Review
“Anyone who dreams of making his or her community a better place to live and work should read this book. It is a refreshingly practical primer on how towns, cities, and regions can create a shared vision and measurable impact.”
—Janice C. Kreamer, president and CEO, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
“Innovation and entrepreneurship have always been the driving forces behind the success of U.S. commerce and industry. Smart Communities clearly demonstrates with real and compelling examples that these same forces are just as important in the public and nonprofit sectors and are making a difference in communities all over America.”
—Michael Rubinger, president, Local Initiatives Support Corporation
“Everyone who is working to bring about positive change in their communities, from college presidents to next-door neighbors, will be grateful that Suzanne Morse is sharing her vast experience in community building in this highly readable and helpful book. It provides a roadmap for any community, large or small, that wants to create a better future by working togeth er for effective change.”
—Elizabeth L. Hollander, executive director, Campus Compact
“Using the insight gained from having a ‘front row seat watching community change,’ Suzanne Morse has distilled those observations into a strategy for success. Her practical formula builds upon the good that exists in communities now to help them transform their neighborhoods and the nation—with principles, planning, and perseverance.”
—Angela Glover Blackwell, president, PolicyLink, and coauthor, Searching for the Uncommon Good
“Rare is the book which weaves civic stories with wise counsel about what we must do to foster communities that present and future generations will respect and hold dear. This book speaks to the aspirations of all American citizens who lead, volunteer, and give in the places they live.”
—Gregg Behr, president, The Forbes Funds, and founding director, The Content of Our Character Project
“The book is a Matisse drawing of communities¾fresh, concise, and very, very timely.”
—Frieda Garcia, former president, United South End Settlements
From the Inside Flap
"Smart Communities is for policymakers and citizens alike who care about their communities and have been looking for help in making better community decisions. Smart communities do things differently and Suzanne Morse shows how they do it. It is a valuable contribution to our future."
—
Marc H. Morial, former mayor of New Orleans and president and CEO, National Urban League
Based on the results of more than a decade of research by the Pew Partnership for Civic Change, Smart Communities provides directions for strategic decision-making and outlines the key strategies used by thousands of leaders who have worked to create successful communities. Smart Communities offers leaders from both the public and private sectors the tools they need to create a better future for the citizens of their communities. Using illustrative examples from communities around the country, Smart Communities shows how these change agents' well-structured decision-making processes can be traced to their effective use of seven key leverage points:
- Investing right the first time
- Working together
- Building on community strengths
- Practicing democracy
- Preserving the past
- Growing leaders
- Inventing a brighter future
This important resource is a unique contribution to the literature and offers community leaders the information they need to build a civic infrastructure and to create community readiness that will help avert problems before they begin.
Smart Communities offers hope to those who are striving to improve their communities and addresses vital issues such as poverty, race relations, and children’s health and welfare.
