Asset Based Community Development Graeme Stuart Dee Brooks

Assumptions About Workshop  We are all teachers and learners  It’s about choices  We all deserve respect  We learn by being involved and having fun

Introductions  My name  A little bit about me  Why I’m doing the workshop

What is ABCD? Asset Based Community Development: 1.Focuses on community assets and strengths rather than problems and needs 2.Identifies and mobilises community and individual assets, skills and passions 3.Is built on community leadership 4.Builds relationships

Gifts I can give my community  Gifts of the Head (Things I know something about and would enjoy talking about with others, e.g., art, history, movies, birds).  Gifts of the Hand (Things or skills I know how to do and would like to share with others, e.g., carpentry, sports, cooking).  Gifts of the Heart (Things I care deeply about, e.g., protection of the environment, civic life, children).

Asset Based Community Development provides key principles and practical tools to assist communities to help themselves and others discover and mobilise community strengths.

Communities have deficiencies and needs Communities and its citizens Have capacities and assets

NEEDS MAP The Half Empty Glass Delinquency Gangs Crime High Unemployment Graffiti Truancy Housing Commission Unsafe Domestic Violence Tacky Neglect Welfare Recipients Dysfunctional Child Abuse Unhealthy Druggos Homeless Unemployed Illiterate Alcoholic Needy Mental disabled Unskilled Dole- Bludgers Control Funds & Services External organisations Communities Family Individual

Consequences of the Needs Map for Community Members  “We are deficient”  Our local relationships are damaged  Most money comes into our community for programs - often narrowly defined  Money gets directed towards professional helpers, not community members  We place focus on leaders which magnifies deficiencies  We reward failure and foster dependency on systems  Our community has a poor self-image  We experience hopelessness (Kretzmann & KcKnight 2007)

Banks Businesses Schools Parks Hospitals Local Council Libraries ChurchesCultural Groups Children Leaders Carers Elderly Youth Extended “Families” Artists Groups & Associations Labelled Individuals Mentors & Significant Adults Child Care Centres Shops Neighbourhood Centres TAFE Community Health Centres Medical Centres Sports Clubs Parent groups Gifts of Individuals Non-Profit Community Groups Local Institutions ASSETS MAP The Half Full Story

We Can Ask Questions in Two Ways Based on Appreciative Inquiry What is wrong with our community? What problems can we fix? What are the needs of our community? What is broken? OR What are the strengths and assets of our community? Share a time when you felt our community was at its best? What do you value most about our community? What is the essence of our community that makes it unique and strong?

Six Types of Assets to Connect:

Talents, skills and passions of individuals

Community groups and networks (Associations)

Government and non-government agencies (Institutions)

Physical assets (land, property, buildings, equipment)

Economic Assets (productive work of individuals, consumer spending power, local business assets)

Stories, heritage, local identity and values

Drivers  Hope  Care  Relationships

Talents, skills and passions of individuals Gifts, talents, dreams, and hopes -What do you like to do? -What would you like to learn? -What would you like to teach? -What would other people who know you say you were good at doing ?

A Simple Asset Map - Maitland Community Adapted from Maitland Defence Families Support Group Institutions Defence Community Organisation Local schools (Ashtonfield, East Maitland, Thornton) University of Newcastle RSL Clubs Maitland City Libraries Maitland Art Gallery PCYC Maitland Council Universities Police & Fire Departments Hospitals Social Service Agencies Animal Care Groups Anti Crime Groups Business Organizations Charitable Groups Cultural Groups Education Groups Elderly Groups Environmental Groups Family Support Groups Fitness Groups Women’s Groups Youth Groups Heritage Groups Hobby and Collectors Groups Sporting teams (Rugby, Cricket, soccer, etc) Little athletic Centres. AUSKICK Bowling Clubs Craft groups Political Organizations Recreation Groups Religious Groups Service Clubs Social Groups Union Groups Veteran’s Groups Men’s Groups Mentoring Groups Associations Community buildings Church halls Parks Playgrounds Skate Parks Dog Exercise Areas Cycleways Maitland Park Walka Water Works Maitland aquatic centre East Maitland Aquatic Centre Local Economy Green Hills shopping centre Banks Supermarkets Charities Maitland Mall Hunter Valley Vineyards Shark and Ray centre Community grants Family support Project Funding For-Profit Businesses Chamber of Commerce Business Associations Personal spending power Individuals Spouses Defence members Students Workers Children Youth Gifts, Skills, Older Adults Artists People with Disabilities Parents Entrepreneurs Activists Veterans Physical Space Golf course Gardens Parks Playgrounds Parking Lots Bike Paths Walking Paths Forests/Forest Preserves Picnic Areas Campsites Fishing Spots

Mapping exercise

Six Types of Assets to Connect:  Talents, skills and passions of individuals  Community groups and networks (Associations)  Government and non-government agencies (Institutions)  Physical assets (land, property, buildings, equipment)  Economic Assets (productive work of individuals, consumer spending power, local business assets)  Stories, heritage, local identity and values

Three key steps to asset mapping  Discover the assets  Join the assets together  Create opportunities for these assets to be productive and powerful together

What is ABCD? Asset Based Community Development: 1.Focuses on community assets and strengths rather than problems and needs 2.Identifies and mobilises community and individual assets, skills and passions 3.Is built on community leadership 4.Builds relationships

Authority versus Leadership

Community leaders Leadership Skills Community Connection e.g. Gate keeper e.g., Connector leaders e.g. Expert e.g., Mentors

Learning conversations Discovering care

Discovering Care = Motivation to act Through learning conversations you can hear:  Concerns – What I don’t want to happen  Dreams – What I want to create  Skills & Abilities – What I have to give

The Power of Two  If one person spent one day having a conversation to two people about what they could create (1+2)  If the next day, those two people each had a conversation with two different people ( ) And so forth  Then in ten days, 2047 people would be having a conversation  In 15 days, 65,535 people would be in conversation  In 20 days, 2 million people would be in a conversation

Top Down Start with an answer Recruit people to implement the answer Look for answers to the additional problem of "lack of motivation" Mobilise assets Discover what people care about, how they see the situation and what they want to offer Start with a learning conversation Bottom Up

Two Paths – Two Solutions Answer Need Services Consumer “Programs are the answer” Question Want/care to act Mobilise assets Community Members “People are the answer”

"Given the task of rejuvenating a region and the choice of $50 million, or $2 million and 20 committed local leaders, we would choose the smaller amount of money and the committed leaders". (McKinsey and Company (1994) Lead Local Compete Global: Unlocking the Growth of Australia’s Regions) Importance of Leadership & its Development

Appreciative Inquiry

Appreciative Inquiry Focus Doing more of what works Problem Solving Focus Doing less of something we do not do well

 Human systems move in the direction of what we deeply and persistently ask questions about  Transformational topics are possible in any situation, and will generate more positive change - every time  The skill of framing and re-framing Affirmative Topic Choice

 What’s the biggest problem here?  Why don’t people get involved?  Why do we blow it so often?  Why do we still have those problems?  What possibilities exist that we have not yet considered?  What’s the smallest change that could make the biggest impact?  What solutions would have us both win?  What has worked in the past? The art of the questions What makes questions inspiring, energising, and mobilising?

Appreciative Inquiry – 4D Cycle  DISCOVER – Let’s share occasions when we were at our best  DREAM – What is our preferred future?  DESIGN – What do we need in place to make our dream a reality?  DELIVER – Let’s work on goals, strategies and projects

The power of AI Stories  Stories stick like glue  Makes information easier to remember  Builds identities and fosters relationships  Medium for conveying values, visions  Helps other possibilities emerge

Appreciative Inquiry  Appreciates what you have  Imagines what can be  Creates what will be

For further information contact: Dee Brooks Community Worker & Facilitator Family Action Centre W: (02) Graeme Stuart Facilitator & Lecturer Family Action Centre W: (02)