The Community Life Program: Creating Cultures of Everyday Community

Creating value in communities is more than just the provision of goods and services. In today's neighborhood, providing physical amenities alone is not enough to affect quality of life and the creation of value for residents. Creating value extends beyond the physical to the informational, to the emotional, and even spiritual (beyond oneself) connections.

The IFC has developed The Community Life Program to help neighborhood residents build quality relationships with each other and with their communities. The Community Life Program exposes residents to all the "natural resources" of the neighborhood (people, social services, businesses, churches, recreational facilities, clubs, non-profit organizations, family services, park districts, educational and career opportunities, libraries, health and wellness opportunities and any informal group) helping them utilize these life-giving and community building opportunities. Networking these community "natural resources" lays the groundwork for life-changing relationships and opportunities.

The Community Life Program helps develop this neighborhood landscape by using Institute for Community technology, Asset Based Community Development mapping theory and principles (http://www.abcdinstitute.org/) and an On-Site Community Life Architect. To visit an active Community Life site, click here.