Emergency Preparedness through Community Cohesion

This book is a revision of the author’s original doctoral thesis on emergency preparedness through community radio in North Indian villages into a widening array of possible reapplications in other community development fields.

The author expands on the process of transforming emergency preparedness education through community media in rural North India and applies this to the development of community-prosperity, defined simply as human and planetary well-being, anywhere in the world. A new theoretical framework is presented which combines the pivotal Integral Worlds Approach developed by Lessem and Schieffer with Critical Theory, thus exploring a new way to envision and implement social change, leading to innovation and social transformation.

This book introduces the term "constructive resilience," which is a type of community-building that occurs alongside dominant societal structures that are either oppressive or ineffective. An evolving field of study and practice, it is emerging from the work of academics and community-builders who are members of the Bahá’í Faith. Bahá’í "consultation," a process of inquiry and decision-making, is offered as a systematic and effective method of defining problems and enacting solutions and is examined in the context of emergency preparedness education and local capacity-building.

With its integral development approach, its unique combination of themes and theoretical components, and integration with the Bahá’í Faith, as well as its interdisciplinary nature, this book will be invaluable reading for researchers in many fields. It will be of particular interest in university-based training programs in disaster management and the various disciplines of international community development, as well as practitioners in the areas of micro enterprise, disaster management, community development, rural communications, rural economics and emergency preparedness education.

“"Dr. Jean Parker, through participatory research and her own personal experience, develops a compelling case for the new evolving community development paradigm of Constructive Resilience emanating from the Baha'i Faith and provides real examples of its applications that will serve as a blueprint for community development worldwide." -- Nabil Elias, PhD, Faculty Emeritus, Belk College of Business, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA "Environmental degradation and extreme weather disproportionally impact vulnerable communities. Dr. Parker's research in India shows us how relying on a community's wisdom and skills, and using an egalitarian consultative process, builds community cohesion and facilitates emergency preparedness that mitigates the impacts of disasters. Popular education delivered by community radio are crucial tools. This approach also advances community development and has global applicability." -- K. Scott Wood , Professor (Retired), School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada "Integral development is a cornerstone of effective community projects. The successful implementation of Jean's newly created Intecritical framework, with the community of Uttarakhand, lends credence to this. The power of the process lies in its respectful co-creation with the community which led to conscious-raising and a level of empowerment that enabled the joint crafting of local solutions which ensured long-term sustainable impacts for the community." -- Dr Loshnee Naidoo, (PhD) (Integral Development), Multi-award winning Development Specialist p;lt;I>K. Scott Wood, Professor (Retired), School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada "Integral development is a cornerstone of effective community projects. The successful implementation of Jean's newly created Intecritical framework, with the community of Uttarakhand, lends credence to this. The power of the process lies in its respectful co-creation with the community which led to conscious-raising and a level of empowerment that enabled the joint crafting of local solutions which ensured long-term sustainable impacts for the community." -- Dr Loshnee Naidoo, (PhD) (Integral Development), Multi-award winning Development Specialist”

"Dr. Jean Parker, through participatory research and her own personal experience, develops a compelling case for the new evolving community development paradigm of Constructive Resilience emanating from the Baha’i Faith and provides real examples of its applications that will serve as a blueprint for community development worldwide." — Nabil Elias, PhD, Faculty Emeritus, Belk College of Business, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA

"Environmental degradation and extreme weather disproportionally impact vulnerable communities. Dr. Parker’s research in India shows us how relying on a community’s wisdom and skills, and using an egalitarian consultative process, builds community cohesion and facilitates emergency preparedness that mitigates the impacts of disasters. Popular education delivered by community radio are crucial tools. This approach also advances community development and has global applicability." — K. Scott Wood, Professor (Retired), School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada

"Integral development is a cornerstone of effective community projects. The successful implementation of Jean’s newly created Intecritical framework, with the community of Uttarakhand, lends credence to this. The power of the process lies in its respectful co-creation with the community which led to conscious-raising and a level of empowerment that enabled the joint crafting of local solutions which ensured long-term sustainable impacts for the community." — Dr Loshnee Naidoo, (PhD) (Integral Development), Multi-award winning Development Specialist

Jean Parker, Ph.D., is Senior Research Fellow at Trans4m Center for Integral Development and teaches economic justice and nonprofit management at Regis University and Wilmette Institute, USA. Her previous publications include Learning, Discovering, and Moving Forward: An Integral Approach to Creating "Safer Communities" through Community Radio in India's Villages (2016).

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