CED is a community-based and community-directed process that explicitly combines social and economic development and is directed towards fostering the economic, social, ecological and cultural well-being of communities and regions. As such it recognizes, affirms and supports all the paid and unpaid activity that contributes to the realization of this well-being.
 CED is based on the principle of fairness and the belief that community members should have equitable access to community decision-making processes, resources and the benefits of CED projects, regardless of race, gender, country of origin, class, religion, sexual orientation, geographic location, income, age and ability.  CED encourages the active participation of all members of the community in the planning, decision-making and benefits of CED initiatives, and works to remove the barriers that limit the participation of marginalized citizens. In particular, CED seeks to encourage the active participation of women, youth, seniors, differently-abled people, racial/ethnic groups, the poor, and First Nations' peoples in the public life of the community.  CED seeks to build a sense of community by fostering relationships of acceptance, understanding, and mutual respect. 
CED recognizes that there are important linkages and connections between communities and regions, and that many problems can't be addressed in isolation. CED therefore encourages relationships based on cooperation and collaboration.  CED builds on local strengths, creativity and resource, and actively seeks to decrease dependency on, and vulnerability to, economic interests outside the community and region. Furthermore, CED supports decentralized, non-hierarchical decision-making processes that strengthen the autonomy of the individual, the community and the region.  CED recognizes that the healthy development of communities requires a holistic approach that addresses the social, economic, cultural, and ecological dimensions of community well-being.  CED recognizes that the local community exists within the context of a larger complex web of relationships and that its decisions can have an impact far beyond its own boundaries. Therefore, CED embraces strategies that aim to benefit the local and larger community.  CED recognizes that the social, cultural, and economic well-being of the community depends on healthy local, bioregional and global ecosystems, and that there are real ecological limits to human economic activities. Therefore, CED encourages processes, structures and initiatives that respect these ecological limits and supports work that is sustaining, regenerating and nurturing of both the community and the earth.  CED contributes to self-reliance by encouraging the acquisition of relevant skills and the development of supportive structures and institutions.  CED contributes to self-reliance by encouraging economic activities that are diverse and appropriate to the expressed needs within the community and region. As a result, CED looks different in each community. 
CED monitors and evaluates its progress through community-derived and appropriate economic, social, cultural and ecological indicators, rather than through conventional measures and standards.
Copyright 1997, Simon Fraser University Community Economic Development Centre, unless prior copyright is indicated herein. You are welcome to make a copy for your own use, provided this copyright paragraph is included in full and credit is given. For any other duplication or distribution purpose (profit or non-profit), please contact the CED Centre, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC Canada, V5A 1S6, Phone (604) 291 5850, Fax (604) 291-5473. Web design by Thorson & Eisenbock. |
