By forming community groups issues that may not be addressed otherwise can be confronted and overcome. There are community groups in many of our villages, towns, and cities but there is a need for more. There was a time in our country’s history when a neighborhood took care of it’s own needs and people. However this is not happening nearly as much as it used to. Below you will find links on how to start a group to address concerns that you may have in your community:

http://bbparkslope.com/jim/food.coop.html This site has tons of links to food co-ops all over the United States. Joining together with others in your community by becoming a member of a food co-op is a great way to lessen your reliance on large multinational corporations. It is also a way to become more aware of where your food is coming from. Of course the first and best option is to buy your food from local producers

http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/ Neighborhood Link provides neighborhood and community organizations with their own free, interactive Web site. In addition to facilitating communication within each neighborhood, Neighborhood Link also creates a two-way communication channel between local government and neighborhoods. Neighborhood Link makes it quick and easy for you to create your own interactive Web site.

http://www.smartgrowth.org/about/default.asp The features that distinguish smart growth in a community vary from place to place. In general, smart growth invests time, attention, and resources in restoring community and vitality to center cities and older suburbs. New smart growth is more town-centered, is transit and pedestrian oriented, and has a greater mix of housing, commercial and retail uses. It also preserves open space and many other environmental amenities.

http://www.uwcc.wisc.edu/ Established in 1962, the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives (UWCC) strives to study, promote and research cooperative action as a means of meeting the economic and social needs of people.

http://www.scips.org.uk/grocont.html This site has a great “how to” kit for starting a community group and getting people to work together.

http://www.communitygarden.org/starting.php A community garden is a great way to use public space wisely and a great opportunity to bring different community members together. On this site you find information on how to start a community garden. There are plans and facts sheets on how this can be accomplished as well as links to other sites dedicated to the same thing.

http://www.ctcnet.org/resources/toc.htm First published in 1997, the CTC Center Start-Up Manual is widely recognized as a principal guide for establishing Community Technology Centers and serves as an organized patchwork of CTC experiences.