Building Communities Where Everyone Can Live Well a community where everyone c… · Population loss More temp/part-time jobs Declining number and value of business loans Middle-class

Building Communities Where Everyone Can Live Well------------------------------------------Philip DeVol

Copyright 2015 DeVol & Associates, LLC www.gettingahead.com 1

Why we address poverty at the community

level?

Poverty is experienced differently county by county

We can act in relevant ways at the county level

We have more bridging social capital at the local level

We can influence organizational and county policy

We don’t have to wait on legislation or approval

We can form state level learning communities to influence policy

Copyright 2015 DeVol & Associates. LLC www.gettingahead.com

• People in poverty are problem solvers; co-creators

• We understand the environments of class, the mental models of poverty, middle class and wealth

• We understand the four causes of poverty and so can address all the causes of poverty and attract people from all political persuasions

• We use the information on language to communicate more effectively

• We use the hidden rules of class to replace judgments with understanding

• We use our definition of poverty – the degree to which people do without resources – to give us all something to do about poverty; build resources

We share a common language


Bridges is an Approach Like No Other

• We offer a common language and core constructs; books, papers, and

workshops

• Bridges is not a program so can be applied in all regions and many

countries

• We engage all classes, races, sectors, and political persuasions

• We address all causes of poverty, stages of life, and areas of life

• We work at four levels: individual, institutional, community and policy

• We offer affordable evaluation technology

• People are attracted by our methodology as well as our ideas

• We are a learning community

• We have 12 Thinking Tools

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http://www.ahaprocess.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Bridges-Out-of-Poverty-Hard

Copyright J. Pfarr Consulting

# 1: Triple Lens

Copyright www.bridgesoutofpoverty.com

https://www.ahaprocess.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/12-Thinking-Tools-for-Bridges-Initiatives.pdf

https://www.ahaprocess.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/12-Thinking-Tools-for-Bridges-Initiatives.pdf

Concrete,

Abstract

Unstable,

Predictable

Powerless,

Powerful

Tyranny of the moment,

Time horizon

Reactive problem-solving,

Proactive problem-solving

Math doesn’t work,

Financial security

Developed by Phil DeVol (2006)

#2: Mental Model of PovertyConcrete information inside the circle; analytical categories outside

What the Abstract Consists of:

#3:Theory of Change from Getting Ahead

• Detachment• Objectivity• Analysis• Thinking• New ideas• New information• Education• Plans• Support


Middle ClassPoverty

Wealth

#4: Three Classes to the Table

Solving problems

Building resources

Module 10Copyright 2015 DeVol & Associates. LLC

www.gettingahead.com

#5: Community at Risk

Indicators

Population loss More temp/part-timejobs

Declining number and value of business loans

Middle-class flight Rising food insecurity Infrastructure is not maintained or failing

Young adults don’t return

Housing costs above 30% of income

Fiscal difficulties for city or county

Lost manufacturing Growing number of payday lenders, etc.

City/county hiring freezes or layoffs

Tax delinquencies increase

Rising free and reduce lunch rates

Deteriorating Main Street


#6:Bridges Steering CommitteePurpose and Functions of a Bridges Steering Committee


Name the Barrier:

Work one barrier

at a time.

Individual

Behavior

Human and Social

Capital

in the Community

Exploitation

Political/

Economic

Structures

Individual

Action

Organizational

Action

Community

Action

Policy

#7: Community Sustainability GridA Comprehensive Planning Tool for Bridges Steering Committees

#8: The Bridges ContinuumA Comprehensive Planning Tool for Bridges Steering Committees

Birth

–6

K-1

2

Po

st-Se

con

dary

Wo

rkforce

Place

me

nt

Job

Rete

ntio

n

Self-Su

fficien

t W

age

Sen

iors

We

llne

ss

Co

mm

un

ity P

rosp

erity

Metrics

Fallout Costs

BridgesStrategies

Responsible for Action


Fin

an

cia

l

Em

oti

on

al

Men

tal

Sp

irit

ual

Ph

ysic

al

Su

pp

ort

Syste

ms

Rela

tio

nsh

ips/

Ro

le M

od

els

Kn

ow

led

ge

of

Hid

de

n

Ru

les

Inte

gri

ty a

nd

Tru

st

Mo

tivati

on

an

d

Pers

iste

nc

e

Fo

rmal R

eg

iste

r

Getting by

Getting

Ahead

# 9: “Getting Ahead” vs. Getting by

Resources

Reprinted with permission. Copyright J. Pfarr Consulting. Page 188Copyright 2015 DeVol & Associates. LLC

www.gettingahead.com

# 10:Methodology:

Innovation


# 11: Cycle of InnovationKnowledge and Technology

New knowledge breaks in

Technology spreads

knowledge

Individual intelligence

expands and spreads

Technology supports collective wisdom

People reinvest in

the community

Win the day with

documented success

Enhance technology


# 12 Bridges Community of Practice Model

Coordination

Support

Transfer of Knowledge

Bridges

Steering Committees

Statewide Bridges

and Circles Alliances

State-Level

Organizational

Change

Circles™Campaign

Bridges Steering

Committee


What patterns for community development have we seen?

• Catalysts have changed over the years: local government departments, social services, courts, faith, funders, bankers, legislators

• Launching an initiative takes less time now

• Stages of change for Bridges Initiatives: mass confusion, novice, beginner, competent, proficiency, expert

• Mastery of Bridges constructs is vital

• Learning from other Bridges sites helps

• Sustainability can be achieved by operating above the silos; “Many programs come and go with the CEO”

Train, Embed (and model), Spread

Train with national trainers and certified Bridges trainers

Engage people in poverty and organizations from many sectors

Embed concepts as soon as possible

Establish a model as part of a Continuous Quality Improvement process

Use MPOWR or Charity Tracker to evaluate

Spread (share) through local and national Bridges learning communities

The Process

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http://www.ahaprocess.com/evaluations-research-best-practices-results

Local Learning Community

• CEOs, Board Members

• Bridges Steering Committee meetings

• Operating above the silos

• Certified trainers

• Champions

• Study groups, investigators, continuous learning

• Innovations, and best practices

• GA graduate role

• Media

• Historian

What’s your story? What have you done with your new insights?

A story structure:

What was it like?

What was the insight that made it possible to change?

What did you do?

What is it like now?

Aha moments insights paradigm shifts

Lessons Learned

Catalysts count

Coordinators matter

The long view (25 years) is necessary; sustainability is the goal

Growth is organic and messy; structures help

Collaboration skills are crucial

Guiding principles and core constructs are necessary

Listen to and learn from Getting Ahead graduates

Guiding Principles

• Focus on practice/action

• All three classes must change thinking

and behaviors

• Action guided by the experience and

knowledge of GA graduates


• Everyone owns it, no one owns it

• Don’t wait for authorization to act

• Transparency

Organizational Principles


Sustaining a Bridges Initiative


Shared attraction

Common language

Critical mass

Learning community that shares innovations

Shared data collection and reporting system

Stable funding

Celebrations

St. Joseph County Bridges Out of Poverty Initiative

• Catalyst: Women’s Group

• National Bridges Trainers and Certified Bridges Trainers

• Trainer GA facilitators, over 700 GA graduates

• Formed 501 (c) (3)

• Provide continuous support for GA Grads, train allies

• Bridges Financial Management Class

• Assist people to get and keep jobs - Employer Resource Network

• Work with schools, colleges, hospitals, employers

• A Local Area Consultant (licensed site) training surrounding counties

Bridge the Gap OklahomaStart up support for local communities

• Catalysts: Governor’s Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives and

Department of Human Services, now Salvation Army

• Co-hosts community conversation

• Sponsors Bridges training

• Facilitates formation of local steering committee

• Encourages community engagement, ongoing education

• Prepares for, promotes, and facilitates GA

• Identifies and recruits resource partners

• Coordinates coaching/mentoring and supplemental training

• Tracks outcomes for GA graduates

• Assessment tool for organizational change, pre/post training

• Statewide partnerships

Building Bridges for the Future of Muskogee OK

• Catalyst: City Foundation; long view - permanent good, move the needle

• $250 K per year for 5 years, but raising money from partners meant they had ‘skin in the

game’

• Staffing: coordinator, GA coach

• Bridges Steering Committee - open doors to sectors, policy changes

• Learn from Statewide Bridges Initiative

• Develop teams to support GA initiative: criteria development, recruiting, barrier information

to policy makers.

• Don’t be afraid to try an approach or strategy

• Offer Bridges every other month at public library plus training for other organizations; Three

two-hour Bridges overviews for church

• National consultant for health and healthcare and local Certified Trainers for colleges

• GA for entry level healthcare employees and reentry

• Policy changes: focus on triple lens - felonies reduced to misdemeanor after 5 years - direct

result from 1st GA class

Santa Rosa Bridges, Florida

• Catalyst: schools

• National trainers and 41 Certified Bridges trainers and GA facilitators

• Partnerships to build a coalition, 88 organizations; found an “abundance of

resources”

• Rotating meetings to encourage ownership by all

• “Stars” from partnerships inside the coalition

• Constellation of connections and a common vision

• Learning from start and national learning community

• Formed 501 (c) (3)

• Committees: finance, awareness/PR, Education/training, Advocacy,

Government/transportation, Employment

Schenectady, NY

• Catalyst: City Mission

• Series of insights:

• folks themselves have to be the leaders of community transformation,

• common language

• how much we didn’t know, universal quality to the learning,

• diversity of agencies,

• freedom to implement, front-line workers becoming innovators,

paradigm shifts

• GA grads - drug court, hospital

Schenectady, NY continued

• Three components to make community transformation happen:

• Multi-sector collaboration, eight sectors

• Empowering employment

• Indigenous leadership

• Bridges champions

• CEOs on board

• Each organization designates a champion - brainstorm best practices and failures, identify indigenous leaders,

• Train, Embed, Model, Spread

Ohio – Healthier Buckeye CouncilsH.B. 64

• Catalyst: Gene Krebs, former member of the House, Senior

Fellow at The Center for Community Solutions

• Introductions Speaker Pro Tempore Ron Amstutz,

Representative from District 1

• Bridges sites send people to testify before the Community

and Family Advancement Committee chaired by Rep. Tim

Derickson

• H.B 64 passed June 30, 2015

• $11.5M for 2015-2106 to fund pilot sites at the county level.

• Based largely on Bridges concepts

• Best practices to reduce the impact of

poverty in communities, education,

healthcare, and more

11 peer-reviewed chapters written by

practitioners feature progressive

organizations

Illustrates what every organization can

learn to help end poverty

Articles about innovations in healthcare,

community action, schools, and more

From Vision to Action, Volume I

• Best practices to reduce the

impact of poverty in communities,

education, healthcare, and more

Practitioners from 12

communities sharing their

innovative and creative use of the

work

Oklahoma’s statewide Bridges

Initiative shares its methods

Ellis Medicine gives its two year

update and more

From Vision to Action

Volume II

“Innovators are often not the principal agents of change; early adapters are.”

–Michael Fairbanks


Documents

Building Communities Where Everyone Can Live Well a community where everyone c… · Population loss More temp/part-time jobs Declining number and value of business loans Middle-class