Page 24 - Mike Ratner CC - WISR Complete Dissertation - v6

then Chapter VI includes implications for constructing transformative leadership and social change

from Community Conversations where I present four theoretical constructs from my research.

As a tool for community development, action, and policy creation, the Community

Conversation model is reflected upon in Chapter VI seen as an underutilized approach compared

to traditional forms of civic engagement. In citing implications for leadership through the use of

participatory engagement and civic dialogue I illustrate how the research supports and extends the

existing literature confirming Community Conversations is a tool for participatory action learning

and as a practice that supports citizen led efforts focused on transforming “fears and

misperceptions” into mutual understanding and insights about how groups [and communities] can

“interact and change relationships” (Saunders, 1999, p. 258). Chapter VI also includes areas for

further study resulting from analysis and the Community Conversation’s dissertation research

conclusion.

Supporting documents, resources, an index and explanation of terminology, data and

illustrations also accompany this dissertation along with MP3 audio interview files and links to

video updates.

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