Communities today face unprecedented racial tension, conflict, and turmoil. Social unrest, political rhetoric, authoritarian rulers, and economic disparities contribute to unprecedented levels of community violence and extremism. The Evolution of Human Cooperation and Community Development: A Greener Approach to Understanding the Dynamics of Conflict proposes a more comprehensive and community-oriented approach to address conflict through the development of community resources and ecologically sustainable green space programs, such as community gardening programs. The authors draw on empirical research to identify how resources may be utilized to promote increased positive intergroup contact and provide greater collaboration among community residents. This book provides the essential interpersonal mechanisms to achieve a more resilient, empowered, and peaceful community.

The purpose of Creating a Transformational Community: The Fundamentals of Stewardship Activities is to provide the reader with a description of the important role that community development has in establishing healthy, cooperative, and prosocial relationships among individuals residing within their neighborhoods and communities. This book examines four primary domains in how communities can grow and positively influence individual and holistic development as well as group interaction: education and organized school systems; environmental development, such as green sustainable programs; healthful nutrition; and spiritual growth and development An important scope of the manuscript is to provide the reader with insight how these four primary community domains interact with each other to play a critical role in the healthy development not of the individual but also how groups within society can work cooperatively and interdependently in creating a healthier and more sustainable community.