POLS480: Report on Meeting Local Needs and Community Security

This report, titled "Meeting a local needs report," addresses the critical need for community security. It proposes the creation of security communities, emphasizing the involvement of various stakeholders and the benefits of a secure environment. The report outlines a proposal to be presented to the local council, detailing funding strategies, including contributions from community members and non-governmental organizations. Lobbying strategies involve building relationships with group management structures and political action committees. The report also explores activism strategies such as public awareness campaigns through education, media, and surveys. The conclusion highlights the importance of funding and the various activist strategies to enhance the security of a given community. The report references key sources from the United Nations Development Programme, and other relevant literature to support the arguments.

Running head: MEETING LOCAL NEEDS REPORT 1
Meeting a local needs report
Student Name
Institution Affiliation

MEETING LOCAL NEEDS REPORT 2
Meeting Local Needs Report.
Security is an essential aspect of peaceful coexistence within a community. There are so
many benefits that a community may accrue from a secure environment. The most important
benefit, however, is the establishment of peace and harmony between community members. A
secure community brings into perspective the true meaning of a community. Creating a secure
community is a process that brings into perspective the involvement of various stakeholders in a
community to create policies geared towards the betterment of security in a given community
(United Nations Development Programme, 2019). The stakeholders here include informed and
connected individuals from various sectors ranging from politicians, human rights activists,
researchers, and enlightened members of the community.
My specific proposal is that security communities should be created taking into
consideration the key components of a properly constituted security community. The proposal
will be presented to the local council. There is no specific source of funding to this proposal and
therefore sources of funding that will be explored include the use of non-governmental
organizations and individual community member contributions to support the course. Lobbying
strategies that could be applicable include the creation of close relationships with group
management structures to utilize grass root campaigns and political action committees. The
activism strategies that will be employed here include the creation of public awareness through
education, the use of media and through surveys.
Funding is an essential aspect of having a successful endeavor. Therefore, the proposal
will be financed solely by members of the given community within which the security
communities will be formed. This will purposely foster security and create effective and solid
security policies. The community will need to contribute a particular sum on an agreed upon

MEETING LOCAL NEEDS REPORT 3
period interval either yearly, quarterly, or monthly. Efforts will also be made to non-
governmental organizations to offer funding to support the course. Besides, having connections
with interest groups is an essential factor to be considered in ensuring the success of a given
project (Thomas, 2019). Therefore, creating strong relationships with interest group
management structures will play a great role in ensuring that grass root campaigns are taken with
the highest level of seriousness and focus. Political action committees may also be involved in
the project. Political action committees usually form the financing wing of an endeavor
(Harcourt, 2019).
Creation of a security community has never been taken as a serious aspect of security in
many communities. The security matters have been left to government arms and structures to
manage incidences of insecurity. However, this should not be the case as the security of a given
community starts with that of an individual and therefore individuals and stakeholders should be
a great part of security operations within a given community. Individuals can be part of the
security community by being their brother's keeper and taking into consideration the security
issues that affect one's neighbor.
The first activist strategy to be taken into consideration is public awareness and
consciousness on the importance of creating security communities. Security communities help
put in place policies that are geared towards reducing insecurity incidences in a given community
and by extension resulting in the creation of peace and harmony among members. This is
achieved by creating a secure environment characterized by peace and friendship. By creating
security communities that take into consideration all the key components of a properly
constituted security community, brings into perspective a sense of friendship and togetherness.
When conducting public education on the need for the creation of security communities there

MEETING LOCAL NEEDS REPORT 4
should be a balance of the costs and benefits associated with the endeavor. The most effective
ways of conducting and creating public awareness and education are through roadshows, use of
posters, and community outreach programs. When creating awareness it is essential to take into
consideration the target group and therefore by so doing creating the most relevant content for
that particular group (Bouder, 2019). For instance, when targeting the youth it is important to
bring into perspective their involvement in the security community as part of the stakeholders,
and how the security policies developed will impact them directly.
The second activist strategy to be applied will involve the use of media platforms to
create publicity for the endeavor. Media platforms are well known for being accurate on reaching
the targeted audience, they offer flexibility in creating different content for different target
groups. Radio and TV shows are an essential part of conducting media campaigns (Fox, 2019).
When making media advertisement and campaigns, it is important to take into consideration the
timing aspect in order to reach the right target group.
The last chosen strategy involved is the use of surveys and sharing of the results to the
general public and the relevant stakeholders. Through surveys, we are able to understand what
the general public thinks about the endeavor (Amador, 2019). We are also able to determine how
the thoughts of the general public can be instituted in the current plan to make the whole
approach worthwhile. Paper surveys, as well as online surveys, can be applied here. By using
this approach we will be able to take into consideration the concerns of the general public as far
as security is concerned.
In conclusion, funding is a key factor of a successful project. Funding for this proposal
will be from member contributions and non-governmental organization contributions. Lobbying
strategies involved will include creating relationships with group management structures to make

MEETING LOCAL NEEDS REPORT 5
effective use of grass root campaigns and political action. In addition, the various activist
strategies relevant here include the creation of public awareness through education, media, and
conducting surveys and presenting findings to the general public and relevant stakeholders. By
understanding the need for security communities, more individuals will become receptive of the
concept and its benefits.
References

MEETING LOCAL NEEDS REPORT 6
Amador, C. (2019, June 4). Education: 10-ways-youth-can-engage-in-activism. Retrieved from
Anti-Defamation League Web site: https://www.adl.org/education/resources/tools-and-
strategies/10-ways-youth-can-engage-in-activism
Bouder, S. (2019, June 4). Articles:Critical Components for Public Awareness Campaigns.
Retrieved from A Advocacy Unleashed Web site:
https://advocacyunleashed.kontribune.com/articles/1371
Fox, E. (2019, June 4). Articles: strategies-effective-activists. Retrieved from UU World
Magazine: https://www.uuworld.org/articles/strategies-effective-activists
Harcourt, H. M. (2019, June 4). study-guides:Tactics of Interest Groups. Retrieved from
CliffsNotes: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/american-government/interest-
groups/tactics-of-interest-groups
Thomas, C. S. (2019, June 4). Lobbying strategies and tactics. Retrieved from Encyclopaedia
Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/topic/interest-group/Lobbying-strategies-and-
tactics
United Nations Development Programme. (2019, June 4). Home: Community Security. Retrieved
from A United Nations Development Programme Web site:
https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/2030-agenda-for-sustainable-development/
peace/rule-of-law--justice--security-and-human-rights/community-security.html