Comprehensive Community Initiatives (CCIs) describe a comprehensive approach to neighbourhood change that reflected an emphasis on resident engagement and community capacity building.  In Community Change Initiatives from 1990-2010: Accomplishments and Implications for Future Work, the Aspen Institute’s Roundtable on Community Change reviewed 43 major CCI initiatives that have been implemented across the United States over the past decade with the goal of learning from these experiences; summarizing key lessons; and, offering a framework for thinking about place-based investing into the future.

Despite an impressive range of accomplishments at the programmatic, community and system levels, the authors have concluded that “most of the CCIs have not produced the degree of community transformation envisioned by their designers.” The reasons for this are attributed to a mix of both “theory failure” and “implementation failure.” 

What has proven particularly challenging is generating – and sustaining -- the necessary level of alignment amongst stakeholders.  In part this is due to the scope of alignment required which includes alignment on fundamental ways of working including: goals, activities, capacities, relationships and learning priorities.  This alignment is also not something that can be achieved through a one-time community planning session.  Rather, it is something that needs “regular recalibration as the work proceeds.”

This Report offers tremendous insight and rich learning which makes it a must-read for anyone interested in comprehensive community change.