Crown Heights Community Mediation Center Case Study

Writing Assignment #3 Community organizations have evolved over the years. As these “bottom up” organizations continue to gain prominence, an interest in evaluating its strategies and impact on communities also rises. The first question that emerges is “how does the organization’s tactics produce concrete outcomes in local communities?” Among the many community organizations in New York City, Crown Heights Community Mediation Center and Shambhala NYC present the answer. Each produces concrete outcomes because of their communication strategy, use of the developmental approach model, and advocacy for social cohesion.
Communication strategies determine the success of an organization. Crown Heights Community Mediation Center uses peer mediators as their primary strategy of communication. It is an efficient choice because their target audience of at-risk youth are more receptive to these people. A similar strategy is in the film Garbage Dreams where Mai Iskander, a community health worker, has more of an influence within the Zaballeen community because she is Zaballeen. Shambhala NYC’s primary communication strategy is the lay

In Pathologies of Power: Health, Human Rights and the New War on the Poor, Dr. Paul Farmer criticizes the use of this model, stating that it does not transform a community. Crown Heights Community Mediation Center and Shambhala NYC contrast this statement. Operations Manager, Marlies Talay emphasized that Crown Heights Community Mediation Center simply provides a structural base for the community to develop on its own. Shambhala NYC prides that community members chose to develop their lives and community through the Shambhala Path of practicing and studying. Although the developmental approach model is subtle, it is viable towards community health and human rights because it allows a community to develop, progress, and transform, as seen through these two