The Reading RoomWe include articles, books, and websites as we come across them. If you know of something that would be great for the Reading Room, please let Sarah know svisser@dca.state.ga.us
Articles:
These articles can be found online at www.atlanticmonthly.com (please note - a subscription is required to view them)."Broken Windows"
by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling
The 1982 article that started it all. This is where George Kelling first described his "Broken Windows" Theory."Making Neighborhoods Safe"
A 1989 follow up article by James Q. Wilson and George Kelling describing the application of the "Broken Windows" Theory by city police departments."The Promise of Public Order"
Read an interview with George Kelling and Catherine Coles authors of "Fixing Broken Windows"."Epidemic Proportions"
Want to find out how to create the epidemic of community development? Read an interview with Malcolm Gladwell author of "The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make A Big Difference".Books:
Many of these books are at your local library, all are easily available at bookstores.Fixing Broken Windows by George Kelling and Catherine Coles
The book that proves what we already know, quality of life crimes like litter and graffiti really do make a difference in communities. Full of real life examples of cities that reduced serious crime and improved their communities just by changing their response to quality of life crimes.The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Many of you have heard Rebecca Morgan, now Rebecca Ryan, talk about this book. It suggests that social ideas spread in a similar fashion to viruses. If we understand this process, then we have a powerful tool for social change.Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam
Americans are becoming increasingly disconnected from their friends and neighbors. The break down in these social relationships has created a variety of social problems. By repairing these relationships, and increasing the connections between people, we can improve our community's capacity for generating solutions.Better Together by Robert Putnam
A follow up to Bowling Alone, in Better Together Putnam explores the question of how we can begin to recreate the social capital we have lost and use it to improve our communities.The Story Factor by Annette Simmons
Stories influence others in a way that facts can not, and are often more effective tools of communication and persuasion. Learn how to tell the stories about your organization that will help you be a more effective force for community improvement. To see how telling stories helped cleanup and revitalize a run down neighborhood visit the website below.Fish! Tales by Stephen C. Lundin, Harry Paul, John Christensen
Fish! Tales expands on the ideas offered in the management parable Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results. It describes the same management lessons learned at the Pike Place Fish Market, "Choose Your Attitude", "Make Their Day", "Be Present" and "Play", but this time with real life examples of the principles in action.Websites:
The Houston Project See how using stories in addition to facts can more effectively influence community development.KAB Presentations
Think Sue Smith did a fantastic job at the last conference you attended?
Wish you could get a copy of her presentation? You can! Sue has posted
all of her presentations on her website www.preventlitter.org.