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The Center for Community and Neighborhoods (CCAN) is home to
a broad spectrum of initiatives that inspire and support
community participation, direct citizen action, and
responsive local government. CCAN is built on the premise
that social capital is as valuable as economic capital and
that sustainable community development requires both.
CCAN was created in 2002 after 20 years of community
development that began with the election of Mayor Bernie
Sanders in 1981. The City created many new opportunities for
participation; but by the 1990’s, city officials and
activist groups recognized that participatory practices
could be broadened and strengthened. Many voices were still
under-represented and institutional resistance to
collaborative decision making was still a problem. Habits
needed to change, bridges needed to be built, and new
leadership needed to be cultivated.
CCAN was established as a uniquely comprehensive
initiative to promote greater citizen empowerment and to
strengthen connections between citizens and government. It
is not intended to further "government interests," but to
allow those traditionally excluded from the discourse to
define government interests. This culture is now firmly
embedded in city government.
Examples:
- Social infrastructure: There is a climate of
trust because of a strong infrastructure of community
organizations. The City helped nurture this infrastructure
by providing consistent and substantial financial support
for non-profits serving low-income needs.
- More responsive
bureaucracy: City departments now recognize the value of
responding to and engaging with the community. Public Works
asked CCAN to help involve citizens in the development of
traffic calming in the neighborhoods. The Police Department
revamped its recruitment and hiring practices with the
guidance of local refugees and people of color.
- Participatory budget process: A citizen's budget committee
now works closely with the Mayor to set priorities for the
annual city budget.
- Key personnel: When faced with the
need to replace the departing Police Chief, the Mayor
convened a citizen panel to interview finalists and make
recommendations.
- Initiatives from the bottom up: After
residents expressed frustration with crime and blight in
their neighborhoods, CCAN partnered with housing non-profits
and City departments to push for enactment of a vacant
building ordinance. Since its adoption, 75% of vacant
buildings have been demolished or rebuilt into habitable
housing units.
- Refugee collaborative: The resettling of
over 1,000 African refugees in recent years brought the
City’s capacity to a tipping point. CCAN convened key
partners with citizens and refugees to address systemic
issues and cultivate grassroots solutions, such as the
Refugee Collaborative and the Somali Bantu Association of
Vermont.
Thanks to CCAN, citizens now participate directly in many
of the decisions that affect their lives. In 2006, over
4,000 Burlington residents were empowered to improve their
neighborhoods and shape the future of the City through CCAN
programs. |
