A vast community building movement has come on the scene in the U.S. in the last decade. Some of the elements that loosely connect various manifestations of the movement are summarized by Peterson (1996)

1). A focus on developing and sustaining human relationships of caring and belonging.
2). Appreciation of the need of individuals and families for supportive community affiliations.
3). Valuing of diversity and in all its forms, expressed as inclusivity.
4). Creating forums where community bonds may be created, strengthened and, or sustained.
5) Holistic views of interacting conditions, problems and opportunities.
6). Shifting organizations and policies toward roles supportive of natural caring of people in community.
7) Intentionality of community building efforts recognizing forces that divide and weaken people's connecting capacities.

One sees efforts aimed at community building in emerging views of business organizations (Gozdz, 1995), in schools and higher education institutions (Sergiovanni, 1994, Rhoads, 1997), and in self help, support and liberation/identity groups. Concerns of a similar nature are expressed in the civil society and democratic renewal movements (Lappe, F. & Dubois, P., 1994, Eberly,1994). Foundations have shifted toward a community building priority, policy initiatives that support community building have emerged. And national networks are in place to connect and support community building efforts.

A major focus for community building centers on reconnecting people around communities of place. Place is an especially important locus of community building today. Historically place served as the foundation for community building for people in all cultures and locations. In the modern era, however, connections of people around place have weakened for many reasons. Accordingly the ability of people to work and play together and collaborate in creating healthy conditions for themselves and for the environment on which they depend has diminished. This site focuses on the expanding array of efforts to renew a sense of community in the local areas where people live.

Community building initiatives have become a main strategy in revitalizing inner city poor neighborhoods. Related strategies have been undertaken in small rural communities and in cities of varying sizes. Government and non-profit initiatives across virtually every sector (families, youth, environment, agriculture, economic development, jobs/welfare, arts, health and education) give increasing attention to supporting and strengthening the role of the local community in addressing problems and improving conditions.

What accounts for this wave of interest in community building? In a general sense the conditions of modern life have mitigated against a sense of human connection, especially around locality for centuries. High rates of mobility and interaction of diverse persons and groups, mass culture, increasing stratification by income, and rationalization and bureaucratization of more and more spheres of daily life, among other forces have eroded the sense of solidarity that characterized human relationships in stable localities in ages past. Certainly this modernization of society has had benefits associated with scientific discoveries, improved and more abundant consumer products, liberation of individuals and groups for new creative expressions and lifestyles, and the development of democratic institutions. However a set of adverse consequences has become increasingly evident, including: children and families suffering from lack of community security and support, environments being degraded due to lack of communal stewardship, local economies collapsing due to lack of local ownership, support and innovation, and failing schools due to lack of community engagement. As these consequences have reached crisis proportions in some localities and bureaucratic remedies have failed, a community building response has spontaneously emerged. We are now seeing conscious efforts to reverse these trends by reconnecting people at the local level and by tapping their creative energies.