RESIDENTS EFFORTS AT NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION - FACING THE CHALLENGES OF INNER-CITY NEIGHBORHOODS

This paper examines the response of residents in one inner-city, racia lly, and economically diverse neighborhood to a sudden increase in cri me drugs and disorder Rather than withdrawing, residents in this neigh borhood responded by organizing a major collective effort to develop a stabilization plan for the neighborhood. Factors useful in understand ing this atypical response include a citywide structure that encourage s citizen participation, the city government's commitment to the neigh borhood, a history of neighborhood activism, and residents' commitment to the neighborhood. A social movement perspective that examines the nature of successful social movement organizations, the political cont ext of movement activities, and micromovement processes is useful in a nalyzing cases of neighborhood activism.