Centre for Social Justice: Adopting an Asset Based Mindset,

Cormac Russell

Pseudo-changePseudo-change

Can a balance be struck between Austerity measures and social justice?

A typical town in Britain 80 years ago.

Bensham & Saltwell

Gateshead

Newcastle

Town centre

Team Valley

Bensham & Saltwell

Mary: Cousin by marriage, assists at parish births

John: Village Head

As time moves on…..

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)

No matter how rich you areyou have needs

No matter how poor you areyou have gifts

Stop pitting Assets against NeedsStop pitting Assets against Needs

• Needs analysis, needs analysisNeeds analysis, needs analysis

• But we cannot ignore needsBut we cannot ignore needs

Fundamental Needs

Security

Autonomy

Belonging

Competence

?

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…’

Hope for change…Hope for change…

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%

Neighbour-hood Organising

Communities & Neighbourhoods Service

Gateshead Council

Gateshead

Newcastle

Town centre

Team Valley

Bensham & Saltwell

Untapped potential……

Bensham & Saltwell

St. Chad’s Gardening Club

“Friday afternoons with a difference”

…we learn to make friends, cross social barriers”

“We build up self-esteem and confidence, work as a team, lessen the feelings of isolation, increase feelings of well-being and community….

Real change…Real change…

Our Solutions are often not fit for purpose

Addressing systems culture…..

TrustTrust

BMaking a Community of Place

People

Place

AssociationsInstitutions

EconomicExchange

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

Before you reap the harvest…..

Quest(ions)

Second Presentation

How to build an asset based step change in the UK?

The Unfolding

Story

Why the shift?

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

The move is from services to clients

to

supports for citizens

Inclusion

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 history

Of what you like to do and contributeOf existing and ongoing skills and

capacitiesOf successful community development

Of economic growthOf addressing discrimination

Of including those who are marginalizedOf 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

BanksFoundations

Institutional-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

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

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?

Asset Based CD model

• The Asset Based CD model says – 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

improved– We are the answer– We are equal with others – we work

together

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

Reflection points• What is your organization’s relationship to community

residents? 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 residents in your community?

• How does your service define and engage constituents? What power do they have?

• How does your service strengthen community relationships and social capital?

• What can you do to make your service more asset-based?

Neighbourhood Organising

Advocacy Organising

Key questions for citizens:

1. What can you do

with citizen power?

2. What do you need

Help with? From who?

3. What do you need

Services to do?

Key questions for Agencies:1.How can we support citizens do what they do best?2. How do we co-produce services

and supports more effectively?3. How do we ensure our core services are responsive and accountable?

Community Empower

-ment

Community Empower

-ment

Russell’s Ecology of ‘Deep’ Civic Engagement

DeepCivic

Engagement

Cormac Russell

Local/City Impact of Deep Civic Engagement

Better Local Government & Stronger local Democracy Health Co-

production

Community Policing

School Community P’ships

Civic investment in

Local Economies

Deep Civic Engagement

Quest(ions)

Social inclusion? Where it matters?

Participation

Friendship

Intimacy

Economic Exchange

Full circles indicate capacity to deal with life andare a powerful measure of health in our society.

Spot the difference?

My Vision

Kevin Russell

My Good Life

• Real friends• A relationship like Cormac

has• A real job• Enough money to do the

things I like

My Good Life begins at Home

• No 27 Ballykeeffe Estate,Dooradoyle,Limerick.

• I live at home with my wonderful Mom and Dad

• I am a proud Limerick • man

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