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Cormac Russell is the Managing Director of Nurture Development
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Dublin Docklands Seniors Forum and the Limerick Story
‘Young people present us with a wonderful canvas, but Seniors
truly are a work of art.’
Cormac Russell
Pseudo-changePseudo-change
History
• 2007 Citizens demand Authority facilitate the establishment of a Seniors Forum to represent over 3,200 Seniors in the Dublin Docklands;
• A month later DDDA convened all Seniors Associations in the Docklands together through a strengths based process
Real change…Real change…
Addressing systems culture…..
TrustTrust
BMaking a Community of Place
People Place
AssociationsInstitutions
EconomicExchange
From needs to rights & assets
Balance responsibilities
Active ageing policies and programmes recognize the need to encourage and balance personal responsibility (self-care), age-friendly environments and intergenerational solidarity.
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)
Fundamental Needs
Security
Autonom
y
Belongin
gCompetence
?
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…’
Our Solutions are often not fit for purpose
Neighbour-hood Organising
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%
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
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 historyOf what you like to do and contribute
Of existing and ongoing skills and capacities
Of successful community developmentOf economic growth
Of addressing discriminationOf including those who are marginalized
Of 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
BanksFoundationsInstitutional-
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
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
The move is from services to clients
to
supports for citizens
Inclusion
Social inclusion? Where it matters?
Participation
Friendship
Intimacy
Economic Exchange
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
Asset Based CD model
• The Asset Based CD model lends to Seniors now saying – 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 improvable – We are the answer– We are equal with others – we work together– But we also have rights to expect high levels of co-
production – And when services are unilaterally delivered we
will demand best in the class; transparency and accountability as standard.
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
• Leverage outside support effectively
• Are inclusive
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?
Reflection points• What is your organization’s relationship to
community residents inclusive of Seniors? 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 older residents in your community?
• How does your service define and engage constituents? What power do they have?
• What can you do to make your service more asset-based?
Take away messages
• There is more to a good life than services, and more at stake than money.
• Start from a place of strengths and wellness as opposed to deficits and sickness.
Thank you!
Cormac Russell,
Nurture Development
Nurture Strengths UK
+353 87 9280998
www.nurturedevelopment.ie