Broadening the paradigm: Community development, schools and the dimensions of power

Community development needs to address the role of schools. Beyond education, schools can be important sources of health care, nutrition, and economic development. However, schools, as separate governmental institutions, create challenges and opportunities for community development. Case studies in this special issue show both the promise and the challenges. In this article, we highlight the importance of hierarchical power relations, as schools may wield power over community, or lose power to tax abating authorities or higher levels of government. Shared power is needed, if the promise of schools as community development actors is to be realized. Because collaboration can narrow discussion to common agendas, we argue that voice, conscientization, and sharing of funding are needed to enable comprehensive community collaborations that lead to a broader agenda for community development.