Implications for Development

Abstract

AbstractAfter selectively reviewing the literature related to the efforts of churches, universities, and regional planning organizations to enhance development or reduce poverty, this paper examined the participation of 749 poor household heads residing in the Ozarks in formal organizations and in selected leisure-time activities. Results indicated that most of the rural poor not only belonged to a church but also attended at least occasionally. They also indicated that most of the rural poor engaged in the following activities at least occasionally: listened to the radio or watched television, visited with friends and relatives, and read a newspaper. These results and others reported in the literature suggested that various leadership-building approaches could likely be more effectively used by existing development-oriented structures to reach and involve the poor and the non-poor in problem-solving or other development-related activities.