From Economic to Emotional Geography: Understanding the Importance of the Mezzo-Level in Community Development

Authors

• Tony Sampson – Presenting University of Essex
• Giles Tofield – Presenting Cultural Engine CiC
• Andrew Branch – Presenting University of East London

Abstract

Local Authorities (District/Boroughs) play a crucial role in leading community development initiatives, despite facing numerous challenges in responding to the macro/micro level model of community development. These challenges include the competitive and uncertain nature of macro-level funding mechanisms, mainly focused on neo-liberal defined economic geographies. They also include working with limited resources, and a lack of understanding of hyper-local issues. It is possible for Local Authorities to engage with a range of local partners across the voluntary sector or commission programmes through the private sector to address some of these micro-level challenges. However, we argue that there are two important factors missing from these kinds of engagement.

Firstly, we advocate for a more nuanced mapping of key community development outcomes, such as health and social well-being, onto local empowerment—the ability to enact positive change at a hyper-local level. This mode of micro-level empowerment shares similarities with recent problematic Levelling Up policies in the UK, which hinge on quantitative metrics of Pride in Place (Bennett, 2022). However, we advance a qualitative exploration of the emotional geographies that underpin engagement with local heritage, environment, and cultural community initiatives.

Secondly, to effectively cultivate such local empowerment initiatives, we propose incorporating what we term the mezzo level into the existing micro/macro model of community development. This seemingly elusive yet crucial level exists between Local Authorities (District/Borough) and communities (micro level), encompassing entities such as parish/town councils, cultural/heritage/environmental organizations, and charities.

Finally, drawing on recent locally relevant heritage, cultural, and environmental projects conducted in towns across Essex, this study aims to unpack the potential of the mezzo level in eliciting initial emotional insights regarding locally empowered community development.

About the Annual International Conference 2024

The Chair’s theme for the 2024 Annual International Conference is mapping. It will explore mapping in all its forms, in a world that is saturated with maps, from historical cartography to the newest technologies and practices of map-making.

Paper presented in this session:

Mapping Community Development: Sustainable health outcomes

Organised By

• Jean Ross Convenor, Panel Chair Otago Polytechnic
• Samuel Mann Convenor, Discussant Otago Polytechnic

11.10am in ICL — SALC (Sherfield Building) Read Lecture Theatre (In-person only).

Description

Community development is the means to improve the wellbeing of community residents. Together, community stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams’ partner to fulfil this goal. Models for community development will be shared in this session demonstrating how we navigate the holistic landscapes of health that integrate the socio-political, cultural, sustainable, economic and environmental aspects related to the uniqueness of rural and non-rural communities and islands. The Community Health Assessment Sustainable Education (CHASE) model is one such model that guides practice and can be engaged with by all health disciplines and a variety of wider fields such as engineers, planners, geographers and environmentalists as they focus on sustainable health. Our intention will be to engage with all community development disciplines as a starting point that does not set out to impose a single understanding, but to learn and share how models are adapted in practice and meet communities’ requirements. This way of practice examines spatial and place-based aspects of health and weaves together connections between disciplines and communities, highlighting the importance of spatial thinking. Health and place are highlighted within this space demonstrating how places influence on health and wellbeing. Health inequalities will be identified and through the practice of community development demonstrate how health outcomes can be improved. The goal is to bring about positive social change, enhance healthcare and improve social determinants of health through engaging in the practice of community development while sustaining physical and environmental health.

Topics

• Mapping the Association of Community Self-Help Groups with Reproductive Health in India » Poushaly Talukdar (International Institute For Population Sciences) View Presentation
• Mapping Community Engagement of Community Health Assessment Sustainable Education » Jean Ross (Otago Polytechnic), Samuel Mann (Otago Polytechnic) View Presentation
• #WeWant Flourishing Communities » Gill Hughes (University of Hull)
• From Economic to Emotional Geography: Understanding the Importance of the Mezzo-Level in Community Development » Tony Sampson (University of Essex), Giles Tofield (Cultural Engine CiC), Andrew Branch (University of East London)
• Identifying community assets that impact on wellbeing – an exploratory study on the utility of Causal Map » Jessie Buchanan (Together for Change), Steve Powell (Causal Map Ltd), Susan Denman (Together for Change)