A Guide to Careers in Community Development

Community development -- the economic, physical, and social revitalization of a community, led by the people who live in that community -- offers a wide range of exciting and rewarding employment options. But until now, there has been no "road map" for professionals, volunteers, students, or anyone wishing to become involved in the field.

A Guide to Careers in Community Development describes the many different kinds of community development jobs available, ranging from community organizing, to financing housing and new businesses, to redeveloping brownfields. It offers advice on how to break into the field along with guidance for career advancement and lateral movement.
Following an introductory chapter that offers an overview and definition of community development and its history, the authors describe:

• different institutions in the field and how they fit together
• pros and cons of community development careers, with a self-assessment quiz for readers to use in analyzing their suitability for the field
• the work and skills involved in different kinds of positions
• how to prepare for and move up in a career
• how to land that first job

Also included are detailed appendixes that provide information on job descriptions with salary ranges; universities and colleges offering community development curricula; training programs; where to look for job announcements; internet resources; internships, fellowships, and volunteer positions; and much more.
A Guide to Careers in Community Development is an essential reference for anyone interested in working in the community development field, including graduate and undergraduate students, volunteers, and mid-career professionals seeking a more fulfilling line of work.

Paul Brophy has thirty years experience in the feld of housing and community development. Prior to forming his own firm in 1993, he was president and co-CEO of the Enterprise Foundation. Mr. Brophy has a B.A. from LaSalle University and a Masters in City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania.
As a consultant, Mr. Brophy has focused on the challenges of revitalizing older neighborhoods, with clients that include HUD, NationsBank, Shorebank, the MacArthur Foundation, FannieMae, the City of Louisville, LISC, the Enterprise Foundation, and others.
While in Pittsburgh from 1970-1988, he was executive director of ACTION-Housing Inc., a non-profit housing development and neighborhood improvement organization, director of the first Department of Housing for the City of Pittsburgh, and the executive director of the City’s Urban Redevelopment Authority, responsible for downtown and neighborhood improvement. Mr. Brophy is co-author of two books in the field, and has published numerous articles in profes­sional journals.