What Does the Future Hold?

As indicated by the variety of material covered in this book, community development is a broad discipline, and it has grown considerably from its more narrowly focused genesis. Community development has not only evolved into a recognized process for improving the whole of the community, its principles and practices are being applied in a variety of other fields such as education, negotiations and diplomacy. Today’s global challenges call for the continued application of community development principles in even more places and ways, and the discipline must continue to evolve and draw from many different fields of study. Growing challenges facing communities demand far more technology, insights, political savvy and resources than ever to positively influence human and ecological well-being.