Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

422 • P LANTING C HURCHES AMONG THE C ITY ’ S P OOR : V OLUME 1

Resources for Studying Your Community Richard Carlson

Books for a General Overview Bryant, Marcus and Charles Kemp. 1977 The Church and Community Resources . St. Louis, MO: Bethany Press. Warren, Rachelle and Donald Warren. 1977 The Neighborhood Organizer’s Handbook . Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press. Documentation through Public Sources • Census data (by community and tract) • Governmental libraries (e.g. Cal State Fullerton is a U.S. Govt. Depository library nearby) • Public libraries • Historical societies and museums

• Chambers of Commerce • Public Planning Agencies • Local Newspapers • Maps

People Who Might Be a Good Source of Community Information • Government officials (aldermen, precinct workers) • School principals (esp. elementary) • Other church leaders • PTA presidents and school volunteer organizers

• Presidents of clubs and organizations • Leaders of homeowners associations • Scouts, Little League, etc. • Neighborhood and community leaders • Realtors • Local business people

• Chronic gripers • Service agencies • Deviants • Representatives of all age/ethnic groups • Police • Social service workers at hospitals • Bankers • Workers (those who live within the community and those who do not) • “The person on the street”