About
WHO WE ARE
The Arkansas Community Development Society is a non-profit professional organization whose purpose is to advance community development and the community development profession in Arkansas. ACDS members represent a variety of fields: education, health care, social services, government, utilities, economic development practitioners, citizen groups, volunteers, and more.
ACDS is affiliated with the International Community Development Society with members in more than twenty countries who represent the many disciplines within community development—theory, research, teaching, and practice.
WHAT WE PRACTICE
We believe that adherence to the Community Development Society's Principles of Good Practice are essential to sound community development.
- Promote active and representative participation of all community members to meaningfully influence the decisions that affect their lives.
- Engage community members in learning about and understanding community issues, and the economic, social, environmental, political, psychological, and other impacts associated with alternative courses of action.
- Incorporate the diverse interests and cultures of the community in the community development process; and disengage from support of any effort that is likely to adversely affect the disadvantaged members of a community.
- Work actively to enhance the leadership capacity of community members, leaders, and groups within the community.
- Be open to using the full range of action strategies to work toward the long term sustainability and well being of the community.
WHAT WE DO
ACDS hosts an annual conference to facilitate networking and training opportunities among community developers around the state. ACDS also recognizes achievements of community developers through its awards program.
ACDS is very supportive of the Community Development Institute program at the University of Central Arkansas. ACDS annually awards one or more scholarships for a practitioner from Arkansas to attend this exceptional training experience.
ACDS maintains a charitable fund at the Arkansas Community Foundation from which grants that support community development in Arkansas can be made.
