This Article Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kissane, R. J. Articles by Gingerich, J. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Do you See What I See? Nonprofit and Resident Perceptions of Urban Neighborhood Problems

Princeton University, rkissane{at}princeton.edu

Jeff Gingerich

Bluffton College

Using 85 qualitative interviews collected in three low-income Philadelphia neighborhoods as part of the Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation’s (MDRC) Project on Devolution and Urban Change, nonprofit directors and poor residents’ views of neighborhood problems, other residents, and services needed were examined. In doing so, the assumption that local nonprofit leadership is in touch with the resident population that they serve was questioned. Nonprofit directors described neighborhood problems related to unemployment and education, whereas residents focused on crime and safety issues. Both groups agreed that drugs were a major problem in the community. Additionally, the resident group conveyed a more negative view of other neighborhood residents than the nonprofit directors did. Lastly, nonprofit directors wanted to add job placement and training services, whereas residents wanted to add youth programs. Overall, nonprofit directors across neighborhoods held more similar views with each other than they did with residents within their own communities.

Key Words: nonprofit social service organizations • views of problems • neighborhood perception • community • accountability

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Chao Guo and J. A. Musso Representation in Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations: A Conceptual Framework Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, June 1, 2007; 36(2): 308 - 326. [Abstract] [PDF]