With insight born of experience and conviction, The Carter Center's Gary Gunderson suggests ways that congregations, religious leaders, and concerned individuals can take practical steps to improve the health of their communities.

As governmental involvement in alleviating social problems wanes, Gunderson argues, congregations are uniquely positioned to "feed the roots" that build and sustain community life. Their commitment can make the difference in addressing such problems as violence, substance abuse, housing, nutrition, and public health. His book shows why congregations matter, how religious commitment helps people transcend the individualism of today's world, what singular powers religious persons can bring to their communities, and how parishes can train people in skills for knowledge-building and community-building. He then offers a model of what a congregation in the year 2010 might be doing to improve the health of its larger "neighborhood."

Eminently practical yet deeply religious, Gunderson's book will help people of faith nurture community life at its roots.