Option #2: Communities of Interest Briefing A community of interest is a group

Option #2: Communities of Interest Briefing
A community of interest is a group or community of people who share a common interest or passion. These people exchange ideas and thoughts about their given passion but may know (or care) little about each other outside of this area. Participation in a community of interest can be compelling, entertaining, and create a lot of emotion about the fairness of a topic or an issue. Frequently, they cannot be easily defined by a particular geographical area. In other words, a community of interest is a gathering of people assembled around a topic of common interest. Its members take part in the community to exchange information, to obtain answers to personal questions or problems, to improve their understanding of a subject, to share common passions, or to play. A “community of interest” is defined not by space or by a specific location but by some common bond (e.g., feeling of attachment) or entity (e.g., farming, church group, water quality, or the right to bear arms).
The sense of community that many Americans have no longer necessarily translates into interacting with people that live within a town, village, or city. This development—as one might expect—can lead to severe challenges to local community groups who seek to galvanize the population to work behind local initiatives, all the while realizing that many people who live in communities today consider not only their state but indeed—the world, as their community. Whether this is a good thing, or a bad thing, overall is best left for individuals to decide on their own.
As a Planning Associate, you have been asked to prepare a Community of Interest brief to the City Manager. In an 8- to 10-page paper, identify an issue or problem in your community that resulted in either citizen action or community development. Discuss the history of this situation and identify the factors and social forces that influenced some type of community development that you are aware of, or interested in, that you will focus on in your Portfolio Project for this class. Keep in mind that your response must focus on a community of interest. You also can visit the Urban Institute for ideas or local community development website.
The paper is due at the end of week 8 and must be:
8-10 pages in length,
A minimum of five (5) outside sources including at least three (3) peer-reviewed journal articles,
Set to Times New Roman 12-point black font,
Double-spaced, and
in APA format according to the CSU Global Writing Center (Links to an external site.).
Make sure you include headings, per APA guidelines. Include a minimum of five (5) outside sources as well as course material. Sources should be adequately chosen to provide substance and perspectives on the issue.