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Community and Local Development
MRCI works from a community work ethos. Our community work activities are described in detail in the community work section - click here. MRCI's understanding of community work and the emphasis we place on its relevance and importance stems largely from the belief that positive social change requires a collective process, underpinned by a clear and unambiguous equality, antiracist, social inclusion and anti-poverty analysis. Furthermore, social change is not possible without the active engagement of those who hold the least power and influence in society. Community work ultimately seeks to bring about structural change. It is not directly involved in the delivery of services but rather is concerned with influencing the decisions behind service delivery, governance and policy development.

Over the past two decades the infrastructure supporting community development and local development has expanded significantly. The Local Development and Social Inclusion Programme and the Community Development Programme are two of the main programmes currently supporting a range of community development and local development activities. These programmes have traditionally targeted geographical areas of disadvantage and communities of interest experiencing high levels of social exclusion and poverty. A number of Area Based Partnerships, Community Development Projects and Family Resource Centres are now expanding their focus to include migrant workers and their families. This work is vital to the future inclusion and integration of migrant workers and their families. MRCI argues that failure to expand the remit and focus of such programmes will result in greater segregation, racism and exclusion at community level. To this end MRCI actively engaged with Pobal and Dublin Employment Pact in the production of 'An exploration of local strategies for the integration of migrant workers and their families' click here.
MRCI is also in the process of developing a resource manual for community workers seeking to promote the participation and inclusion of migrant workers and their families. This will be available in the new year.

Finally, MRCI believes that it is vital to work in solidarity with others in society concerned with similar equality and social inclusion objectives. MRCI is an active member of the Community Platform, a coordinating mechanism for 26 national organisations concerned with poverty, social inclusion and equality - see. MRCI is also an active member of the Community Workers Cooperative, a national organisation concerned with promoting community work as a means of radical social change. The CWC is active in promoting policy support for community work, and more participatory forms of governance and democracy.