Review: "Making Neighborhoods Whole" by Wayne Gordon & John M. Perkins

 

Making Neighborhoods Whole is a transformative and deeply practical handbook on Christian community development, co-authored by Wayne Gordon and the Rev. John M. Perkins—two pioneers of the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA). Drawing on decades of on-the-ground experience in North Lawndale, Chicago, and across the United States, the book outlines eight actionable principles central to fostering resilient, empowered, and equitable neighborhoods.

Structure & Storytelling

The book blends narrative history with hands-on guidance. Early chapters trace the genesis of Christian community development, from Perkins’s civil rights roots in Mississippi to Gordon’s relocation into North Lawndale, culminating in the founding of the CCDA. These stories are more than memoirs—they frame the rest of the book, giving emotional meaning to each principle that follow.

The Eight Principles

Each chapter focuses on one of CCDA’s eight guiding commitments, illustrated with real-life examples and reflections from leaders around the country:

1. Relocation – Embody presence. Gordon’s decision to move into North Lawndale—and to encourage others to do so strategically—speaks to the power of solidarity. He notes that even staying or returning to an area can drive deep change. 

2. Reconciliation – Heal divides. The book emphasizes racial healing through attentive listening and humility. As Sami DiPasquale recounts, reconciliation involves studying historically silenced voices, confessing inherited injustices, and living under the authority of the “other”. 

3. Redistribution – Equitable opportunity over charity. Rather than handouts, the book advocates empowering community members through job training, education, justice reform, and micro-finance—enabling people to thrive on their own footing.

4. Leadership Development – Commit long term. Investing in leaders from youth through adulthood ensures continuity and community ownership. Gordon and Perkins stress mentoring individuals over years not just months.

5. Listening to the Community – Prioritize local voice. A poignant story recounts Ghana, who insisted her community needed laundry facilities—not another basketball court. Gordon responded by praying and obtaining the exact resource requested.

6. Being Church-Based – Root ministry in faith. The authors challenge parachurch models, advocating for churches to claim neighborhoods as parishes, anchoring development in spiritual community and accountability.

7. A Wholistic Approach – Align gospel with justice. The dual call to spiritual nourishment and practical intervention is woven throughout, reflecting a balanced and integrated form of community care.

8. Empowerment – Nurture independence. With transformative questions like “What will it take for you not to need anything from us in one year?” the book helps avoid dependency by orienting projects toward self-sufficiency.

Lawndale Case Study & Broader Applications

One standout success story is North Lawndale—dubbed the “Lawndale Miracle.” Through asset-mapping, values-driven leadership, business incubation, and a real estate arm, Lawndale’s CCD system developed youth centers, clinics, affordable housing, and coops, employing hundreds with more than $82 million reinvested in the neighborhood instead of fueling gentrification.

These examples show what the principles enable: community-led transformation that revitalizes without displacing, empowers without patronizing, and rebuilds social infrastructure from the ground up.

Applying the Lessons Locally

Here’s how these lessons can translate to your own community or neighborhood:

• Conduct an asset mapping workshop. Gather neighbors to list local strengths: community centers, schools, skills, green spaces. Identify both material and social capital that can kickstart collective efforts—whether a shared garden, tutoring program, or community art initiative.

• Engage in active listening sessions. Hold small-group conversations asking, “What do you need most?” Let responses guide your projects rather than assumptions. This avoids the mismatch between intentions and actual community priorities (see the Ghana example).

• Partner with local institutions. Work with churches, schools, or community centers already present. Frame neighborhoods as “parishes” that anchor efforts in lasting partnerships.

• Design empowerment-focused initiatives. Whether it’s job skills classes or neighborhood-owned enterprises, tie support to ownership and self-reliance. For instance, a community skill-share coalition could teach trades while operating as a cooperative.

• Encourage local leadership. Mentor young or underrepresented residents to take on roles in organizing, budgeting, or governance. Leadership development isn’t optional—it’s central to sustainable community health.

• Pursue reconciliation initiatives. In racially or socially divided areas, start truth-telling conversations. Use Gordon and Perkins’ reconciliation steps—listen to different historical narratives, confess collective hurt, and build relationships across lines.

• Secure strategic resources. Like Lawndale, prepare shovel-ready projects that can attract grants or funding. A clinic for mental health, a laundry hub, or energy-efficient youth facility—just having the design and plan ready can unlock funding.

Strengths & Minor Limitations

Strengths:

• The blending of personal narratives with clear guidelines makes the book both inspiring and practical.

• Eight robust, interlocking principles create a cohesive framework applicable to diverse contexts.

• The focus on empowerment and avoiding dependency is consistently refreshing.

Limitations:

• Grounded in a Christian worldview—it may require adaptation in more secular or pluralistic communities.

• Primarily urban examples—rural or suburban contexts might need extra reframing (though the principles hold).

Final Summary

Making Neighborhoods Whole is a compelling roadmap for anyone seeking to build more just, connected, and thriving neighborhoods. Wayne Gordon and John Perkins offer both heart and hard-earned strategies—from naming systemic issues to establishing cooperatives and health clinics. Their emphasis on presence, listening, empowerment, church-rooted action, and reconciliation guide us beyond quick fixes to long-term community flourishing.

If you care about making real, lasting change where you live, this book equips you to start wherever you are—with integrity, humility, and hope. By adopting its principles, you can become part of the next “Lawndale Miracle,” crafting a neighborhood that is whole in spirit, structure, and solidarity.

Written by David L. Burton

MORE INFORMATION

Take the Engaged Neighbor pledge and become part of a movement! The pledge outlines five categories and 20 principles to guide you toward becoming an engaged neighbor. Sign the pledge at https://nomoregoodneighbors.com. Individuals who take the pledge do get special invitations to future events online and in person. Contact the blog author, David L. Burton via emal at dburton541@yahoo.com.