Churches, schools, local government firm, libraries, civic associations, economic development groups are members of a community. Each has resources, points of view, the ability to influence, and in some cases control decisions especially in regard to public resource allocation. These organizations need to be involved in the same open, honest, ongoing process as citizens in the decision making process. However, this can present a problem if it is not clear how people are participating. For example, school systems do not speak, people speak on behalf of the schools.
People speak on their own behalf.
In conducting community assessments, it is important to strive to maintain clarity of what is being represented because most community people have multiple roles and associations. This is not a problem but it is an advantage for the establishment of a successful community information network. The more roles or associations a person or group has, the greater the probability that a community information network will be critical to that person or group. Summary The core importance of community assessment and community participation and involvement is threefold. First it helps people discover their potential links to a community information network.