A Stage Model of Developing an Inclusive Community

The Community Inclusion model described in this paper characterizes the stages through which a diverse group of people living within the same community develops into an inclusive community. The model is described in terms of its usefulness in the assessment of a community's current stage of inclusion, and determining the interventions needed to address lack of inclusion. Examples from Sweden (EU) and the United States (USA) will be used to demonstrate how the model works. Particular focus will be on the relationship between stage of inclusion and collective community action for economic development.