Community Readiness - Resources

One community thrives and is innovative in addressing long term issues and situations. Another community does not. On the same token, programs may be successful in one community and not in another one. What is the difference? And, what can your community do to increase its capacity to community address complex situations such as identifying new leaders, being competitive in a digital economy, creating healthy communities, attraction and retention of community members or new populations. One key to success is community readiness.

Understanding community readiness means that a community facilitator can better understand to use in working in a community. A program may need to be modified to better it the community. The more a community (facilitator) understands readiness, the more likely that capacity will be built within a community to address complex situations.

The degree to which a community is prepared to move forward is their level of readiness. Several models have been developed nationally to help communities determine their level of support and engagement for taking action.  Models include:

• Community Readiness for Systemic Change By Milan Wall, Co-Director, Heartland Center for Leadership Development Prepared for the Wealth Creation and Rural Livelihoods Conference.
• Community Readiness for Community Change developed by Colorado State University
• Energizing Entrepreneurs Readiness Model
• Nebraska Community Readiness Assessment developed by Heartland Center for Leadership Development
• Readiness for Engagement developed by University of Minnesota Center for Community Vitality

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