Marx 1

Maggie Marx
Andrew Miller
EXPL 390
March 24, 2016
Asset-Based Community Development Reflection
In what ways does your internship organization focus on assets? On deficits? How are both
valued at your organization?
In my specific placement at Misericordia, I see the organization focus more on assets than
on deficits. Recreation and Leisure is about what you can accomplish and enjoy, not what you
cannot. When I helped with art classes, each piece of work was unique. Sarahs mentorship was
key to my learning process in this area. At first, I struggled to work with residents at different
functioning levels. However, Sarah showed me how appropriately assist, while still letting
residents take the lead. We encourage them to pick out their own colors, patterns, papers, and
tools. I think there is a common stigma against people with disabilitiesespecially those living
in facilitiesthat people need to do everything for them, but sometimes just the ability to choose
your favorite color is an asset.
This semester, I have challenged myself by teaching tap classes. The women in the class
have a variety of backgrounds in dance, from years of formal lessons to nothing at all. It is
important in teaching this class that I have patience with each woman, and constantly affirm her
progress. One resident excels at modeling the steps first, while another resident is really good at
counting music. I structure my class so that they can use these assets to benefit the entire group.
I personally think affirmation and encouragement is important in focusing on assets because by
acknowledging the residents abilities out loud, it gives them confidence to continue using them.

Marx 2
I recently learned in my social work class that there is a push to change the term
disabled to uniquely abled. I think this is a great idea because the term disability in itself
sounds like a deficit. With that said, I do still think Misericordia focuses on deficits as well, but
to an appropriate extent. The Developmental Training (DT) program helps to improve certain
behaviors that may be detrimental to the resident and others. There are other programs (e.g.,
speech therapy, occupational therapy, job training assistance) that are necessary to improve the
lives of people living with disabilities, both physical and mental. However, in changing
behaviors and improving lives, it is necessary to focus on a deficit to an extent in order to make a
change.
Assets and deficits are both valued at Misericordia because the staff treats every resident
as an individual. I have learned to value and praise both the assets of each resident, but also
correct behaviors and actions that may not beneficial. Often assets are used to reverse or change
deficits. For example, in yoga, one resident often gets anxious and distracted, and he has a
tendency to get others distracted as well. I do have to correct him and ask him to stay on topic,
but Sarah has given him the opportunity to lead a reflection at the beginning of class because she
knows he is good at talking in front of a group.
In what ways do you focus on assets? On deficits? How do you value both?
I think I explicitly focus on my assets, but implicitly my deficits. I acknowledge that I
have a number of talents, and I know how to use them accordingly. However, I am rather selfcritical, and sometimes I get lost in a train of negative thoughts about my abilities and myself. I
value both my assets and deficits because I am able to use my talents to distract these implicit
thoughts and attempt to change them. My deficits motivate me to use my assets to make a
difference.

Marx 3
For example, I have written before about how anxious I was at the beginning of my
internship. I felt incapable to work with people with disabilities and frequently worried about
saying or doing the wrong thing. I did not think I had enough education or training to work so
hands-on with the residents at Misericordia. When I get anxious, I start to shut down and attempt
to avoid things giving me anxiety; it becomes a deficit. However, two assets I treasure about
myself are my ability to learn quickly and my confidence. As an extraverted and confident
person, I was able to convince myself to go to work and learnsimply by doing. The more I
engaged with the residents, the quicker I learned what to do. In just a week or two, I felt the
anxiety subside almost completely and was able to use my confidence to comfortably engage
with residents easily. Now, I look forward to going to work and love when I run into residents
that I worked with regularly last semester, but may not see anymore.
I think focusing on assets is extremely important to having confidence in yourself, but
valuing your deficits is perhaps even more important. By valuing my deficits, I give myself
room for improvement and space to find new assets.
How is your work contributing to your understanding of community development? If it is
not, how could it be?
Before this weeks lesson, I did not think my work at Misericordia was contributing to
my understanding of community development, but I think in a unique way, I do have some
understanding. Misericordia prides itself on being a home for its residents. I would not even
consider it a facility; it truly is a community. Residents are employed on campus, take classes,
and participate in programs. Each resident, staff member, and volunteer is an asset to
Misericordia and offers gifts and skills. There are clubs and associations (e.g., The
Heartbreakers dance club) that residents participate in, and there are paid employment
opportunities on campus as well. Misericordia is religiously affiliated, which is an institution.

Marx 4
The campus provides beautiful spaces for residents to enjoy, and the residents interact and
exchange their gifts, ideas, and thoughts with each other regularly in programming and activities.
Misericordia has a number of assets on its own, but Misericordia is also an asset to
Rogers Park. The organization is well known in the neighborhood and throughout Chicago.
Some residents are employed off campus, which gives them opportunities to work with a wide
range of people. Misericordia provides a place for Loyola students to volunteer and interact with
people with disabilities, which is a unique experience for college students. Misericordia is an
institution in Rogers Park, which makes it part of a larger community asset map. This weeks
lesson has demonstrated that communities are not alone in their assets, but often part of a much
larger map.