Moving from Charity to Real Change Neighboring Moving from Charity to Real Change

Defining Neighboring The Art of Neighboring

What if Jesus meant that we should love our actual neighbors? Helping, being a good neighbor. Block parties and sharing. Just being a GOOD neighbor to those who live near you. Can impact the entire city if every church member followed these principles. Connect with neighbors, leaders and community http://artofneighboring.com/

Neighboring An asset- and empowerment-based approach that engages underserved and under resourced community members to find innovative, sustainable solutions to address local challenges. http://www.handsonnetwork.org/nationalprograms/neighboring © 2012 Points of Light Institute.

Neighboring Building relationships with people in order to find out their strengths, hopes and dreams with the goal of working with them to grow a better community.

History Needs assessments Mission trips Service delivery Food bank Financial assistance Provide physical resources

We go in to a community, identify a need and fix it. Doing for or to people Communicating a message of: You have a need and I don’t You cannot fix your own need I know what you need so I don’t need to talk to you. I am superior, you are inferior There are times when this type of service is important.

Example Hurricane Katrina - Relief Hurricane Katrina – 2013 At first they needed immediate, outside help Rescue boats and helicopters Food, water, shelter Hurricane Katrina – 2013 St Bernard parish is still making decisions on what to do with property. What do they need? This is where neighboring is important.

Neighboring Option Neighboring is Asset based, or looking at what is going right rather than what is going wrong. What does the community already have? Don’t assume because a neighborhood is poor means there are no natural leaders.

Relationship is the Key Building relationships is a legitimate goal Takes time Building trust Setting aside your agenda Residents are experts on their own community Listen

Benefits of Relationships Change is more possible in a relationship (mentors, coaches) Empowering the residents Acknowledge their strengths Recognize their knowledge Model problem solving Give hope

The Big Question: HOW?

A Possible Tool The Three Houses tool was first created by Nicki Weld and Maggie Greening from Child Youth and Family, New Zealand and is a practical method of undertaking child protection assessments with children and young people (Weld, 2008).

Beginning Questions What is going well? What are you proud of? What special talents do you have? What do you like best about your life (neighborhood)? What worries you? What concerns do you have? What are your hopes, dreams and vision? These can be included in a conversation and can be applied both personally and for the community.

Follow up Questions Who do you go to when you need... Help with parenting? Car repairs or a ride? Someone to watch the kids? What gets in the way of your dreams? What would life be like if your dreams came true?

Ways to get started For an existing service or ministry: Set up a way they can give back Volunteer time (working with someone from your church or organization) Donate items back If you give financial assistance Have a plan that allows them to do some work around the property. Example – well we don’t have funds to give you, but we do need the weeds pulled and we can pay you for that. Have them work with someone from your church or organization

Going into a new area Ideal – live there or near there. Take walks and talk to people. Go to a local store and talk to people. Go to a park and talk to people. Just be there, be neighborly and talk to people Volunteer at the local school and get to know kids and parents.

Neighboring is the difference between charity and community empowerment and development.

Resources Toxic Charity, Robert D. Lupton When Helping Hurts, Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert Building Communities from the Inside Out, John P. Kretzmann and John L. McKnight Neighboring/Hands on Network, http://www.handsonnetwork.org/nationalprograms/neighboring The Art of Neighboring, Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon