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Presentation to the Centre for Social Justice, London Feb 2nd 2011.
Citation preview
Centre for Social Justice: Adopting an Asset Based Mindset,
Cormac Russell
Pseudo-changePseudo-change
Can a balance be struck between Austerity measures and social justice?
A typical town in Britain 80 years ago.
Bensham & Saltwell
Gateshead
Newcastle
Town centre
Team Valley
Bensham & Saltwell
Mary: Cousin by marriage, assists at parish births
John: Village Head
As time moves on…..
And nowadays….transition from village communities to themoney economy
Some see fluff.
1. Care & Mutuality2. Local economic develop3. Community safety4. Care for the environment5. Flexible response to local crisis6. Safe and sustainable food production7. Co-production and localism8. Social justice
Others see gold. (Core Economy)
No matter how rich you areyou have needs
No matter how poor you areyou have gifts
Stop pitting Assets against NeedsStop pitting Assets against Needs
• Needs analysis, needs analysisNeeds analysis, needs analysis
• But we cannot ignore needsBut we cannot ignore needs
Fundamental Needs
Security
Autonomy
Belonging
Competence
?
Emotional & Material
Agency. Independence. Sense of efficacy in the world. Plus authenticity
Community, Family & Friends, as giver & receiver
Ability to sustain tasks of choosing, to contribute.
Russell, C (2010)
In a Welfare State……
What’s the fare for being well?
‘You can’t know what you need, till you know what you have…’
Hope for change…Hope for change…
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%
Neighbour-hood Organising
Communities & Neighbourhoods Service
Gateshead Council
Gateshead
Newcastle
Town centre
Team Valley
Bensham & Saltwell
Untapped potential……
Bensham & Saltwell
St. Chad’s Gardening Club
“Friday afternoons with a difference”
…we learn to make friends, cross social barriers”
“We build up self-esteem and confidence, work as a team, lessen the feelings of isolation, increase feelings of well-being and community….
Real change…Real change…
Our Solutions are often not fit for purpose
Addressing systems culture…..
TrustTrust
BMaking a Community of Place
People
Place
AssociationsInstitutions
EconomicExchange
A new policy anyone?Present Policy Why not also have a model that…
Focus on Deficiencies Focus on Assets
Problem Response Opportunity Identification
Charity Orientation Investment Orientation
Grants to Agencies Grants, Loans, Investments, Leverage
More Services Fewer Services
High Emphasis on Agencies Emphasis on Associations
Focus on Individuals Focus on communities/neighbourhoods
Maintenance Development
See People as Clients See People as Citizens and
Co-producers
‘Fix People’ Develop Potential
Programmes are the Answer People are the Answer
Before you reap the harvest…..
Quest(ions)
Second Presentation
How to build an asset based step change in the UK?
The Unfolding
Story
Why the shift?
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 self-
development
Consequences of the Power of the “Needs Map”
• 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
The move is from services to clients
to
supports for citizens
Inclusion
Community Asset Map-Ballinacurra Weston
IndividualsGifts, Skills, Capacities,
Knowledge and Traits of Youth
Older AdultsArtists
People with DisabilitiesStudentsParents
EntrepreneursActivists
InstitutionsSchools
UniversitiesCommunity CollegesPolice Departments
HospitalsLibraries
Social Service Agencies
Non ProfitsMuseums
Fire DepartmentsFoundations
Physical SpaceGardens
ParksPlaygroundsParking Lots
Walking PathsForests/Forest
PreservesPicnic AreasCampsites
Fishing Spots
StoriesOf background and personal history
Of what you like to do and contributeOf existing and ongoing skills and
capacitiesOf successful community development
Of economic growthOf addressing discrimination
Of including those who are marginalizedOf recognizing the value of everyoneOf a time when you or your group felt
appreciated and valuedOf a time the community was at its best
Local EconomyFor-Profit Businesses
Consumer ExpendituresMerchants
Chamber of CommerceBusiness Associations
BanksFoundations
Institutional-Purchasing Power and Personnel
Micro enterprisesLocal Coops
Corporations and Branches
Animal Care GroupsAnti Crime Groups
Residents AssocBusiness Organizations
Charitable GroupsCivic Events Groups
Cultural GroupsEducation Groups
Elderly GroupsEnvironmental Groups
Family Support Groups Health Advocacy and
Fitness Groups
Heritage GroupsHobby and Collectors Groups
Men’s Groups Mentoring Groups
Mutual Support GroupsNeighborhood Improvement
GroupsPolitical Organizations
Recreation GroupsReligious Groups
Service ClubsSocial GroupsUnion Groups
Women’s GroupsYouth Groups
Associations
Physical Space
Local Economy
StoriesInstitutions
Associations
Individuals
My Commun
ity
My Commun
ity
Our Community
Actually it takes a child to raise a village!
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
1. What can you do with people power?
Once There is a
NEIGHBOURHOODVISION…ask
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?
Asset Based CD model
• The Asset Based CD model says – we are citizens (someone that contributes to the community)– We can all make a contribution– Community can take pride in itself– Local relationships are important and
improved– We are the answer– We are equal with others – we work
together
Effective Communities
• Look inside first to solve problems
• Relationships are seen as power
• Have a good sense of assets and capacities, not just needs
• Leaders open doors
• Citizens are involved
• People take responsibility
Reflection points• What is your organization’s relationship to community
residents? How accountable is your organization to the people and community it serves?
• How does your work foster communication and relationship-building among the people you serve and residents in your community?
• How does your service define and engage constituents? What power do they have?
• How does your service strengthen community relationships and social capital?
• What can you do to make your service more asset-based?
Neighbourhood Organising
Advocacy Organising
Key questions for citizens:
1. What can you do
with citizen power?
2. What do you need
Help with? From who?
3. What do you need
Services to do?
Key questions for Agencies:1.How can we support citizens do what they do best?2. How do we co-produce services
and supports more effectively?3. How do we ensure our core services are responsive and accountable?
Community Empower
-ment
Community Empower
-ment
Russell’s Ecology of ‘Deep’ Civic Engagement
DeepCivic
Engagement
Cormac Russell
Local/City Impact of Deep Civic Engagement
Better Local Government & Stronger local Democracy Health Co-
production
Community Policing
School Community P’ships
Civic investment in
Local Economies
Deep Civic Engagement
Quest(ions)
Social inclusion? Where it matters?
Participation
Friendship
Intimacy
Economic Exchange
Full circles indicate capacity to deal with life andare a powerful measure of health in our society.
Spot the difference?
My Vision
Kevin Russell
My Good Life
• Real friends• A relationship like Cormac
has• A real job• Enough money to do the
things I like
My Good Life begins at Home
• No 27 Ballykeeffe Estate,Dooradoyle,Limerick.
• I live at home with my wonderful Mom and Dad
• I am a proud Limerick • man
A new policy anyone?Present Policy Why not also have a model that…
Focus on Deficiencies Focus on Assets
Problem Response Opportunity Identification
Charity Orientation Investment Orientation
Grants to Agencies Grants, Loans, Investments, Leverage
More Services Fewer Services
High Emphasis on Agencies Emphasis on Associations
Focus on Individuals Focus on communities/neighbourhoods
Maintenance Development
See People as Clients See People as Citizens and
Co-producers
‘Fix People’ Develop Potential
Programmes are the Answer People are the Answer