Looking at People Powered Change through the lens of ABCD.

No matter how rich you are you have needs

No matter how poor you are you have gifts

Before you reap the harvest..

Development trends
Do development to the people Do development for the people Do development through the people Do development with the people Developing local capacity for selfdevelopment Identify connect and mobilise assets people decide together what change should look and feel like, we serve them

 Internalizations of the deficiencies identified by local residents Destruction of social capital Reinforcement of narrow categorical funding flows Direction of funds toward professional helpers, not residents Focus on leaders who magnify deficiencies Rewarded failure, produced dependency Created hopelessness

Consequences of the Power of the Needs Map

Inclusion

The move is from services to clients

to
supports for citizens

Community Asset MapBallinacurra Weston

Institutions
Schools Universities Community Colleges Police Departments Hospitals Libraries Social Service Agencies Non Profits Museums Fire Departments Foundations

Individuals
Gifts, Skills, Capacities, Knowledge and Traits of Youth Older Adults Artists People with Disabilities Students Parents Entrepreneurs Activists

Physical Space
Gardens Parks Playgrounds Parking Lots Walking Paths Forests/Forest Preserves Picnic Areas Campsites Fishing Spots

Local Economy
For-Profit Businesses Consumer Expenditures Merchants Chamber of Commerce Business Associations Banks Foundations Institutional-Purchasing Power and Personnel Micro enterprises Local Coops Corporations and Branches

Individuals

Physical Space

Associations

My Our Commun Community ity

Local Economy

Associations Animal Care Groups Heritage Groups Anti Crime Groups Hobby and Collectors Groups Residents Assoc Mens Groups Business Organizations Mentoring Groups Charitable Groups Mutual Support Groups Civic Events Groups Neighborhood Improvement Cultural Groups Groups Education Groups Political Organizations Elderly Groups Recreation Groups Environmental Groups Religious Groups Family Support Groups Service Clubs Health Advocacy and Social Groups Fitness Groups Union Groups Womens Groups Youth Groups

Institutions

Stories

Stories

Of background and personal history Of what you like to do and contribute Of existing and ongoing skills and capacities Of successful community development Of economic growth Of addressing discrimination Of including those who are marginalized Of recognizing the value of everyone Of a time when you or your group felt appreciated and valued Of a time the community was at its best

Once There is a NEIGHBOURHOOD VISIONask

1. What can you do with people power?

2. What can you do with help from outside agencies? What would that help look like?

3. What do you need outside agencies to do unilaterally?

The main protagonists:

Leader someone that can bring people together to work on an issue Gift Giver a person that is willing to contribute their asset to work on an issue. Invisible Person a person that has not yet been discovered or been convinced to use their assets to help achieve their dreams for or fix their concerns in the neighborhood.

The unsung hero!

Connector an individual that is good at discovering what people care about and where their assets can be used.
Gift centered Well connected Trusted Believe they are welcome

Transition from village communities

to the money economy

Doing work the old way

Donors

Partners

Governments

Citizens wait for us to find a solution

SBA: processes with ownership

Donors

Partners

Citizens driving the process

Governments

Strengths-based Community Development Methodology

Discovering Strengths

Organizing & Mapping

Linking and Mobilizing

Community Driven Initiatives

Sustaining the Process

Even strangers are Twice as Likely to Assist as You Think

Studies by Flynn & Lake (2010) of Columbia University show that people underestimate how likely others are to help by as much as 100%

Community Building

Real change

Our Solutions are often not fit for purpose

Addressing systems culture..

BMaking a Community of Place

People Economic Exchange Institutions Place

Trust
Associations

You cant know what you need, till you know what you have

A new policy anyone?

Present Policy Focus on Deficiencies Why not also have a model that Focus on Assets

Problem Response
Charity Orientation Grants to Agencies More Services

Opportunity Identification
Investment Orientation Grants, Loans, Investments, Leverage Fewer Services

High Emphasis on Agencies

Focus on Individuals Maintenance See People as Clients Fix People Programmes are the Answer

Emphasis on Associations
Focus on communities/neighbourhoods Development See People as Citizens and Co-producers Develop Potential People are the Answer

Contact us
We would be happy to discuss how Nurture Strengths UK can add value to your endeavours.

Please contact: Cormac Russell +353 (87) 928 0998 or cormac@nurturedevelopment.ie