Wilson Majee

Cooperatives and Community Development: A Perspective on the Use of Cooperatives in Development

Community developers have long understood the importance of local participation in the events and processes that shape communities. Effective, democratic, and people-and-place-centered development strategies have the potential to achieve such participation. This article suggests that cooperatives can be an effective participatory strategy to bootstrap low-income people into the socio-economic mainstream. Woolcock and Narayans (2000) social capital and poverty transition model is adapted to demonstrate the development potential of cooperative businesses. We hope to stimulate discussion among community development scholars and practitioners, policymakers, and the public on the potential of cooperative business as a community development strategy, particularly in resource limited communities.

Are worker-owned cooperatives the brewing pots for social capital?

Worker-owned cooperatives, through open membership and democratic local ownership of the enterprise, are believed to provide a platform on which participation of local people in both social and economic activities can be enhanced. This paper explores the social capital creation processes of a worker-owned homecare cooperative. Data were collected through interviews, survey and document review and thematically analyzed. The study observed that frequent interaction among cooperative worker-owners improves participation and fosters network building among worker-owners and between them, their clients and professionals. This leads to increased self confidence, better business and relational skills, and optimism, which in turn, increases participation in business and societal activities. Interaction with professionals and other workers was observed to connect cooperative members with other individuals and resources outside the cooperative. This leads to growing self, business and community confidence, which, in turn, improves negotiation skills, and yields more civic engagement.

Engaging the underserved in community leadership development: Step Up to Leadership graduates in northwest Missouri tell their stories

In the face of growing challenges in rural America, policy-makers, academics, and practitioners are increasingly advocating for a more homegrown approach to rural development that seeks to identify and build upon internal community assets, such as the development of community leadership and entrepreneurship capacity. An interpretive case study analysis explored the impact of a community leadership program on participants’ leadership skills, their well-being, and that of their communities. Data were obtained from participant surveys and interviews with graduates of the program and professionals knowledgeable of the leadership program. Through participation in the program, participants improved their ability to interact with others; gained increased understanding of civic responsibility and awareness of local resources; improved their knowledge of community issues; and grew in self-confidence, employability, and optimism. Interaction with professionals and other community members during and outside the program created networking opportunities – bridging social capital.

Building Community Trust Through Cooperatives: A Case Study of a Worker-Owned Homecare Cooperative

Trusting relationships bind people together. Building community trust is increasingly being identified as a viable strategy for improving the well-being of community members. This article explores how cooperatives build trust among worker-owners as well as with their clients and other professionals. It reviews theoretical and empirical perspectives on trust and cooperatives. Data were obtained from semi-structured interviews, document review and a survey. It was observed that cooperatives provide regular contacts among members, and between members and their clients and professionals during training, conferences, task oriented committees, general membership meetings, and social events. This fosters shared understanding, empathy, openness, and confidence, which in turn promotes the building and maintenance of deeper and wider trust.

Collaboration: finding the place for Cooperative Extension in the intersection of community development and health promotion

Interest in and support for local community development (CD) and healthy communities are on the rise. Federal departments – USA Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Economic Development, and Conservation; higher education institutions – university extension programs, family and community medicine, and health policy centers; community action agencies; and faith-based organizations, have all converged and invested large amounts of resources in improving local communities. Many of the programs or services provided, and funding sources used, are closely related. Yet, collaboration among different professions remains sluggish and spotty. Organizations involved in CD and health promotion in local communities have largely adopted competitive strategies in seeking funding and implementing programs. This article uses case studies from Cooperative Extension programs to discuss the need for Cooperative Extension to be the hub around which active collaboration revolves. The argument is made that Cooperative Extension, because of the breadth and depth of its programs, and its strong ties to local communities (local presence) and networks nationwide, is well placed to promote community and health improvement synergies among diverse professions and organizations.

Breastfeeding Barriers and Support in a Rural Setting.

Purpose:Although various breastfeeding interventions have proven effective in increasing breastfeeding initiation and duration, there has been less success in rural areas. This article describes breastfeeding barriers and support in a rural setting. Study Design and Methods:A community needs assessment was conducted with a sample of healthcare providers and breastfeeding mothers in a rural area of Missouri. In-depth interviews with 10 healthcare providers and 3 breastfeeding mothers and a focus group of 10 mothers who were breastfeeding or had recently breastfed were conducted. Interview and focus group questions were designed to capture a holistic perspective of breastfeeding issues. Results:Gaps in hospital and community breastfeeding support were observed in the emerging themes: lack of realistic information about the breastfeeding experience, breastfeeding time constraint, and lack of continued support. Clinical Implications:From a community practice perspective, gaps in breastfeeding support illustrate an essential need for collective engagement of local stakeholders as the cornerstone to implement effective breastfeeding interventions.

Four Years Later: Rural Mothers' and Employers' Perspectives on Breastfeeding Barriers Following the Passage of the Affordable Care Act

Abstract:For the working rural mother, one key source of support for breastfeeding is the employer. The purpose of this article was to examine workplace barriers and facilitators to breastfeeding in a small rural American community following the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. We used a qualitative research design: semi-structured interviews with major employers and low-income working breastfeeding mothers, and a focus-group with another group of employed and unemployed breastfeeding low-income mothers. While some businesses accommodate breastfeeding mothers, few actively promote breastfeeding. Lack of compliance with the new law, inadequate breastfeeding information for mothers, and lack of support from co-workers and supervisors emerged as the main barriers to successful workplace breastfeeding. To improve workplace breastfeeding support significantly there is need for authentic collaboration among maternal–child and rural health agencies and businesses in creating breastfeeding-tolerant, flexible, and forward-looking work environments that, at a minimum, satisfy the law.

Healthy Communities Initiative: a preliminary assessment of the University of Missouri-Sedalia health promotion partnership

Abstract The persistence and growth of health disparities among different population groups have heightened interest in understanding the unique role University–community partnerships can play in promoting health and well-being. Through a qualitative approach, this study used in-depth interviews to understand the conditions and factors that determine the effectiveness of collaborative University–community partnerships, and how collective action can impact members and their communities. Findings show that the success of a partnership stems from the community’s social protective factors such as community capacity to participate in collaborative projects, sense of community, community participation, and community extent of empowerment fostered by the collective process. The study concludes with a call for committed collaboration between partnership members and among community coalitions.

Co-parenting and feeding in early childhood: Reflections of parent dyads on how they manage the developmental stages of feeding over the first three years

Family-level influences on the development of healthy eating behaviors start in infancy and toddlerhood with how families manage developmental stages of feeding. Little research on home feeding environments for young children has examined how mothers and fathers collaborate around feeding issues or contribute jointly to feeding. The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine co-parenting with regard to infant/toddler feeding practices. Twenty-four sets of co-resident, biological parents with a child between 6 months and 3 years were interviewed together about their feeding practices and how they discussed and collaborated on feeding during the main stages of feeding development in the first three years. Analyses illuminate themes related to how specific domains of co-parenting (satisfaction with labor, support, agreement, conflict) factor into infant and toddler feeding as well as how additional factors such as having older children and employment schedules shape how both food parenting practices and co-parenting are managed in relation to feeding. Mothers were the primary managers of feeding labor. Fathers participated in feeding in different ways and levels starting in infancy and increased involvement in feeding over the first few years requiring an ongoing negotiation around co-parenting related to feeding. Overall, this study develops insights into how multiple caregivers construct a family environment specifically related to early feeding - a perspective missing from current conceptualizations of home feeding environment. Attention to the concept of co-parenting within home feeding environments should help inform more effective approaches to intervene with families on issues around childhood obesity and family health.

Building Community Leaders in Underserved Communities: An Exploration of the Role of Seed-Funding for Community Projects by Program Graduates

ABSTRACT Investing in community leadership development (CLD) remains a strategy with promise in creating vibrant communities. Although many low-income CLD programs teach effective leadership skills, these often lay fallow due to lacking opportunities for graduates to apply the skills. This study explores how providing competitive minigrants fuels the creation of value-adding community projects. In-depth interviews were conducted with 55 graduates of a low-income CLD program, 19 facilitators, and 12 community members knowledgeable about the program. The study observed that by providing seed money for graduate projects, CLD programs can help translate skills into practice thereby increasing community engagement and socio-economic wellbeing.