A Tribute to James Gordon Kelly

Abstract

During the June 2001, eighth biennial meeting of the Society for Community Research and Action in Atlanta, a wide variety of community psychologists across generations attended a tribute in honor of James Gordon Kelly. What follows is an attempt to capture the spirit of the afternoon tribute as expressed through remarks made by colleagues and readings of letters sent by those unable to attend. The wide range of individuals represented here attests to the many additive ways in which Jim has cared about the field of community psychology and has contributed to its essence. Three additional invited contributions are included wherein Dick Reppucci, Rhona Weinstein, and Julian Rappaport reflect on the influence of Jim on their own career and on the development of the field.

Community Gardening: A Parsimonious Path to Individual, Community, and Environmental Resilience

“…Community gardens could provide an avenue for achieving such balance. It is this kind of ecologically sound program that Jim Kelly and others advocated community psychology should adopt (Hayes et al 2005;Kelly 2006). As we will illustrate, community gardening can serve as a vehicle for recognition of not only a human community but an Earth community, with benefits to the individual, social group, and natural environment.…”