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Faith organizations and neighbourhood councils in Los Angeles
Author(s) -
Musso Juliet Ann,
Kitsuse Alicia,
Cooper Terry L.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
public administration and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1099-162X
pISSN - 0271-2075
DOI - 10.1002/pad.209
Subject(s) - neighbourhood (mathematics) , charter , faith , corporate governance , outreach , politics , sociology , public administration , political science , public relations , law , management , mathematical analysis , philosophy , mathematics , theology , economics
Following reforms to the city charter in 1999, the City of Los Angeles is currently implementing a city‐wide system of neighbourhood councils that is intended to increase citizen participation in local governance and make city agencies more responsive to local needs. As neighbourhood council formation has gotten underway, faith organizations (FOs) have been identified as a promising resource for mobilizing involvement among groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the governance process. This article discusses the potential value of FOs' involvement in neighbourhood councils, as well as the likely obstacles to their participation, and reports preliminary findings from ongoing field research on neighbourhood council formation in Los Angeles. Given the diversity of religious missions and attitudes toward political involvement among American faith institutions we find it difficult to generalize about the likely role of the faith community in neighbourhood councils. However, the historical focus of Christian churches on issues of social justice as opposed to local community action, as well as the relative lack of participation by FOs in neighbourhood council formation to date, suggests that widespread involvement of FOs in the neighbourhood council process may be difficult to achieve. A targeted strategy of outreach and organizing directed toward those FOs most likely to participate seems required. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.