Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
CBOs can benefit from an improved understanding of the relationships
among different forms of capital. This can lead to designs for smart programs
that target environmental, social, and economic sustainability goals in a
balanced manner. Urban agriculture or community gardens initiatives are good
examples of integrated programs designed to develop the workforce and
address food security issues while reducing carbon footprint at the same time.
Figure 16. Tourism maps for Bronzeville, Chicago: cultural assets in Zone 1 (2012).
It appears that CBOs develop both specialized and integrated programs
these days. For instance, CBOs can offer financial advice and technology
training to community members facing the foreclosure crisis and joblessness in
the community. While this (specialization of programs) is a welcome trend,
more integrated programs that cut across natural and human systems are
needed as sustainability increasingly becomes a new political ideal. This
section suggests that thus far CBOs have been less active in developing
programs related to natural capital than in those related to man-made capital.
This, however, seems to be changing. According to the ICA (2013), there were
over 900 sustainability initiatives in Chicago's 77 community areas as of Fall
2013. It should be noted, however, that there is ambiguity over what are
considered sustainability initiatives, and the quality of the sustainability
initiatives data posted on the ICA's website is not verified. CBOs can apply
the capital framework to analyze the interaction among different forms of
capital and devise integrated programs toward sustainability.
