Recreating the World: A practical guide to building sustainable communities

Rooted in decades of work with indigenous communities in the Americas, as well as extensive experience in Africa, Asia, the Pacific and the former Soviet Union, "Recreating the world" is really two books woven together. The first is a down-to-earth exposition of models, principles and strategies for understanding what community development is and how it can be promoted. The second is a rich collection of stories, games, activities and tools that can be used to help others to learn about various aspects of community development practice. In this book, building sustainable community is presented as a primary strategy for solving critical human problems. Community building is not merely viewed as a means to an end, however. Sustainable community is a basic human need, and in its absence, human life becomes distorted, painful, and often self-destructive.

Michael and Judie Bopp have worked for over twenty years in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, the former Soviet Union, as well as in urban and rural North America. They are co-founders of Four Worlds International, a human and community development organization with roots in indigenous peoples' development work in North America and well known for its ability to bridge between the cultures of communities and the culture of the agencies and professionals who attempt to serve them. They have written and published extensively on many issues related to civil society and learning for human and community transformation.