BUILDING COMMUNITY FOR HEALTH - LESSONS FROM A 7-YEAR-OLD NEIGHBORHOOD UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP

This article presents two case studies highlighting the role of commun ity conflict in the process of community empowerment. A graduate progr am for community health nurses (CHNs) in a large Midwestern city forme d a partnership with a diverse, integrated neighborhood for the dual p urposes of enhancing the community's capacity to improve its own healt h and teaching CHNs community organizing as a means to improve health. Central to the partnership are a broad definition of health, trust de veloped through long-term involvement, a commitment to reciprocity, so cial justice, and Freire's model of adult learning. Two initiatives th at gave rise to major conflicts between community groups are analyzed. Conflicts, external and internal to the community, proved to be both powerful catalysts and potential barriers to the use of Freirian theme s in community organization. Both university and community participant s report needing better skills in the early recognition and management of conflict. We conclude that conflict management theory must be inte grated with empowerment education theory, particularly when empowermen t education is applied in a diverse community.