| Summary: | In an effort to increase the quality and relevance of the programs, municipal
recreation departments are partnering with community-based organizations and
community members through a community development approach (Hutchison & Nogradi,
1996; Millar & Frisby, 2002; Searle & Brayley, 2000). However, the use of community
development across diverse sectors has created multiple discourses as practitioners translate
theory into practice and attempt to resolve conflicts between social justice goals and
financial imperatives, creating ambiguity in collaborative contexts. Therefore, the primary
purpose of this study was to examine the multiple discourses of community development
used by community workers involved in a collaborative community-based organization
designed to increase the involvement of women in low income in recreation decisionmaking
and participation. A secondary purpose was to examine the implications of multiple
discourses in this context.
The research methods involved three data collection techniques in two phases over a
20 month period. Two semi-structured, one-on-one interviews were conducted with three
community workers representing a municipal recreation department, a women's centre, and
a family service agency. This data was enhanced with field notes and observations of
meetings. Data analysis was assisted by Atlas.ti, a qualitative computer software program.
The findings revealed a unique discourse of community development used by each
research participant that had implications for how community development was
conceptualized, the goals identified, and the role of the community worker in the process.
For each discourse, central dimensions were identified and one significant tension was
discussed. The analysis also explored the influence of personal experience and
organizational context, and examined inconsistencies, contradictions, and resistance to other
discourses that demonstrated the complexities involved in community development
practice (Alvesson & Skoldberg, 2000; Weedon, 1997). This study also identified three
implications of multiple discourses that both enhanced and inhibited collaboration. These
findings demonstrated the complexities involved and the importance of communication and
new strategies to decrease conflict and develop shared meanings to accomplish social justice
goals. Given the dynamic tensions described in this study, recommendations for future
research and practice were provided. === Education, Faculty of === Kinesiology, School of === Graduate
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