In this course, we will analyze economic and community development policies and strategies for their reform, drawing on the experiences of a wide variety of U.S. cities and applying ideas to El Paso. Our goal is a BETTER EL PASO, with more jobs that pay living wages in a settlement pattern that manages sprawl without neglecting the heart of El Paso, the south and south-central neighborhoods. Of course, the policy and political strategies to achieve that goal vary and involve contentious debate!
We will take advantage of local expertise, for example, a "Fair Housing Workshop" on September 25 and/or an Empowerment Zone Tax Incentive Workshop on September 23. We will also participate in the Texas APA convention (state chapter of the American Planning Association) in early October, downtown El Paso. On a course web site, course veteran and former community scholar, Jerry Morales, has placed background readings and materials that will deepen expertise on the region and city documents and draw on comparative policy approaches. Also, participants are asked to visit at least two web sites for each chapter in one of our texts, Asset Building.
This is a community partnerships course in which, together, we analyze economic and civic development issues for El Paso and propose strategies for change. The strategies will involve both policy analysis AND political strategy.
Policy Memo (20%). Identify the audience, statement of the problem, solution, and strategies for change, appending data analysis, background, and research on the problem statement. (Due 12/2)
Review of the Literature (20%). Peruse five journals over the last five years from the list the follows the syllabus reading. Analyze trends, methodologies, and topics in these journals. Select three articles to summarize and evaluate in terms of their relevance to El Paso's economic and community development. (Due 11/11)
Examinations (30%), consisting of midterm, final, and/or quiz format, as announced in class.
Participation, web site sharing, and attendance in classroom and off-campus meetings (20%), with web site visits and attendance documented with notes and copies.
Interviews (10%), from exercises in Asset Building. (Individually or in a team)
Gary Green and Anna Haines, Asset Building & Community Development
David Reynolds, Taking the High Road: Communities Organize for Economic Change
David Rusk, Inside Game, Outside Game: Winning Strategies for Saving Urban America
Jim Shultz, The Democracy Owners' Manual: A Practical Guide to Changing the World
| August 26 | Introduction |
| August 28 | Mapping El Paso |
| August 30 | Green & Haines, "The Role of Assets in Community-Based Development" |
| September 2 | Celebrate Labor Day (and learn its history!) |
| September 4 | Shultz, "Introduction" and Ch 1, "What is Government's Job?" |
| September 6 | Shultz, Ch 2, "The Rules of Politics" |
| September 9 | Shultz, Ch 3, "Taxes and Budgets" |
| September 11 |
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| September 16 |
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| September 18 | FIRST EXAM |
| September 20 | Video on El Paso: THE TIME HAS COME |
| September 23 or 25 | Attend Fair Housing and/or EZ Tax Incentive Workshops |
| September 27 |
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| September 30 |
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| October 2 | Reynolds, choose Ch 2 OR 3 …lessons from Germany OR Austria |
| October 3-5 | Attend functions at the APA conference, Camino Real downtown |
| October 7 |
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| October 9 | Some comparative urban perspectives: |
| October 11 | Rusk, Ch 2 on Bedford Stuyvesant |
| October 14 | Rusk, Ch 3 on Walnut Hills, Jamaica Plain, and Other Neighborhoods |
| October 16 | Rusk, Ch 4 on sprawl and race (how does this work in El Paso, if at all?) |
| October 18 | Rusk, Ch 5, "The Sprawl Machine" |
| October 21 | Rusk, Ch 6, "The Poverty Machine" |
| October 23 | Rusk, Ch 7, "The Deficit Machine" |
| October 25 | EXAM |
| October 28 | Shultz, Ch 7, "Research and Analysis" |
| October 30 | Green & Haines, Ch 5 "Human Capital: Workforce…" |
| November 1 | Green & Haines, Ch 6 "Social Capital: Building Trust…" |
| November 11 | Green & Haines, Ch 7 "Physical Capital…Housing" |
| November 13 |
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| November 15 | Shultz, Ch 6, "Developing a Strategy: Advocacy's Road Map" |
| November 18 |
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| November 20 |
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| November 22 | Shultz, Ch 10, "Messages and Media" (bring samples) |
| November 25 | Shultz, Ch 11, "Lobbying" |
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December 2,4 |
Presentations/Policy Analyses Due! |
FINAL EXAM/FINAL WEEK
Journal (not magazine!) list: American Behavioral Scientist, Applied Behavioral Science Review, Economic Development Quarterly, Journal of the American Institute of Planning, Journal of the American Planning Association, Journal of Borderlands Studies, Journal of Urban Affairs, Policy Sciences, Public Administration Review, Social Science Quarterly, Social Problems, Sociological Quarterly, Urban Affairs Review, Urban Education.