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Supporting and Sustaining Grassroots Youth Organizations: The Case of New Detroit

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2026

Joanne Sobeck ,
Elizabeth Agius  and
Vanessa N. Mayers
Joanne Sobeck*
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 4756 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
Elizabeth Agius
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
Vanessa N. Mayers
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 4756 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
*
e-mail: ab1350@wayne.edu
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Abstract

Grassroots organizations have a central place in service provision within many urban communities, particularly as they work with young people. Enhancing the potential of youth serving organizations is vital as many of these small groups lack infrastructure and resources. One organization has gone beyond grant making to organizations to include providing technical assistance, then moving to a model of capacity building to improve their ability to fulfill their mission. This paper describes the efforts of New Detroit to improve the infrastructure of youth serving grassroots organizations through a multi-faceted model and the outcomes evidenced from the first cohort. In addition we explore the contradictions inherent in working with small groups. How do you improve effectiveness without destroying the “homegrown” character these groups possess? The model presented here shows the value of empowering small grassroots groups to build capacity.

Résumé

Résumé

Les organisations populaires tiennent une place centrale dans la prestation de services dans de nombreuses collectivités urbaines, particulièrement car elles travaillent avec de jeunes personnes. L’amélioration du potentiel des organisations s’adressant aux jeunes est vitale car ces petits groupes manquent d’infrastructures et de ressources. Une organisation a été au-delà du subventionnement leur étant accordé en fournissant une assistance technique, puis en construisant un modèle de capacité d’élaboration en vue d’améliorer leur capacité àremplir leur mission. Cette étude décrit les efforts de New Detroit pour améliorer l’infrastructure des organisations populaires s’adressant aux jeunes par le biais d’un modèle àplusieurs facettes et de résultats attestés par la première cohorte. De plus, nous explorons les contradictions inhérentes au travail par petits groupes. Comment pouvons-nous améliorer l’efficacité sans détruire le caractère propre de ces groupes ? Le modèle présenté dans cette étude montre la valeur de l’initiative de petits groupes populaires en ce qui concerne la capacité d’élaboration.

Resumen

Resumen

Las organizaciones comunitarias ocupan un lugar esencial prestando servicios en muchas comunidades urbanas, sobre todo cuando trabajan con los jóvenes. Promover el desarrollo de las organizaciones juveniles es crucial ya que, en la mayoría de los casos, se trata de grupos reducidos que carecen de infraestructura y recursos. Una de estas organizaciones ha pasado de dedicarse solamente a gestionar becas para las organizaciones a incluir asistencia técnica, adoptando un modelo de creación de capacidades para poder cumplir mejor con su misión. Este trabajo describe los esfuerzos de New Detroit para mejorar la infraestructura de las organizaciones comunitarias de apoyo a los jóvenes a través de un modelo múltiple y del resultado obtenido por el primer grupo. Asimismo, analizamos las contradicciones inevitables que aparecen al trabajar con pequeños grupos. ¿Es posible mejorar la efectividad de estos pequeños grupos sin destruir la naturaleza local que poseen? El modelo que aquí se presenta muestra la importancia de atribuir poderes a estos pequeños grupos para permitirles potenciar sus capacidades.

Zusammenfassung

Zusammenfassung

Basisorganisationen nehmen einen zentralen Stellenwert bei der Bereitstellung von Dienstleistungen innerhalb vieler städtischer Gemeinden ein, insbesondere dann, wenn Jugendarbeit involviert ist. Die Förderung des Potentials von Jugendorganisationen ist äußerst wichtig, da es vielen dieser kleinen Gruppen an Infrastruktur und Ressourcen mangelt. Eine Organisation ging über die Vergabe von Förderungsmitteln an andere Organisationen hinaus, um technische Hilfestellungen zu geben und stellte ein Modell zum Ausbau von Kapazitäten zur Verfügung, um so die Fähigkeiten der Organisationen zur Erfüllung ihrer Mission zu verbessern. Dieser Beitrag beschreibt die Bemühungen von New Detroit zur Verbesserung der Infrastruktur in Jugend-Basisorganisationen mit Hilfe eines facettenreichen Modells und geht auf die Ergebnisse der ersten Kohorte ein. Des Weiteren werden die bei der Arbeit mit kleinen Gruppen einhergehenden Widersprüchlichkeiten untersucht. Wie kann man die Effektivität verbessern, ohne den „hausgemachten“ Charakter dieser Gruppen zu verlieren? Das hier dargestellte Modell zeigt, wie wertvoll es ist, wenn kleine Basisgruppen die Möglichkeit erhalten, ihre Kapazitäten auszubauen.

摘要

摘要

基层组织在许多城市社区内都有一个集中服务提供地点,尤其是他们与年轻人一起工作时。增强青年服务组织的潜力是至关重要的,因为多数此类小型团体缺乏基础设施和资源。有一个组织超越了对各种组织的资助并进而提供技术援助,然后成为通过提高自身能力来完成任务的楷模。本文描述“新底特律”致力于通过多方合作模式改善青年服务基层组织的基础设施以及第一批组织所显示的结果。此外我们也探讨了与小型团体合作时存在的矛盾和问题。你该如何提升效果但又不破坏那些团体天生具有的特性?这里提供的案例表明了促使小型基层团体增强能力的价值。

概要

概要

数々の都市社会におけるサービス供給の面において市民組織は 中心的な立場にあり、特に青少年にかかわる場合には重要な役割がある。基盤やリソースに欠けている小団体が多いので青少年のサービス組織の可能性を高めることは重要である。組織に助成金を与えて技術援助を提供してから能力を構築する方法に移行して使命をまっとうした組織がある。本論説では多面的な模範や最初のコホートから得た成果を通して青少年のサービス市民組織の基盤を改善したニュー・デトロイトの取り組みについて述べる。さらに小団体と働くときにつきものの矛盾についても検討する。これらの団体が持つ「地元産」の特性を損なわないで効果を改善するにはどうするか。ここに提示する模範は小さな市民団体に能力を構築する力を与えることの重要性について明らかにする。

ملخص

ملخص

أعضاء المنظمات لهم مكان مركزي في بند الخدمه ضمن الكثيرمن المجتمعات الحضريه ، خاصه و هم يعملون مع الشباب . تحسين إمكانيه خدمه منظمات الشباب حيوي لأن كثير من هذه المجموعات الصغيره يفتقد البنيه الأساسيه و الموادر . أحد المنظمات تخطت تقديم المنح لمنظمات لتشمل تقديم المساعدات الفنيه ، ثم الإنتقال إلى نموذج بناء القدره لتحسين القدره على إتمام المهمه .هذه المقاله تصف جهود ديترويت الجديده لتحسين البنيه الأساسيه لخدمه أعضاء منظمات الشباب من خلال نموذج متعدد الأوجه والنتائج الداله من المجموعه الأولى. بالإضافه نحن قمنا بدراسه للتناقضات المتأصله في العمل مع مجموعات صغيره . كيف يمكنك تحسين الفاعليه من غير تحطيم الشخصيه المحليه التي تملكها هذه المجموعات ؟ النموذج الذي قدمناه هنا يظهر قيمه تشجيع أعضاء مجموعات صغيره لبناء قدرات .

Keywords

Capacity buildingEvaluationGrassroots organizationsNew Detroit

Information

Type
Original Paper
Information
Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations , Volume 18 , Issue 1 , March 2007 , pp. 17 - 33
Copyright
Copyright © International Society for Third-Sector Research and The Johns Hopkins University 2007

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