1 Friday – May 13, 2011 Tokai University

2 Our Big Question #1 A Network Approach To Asset Building?

3 3 The Abundant Community – John McKnight & Peter Block  Gift-Mindedness – the raw material for community; focus on the gifts of community members.  Associational Life – relationships, the process through which gifts are exchanged.  Hospitality – that which widens our inventory of gifts; offer hospitality, welcome strangers. 3 Properties Of Competent Communities

4 4 E very community, organization, or social group has individuals whose exceptional behaviors or practices enable them to get better results than their neighbors with the exact same resources. Positive Deviance – Building From Our Gifts

5 5  Mission – focus on mission, not the organization.  Trust – focus on trust, not control.  Node – focus on being a node, not on being the hub with partners as spokes. The Power Of Networks Source for Network Graphic: orgnet.com

6 6 Nurture quality connections so projects can be high risk & high impact Bridge difference. Connect people and ideas that normally don’t go together Support overlapping projects or collaborations, many very small, initiated by many Map the network in order to visualize structure, diagnose strengths and weaknesses, and identify strategies for growing the network Grow and engage periphery to bring in new resources and innovation Strengthening Networks... Source: Adapted from June Holley, Source for Network Graphic: orgnet.comwww.networkweaving.com

7 Example – Children’s Savings Initiative 27,000 Hawai‘i Island Children

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9 Children’s Savings Initiative 27,000 Hawai‘i Island Children

10 Our Big Question #2 Asset Building – For Hawai‘i & Hawai‘i Families? More Than Just Financial?

11 Our Value Proposition – Asset Building Assets are essential to:  have financial security against difficult times – the dignity of choice and control ;  create economic opportunities for oneself and family – realize human potential through education and entrepreneurship ; and  leave a legacy for future generations to have a better life – realistically reduce the cycle of poverty.

12 Self Sufficiency = Choice & Control “ Those who are self-sufficient have control and choice over their lives. Having and keeping control and choice requires an accumulation of a critical mass of social and economic assets, which provide stability and access to opportunities.” Maurice Lim Miller

13 Hawai‘i’s Asset Building Framework  Make Work Pay (EITC, tax policies)  Teach Asset Building (broad public awareness, schools, workplaces)  Break Down Barriers to Asset Building (asset limits, predatory lending, insurance)  Help People Save (IDAs, children savings accounts, retirement, education)  Help People Start and Own Businesses (microenterprise, community lending, training)  Help People Buy Homes (government matches and grants, employee assistance)

14 Ho‘owaiwai Hawai‘i Island Building Genuine Wealth June, 2011 County of Hawai‘i, Department of Research & Development

15 Oikonomia – ‘Ohana Economics Increase Earning Opportunities Manage Household Expenses & Reduce Debt/ Risk Increase Family Assets Steady Income + Reduce Expense = Opportunity to Increase Assets Assets = Financial Security, Economic Opportunity, and Future Legacy Access to Learning Opportunities

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17 Ho‘owaiwai Hawai‘i Island Policy Action Areas Earn It Strategies...  Financial Education, Planning, & Management  VITA & EITC  Living Wage Jobs  Anchor Institutions Grow It Strategies...  Affordable Home Ownership & Rental Options  Community-Based Investment Models  CBED, Asset Building, & Regional Community Development Planning Keep It Strategies...  Financial Services  Matched Savings  Consumer Protection  Access To Transportation Options & TOD Opportunities  Access To Healthy, Local Food Sources  Increased Energy Efficiency

18 Ho‘owaiwai Hawai‘i Island Implementation Approach Embedding Asset Building In Local Government...  Cities for Financial Empowerment  Involvement, Understanding, & Commitment From All County Agencies A Network Approach... Communities are built on connections. Better connections usually provide better opportunities.