
Selected by Gary Craig
Editor 1981-1997
Botes, L. and van Rensburg, D. (2000) ‘Community participation in development: nine plagues and twelve commandments’
Selected by Mick Carpenter
Editor 2010-2015
Cannan, C. (2000) ‘The environmental crisis, greens and community development’
Selected by Keith Popple
Editor 1998-2003
Shaw, M. and Martin, I. (2000) ‘Community work, citizenship and democracy: remaking the connections’
Selected by Marjorie Mayo
Former Editorial Board member
Berner, E. and Phillips, B. (2005) ‘Left to their own devices? Community self-help between alternative development and neo liberalism’
Selected by Kwok-Ki Fung
International Advisory Board member
Cornwall, A. (2008) ‘Unpacking “Participation”: models, meaning and practices’
Selected by Mae Shaw
Editorial Board member
Andharia, J. (2009) ‘Editorial: Critical Explorations of Community Organization in India’
Selected by Chris Miller
Editor 2003-2009
Ennis, G. and West, D. (2013) ‘Using social network analysis in community development practice and research: a case study’
Selected by Nino Vasadze
International Advisory Board member
EVENT: Unitec Community Development Conference 2015
18th - 20th February 2015
Unitech Institute of Technology, New Zealand
Bringing together practitioners, academics and students to share their knowledge, research and stories about community development.
Major themes include placemaking, community economic development, diverse communities and re-claiming democracy, with quality assured papers, poster presentations and practical skills workshops.
Download the draft conference programme (PDF).
Find out who is presenting - download the presentation details (PDF).
Registration is now open: click here for details.
EVENT: Keib Thomas Community Development Memorial Lecture
11th February 2015
London Metropolitan University, UK
Re-asserting the right to be heard: Manifesto for Organising Community Development for Social and Political Change - Post May 2015
This event is open to anyone with an interest in community development. It is a forum for workers and practitioners. This forum is for Community Development Workers/Practitioners (volunteer or paid) from all sectors working with communities in London. Managers, policy workers and academics and students are also welcome.
This event is open to anyone with an interest in community development. It is a forum for workers and practitioners. This forum is for Community Development Workers/Practitioners (volunteer or paid) from all sectors working with communities in London. Managers, policy workers and academics and students are also welcome.
Date & Time:
Wednesday 11 February 2015, 6.00 pm to 8.45pm
Place:
London Metropolitan University, Henry Thomas Room TG30, Tower Building, 166-220 Holloway Road, London, N7 8DB
Booking is required to attend this free event. Click here to book a place.
This event is being organised by Community Development Network London. To find out more about the network, contact Matt Scott: matt [at] victoriascottpainter.com
Community Development Journal - Open Call for Journal Editor
Since 1966 the Community Development Journal (CDJ) has been the leading international journal in its field, covering a wide range of topics, reviewing significant developments and providing a forum for cutting-edge debates about theory and practice. It adopts a broad definition of community development to include policy, planning and action as they impact on the life of communities. We particularly seek to publish critically focused articles which challenge received wisdom, report and discuss innovative practices, and relate issues of community development to questions of social justice, diversity and environmental sustainability. The Journal is published four times a year and is circulated in over eighty countries.
The CDJ’s current Editor plans to stand down as of January 2016. To ensure continuity and handover, and following a selection process in spring 2015, new editorial arrangements will be set in place by July 2015. Between July 2015 and January 2016, it is anticipated that the current and incoming Editor(s) will work in parallel in order to ease the transition and passing on of roles.
The CDJ is now seeking applications for the role of Editor(s). It is expected that the incoming Editor(s) will share our commitment to the CDJ’s values and mission, and to the on-going development and enhancement of the journal itself. It is likely that Editor(s) will be UK based though candidates from other locations may make a case as to why they feel it would be possible to meet the demands of the editorial role from another location. The Editor(s) should have an outstanding knowledge of community development and a commitment to ensuring that the Journal retains its unique focus on providing a critically reflective and contextual account of the theory and practice of community development as it is practised and understood internationally. The Editor(s) will work with an engaged and highly participatory Editorial Board and International Advisory Board.
The CDJ Board is open to different editorial models and invites applicants to state, in their application letters, their preferences in that regard. For example, the following models will be considered:
- Sole Editor with contracted administrative support
- A model of co-editorship – with a maximum of two editors with contracted administrative support
- Managing editor with Associate Editor.
Current remuneration for the Editor role is appropriate to the role, responsibilities and work undertaken. This will be discussed on application, and may be negotiable, within limits, according to the circumstances of the applicant.
The initial term of office will be for three years.
Contacts: A detailed Job Description is available on request. Prospective applicants are invited to send a written expression of interest, detailing their suitability for the position, along with a CV to: Ruth Pearce, Ruth.Pearce@warwick.ac.uk and /or Rosie Meade, r.meade@ucc.ie
Applications should be submitted by: Friday, February 27th 2015.