National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals adopts IACD’s definition of community development

We are delighted to report that at its annual conference and business meeting today in Montana, the U.S. National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals adopted IACD’s global definition of community development.  IACD’s definition (below in italics) was adopted last year and has since been supported by several national CD associations around the world.

Resolution adopting the global definition of community development with statement to describe Extension professional’s role in community development

Whereas, NACDEP has a mission to improve the visibility, coordination, professional status and resource base of community and economic development Extension programs and professionals, Recognizing that defining, understanding and promoting members’ common profession supports this mission,

Further recognizing the International Association for Community Development (IACD) & Community Development Society (CDS) have already adopted the global definition,

Noting that the association has worked toward a common definition for several years and has sought member input though conference sessions, newsletter articles, and webinars,

1. The association adopts the Global Definition of Community Development: Community development is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes participative democracy, sustainable development, rights, equality, economic opportunity and social justice, through the organization, education and empowerment of people within their communities, whether these be of locality, identity or interest, in urban and rural settings.

2. The association further adopts the following statement to describe Extension professionals’ role in community development:
Community Resources & Economic Development (CRED) Extension Professionals work WITH communities to support activities that encourage broad participation and result in social, environmental, and/or economic improvement as defined by the community.

Congratulations NACDEP!