The document discusses asset-based community development and empowering seniors. It advocates shifting from a needs-based approach focused on deficiencies to an asset-based approach that recognizes the skills, knowledge, and contributions of community members, including seniors. An asset map created by residents of Ballinacurra Weston, Ireland is presented as an example to catalogue the gifts, talents, and resources of the community that can be leveraged for local development. The document also discusses the importance of inclusion, co-production between community members and agencies, developing local capacity, and empowering citizens rather than treating them as clients.

1. 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

2. Pseudo-change

3. 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

4. Real change…

5. Addressing systems culture…..

6. BMaking a Community of Place Trust People Place Associations Institutions Economic Exchange

8. From needs to rights & assets

9. Balance responsibilities Active ageing policies and programmes recognize the need to encourage and balance personal responsibility (self-care), age-friendly environments and intergenerational solidarity.

10. And nowadays….transition from village communities to the money economy

11. Some see fluff .

12. Care & Mutuality Local economic develop Community safety Care for the environment Flexible response to local crisis Safe and sustainable food production Co-production and localism Social justice Others see gold . (Core Economy)

13. 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. Security Belonging Competence Autonomy Russell, C (2010)

14. In a Welfare State…… What’s the fare for being well?

15. ‘ You can’t know what you need, till you know what you have…’

16. Our Solutions are often not fit for purpose

17. Neighbour-hood Organising

18. 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%

21. 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

22. 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

28. Community Asset Map-Ballinacurra Weston Individuals Gifts, Skills, Capacities, Knowledge and Traits of Youth Older Adults Artists People with Disabilities Students Parents Entrepreneurs Activists Institutions Schools Universities Community Colleges Police Departments Hospitals Libraries Social Service Agencies Non Profits Museums Fire Departments Foundations Physical Space Gardens Parks Playgrounds Parking Lots Walking Paths Forests/Forest Preserves Picnic Areas Campsites Fishing Spots Stories Of background and personal history Of what you like to do and contribute Of existing and ongoing skills and capacities Of successful community development Of economic growth Of addressing discrimination Of including those who are marginalized Of recognizing the value of everyone Of a time when you or your group felt appreciated and valued Of a time the community was at its best Local Economy For-Profit Businesses Consumer Expenditures Merchants Chamber of Commerce Business Associations Banks Foundations Institutional-Purchasing Power and Personnel Micro enterprises Local Coops Corporations and Branches Animal Care Groups Anti Crime Groups Residents Assoc Business Organizations Charitable Groups Civic Events Groups Cultural Groups Education Groups Elderly Groups Environmental Groups Family Support Groups Health Advocacy and Fitness Groups Heritage Groups Hobby and Collectors Groups Men’s Groups Mentoring Groups Mutual Support Groups Neighborhood Improvement Groups Political Organizations Recreation Groups Religious Groups Service Clubs Social Groups Union Groups Women’s Groups Youth Groups Associations My Community Our Community

29. 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

30. Person Centered Work The move is from services to clients to supports for citizens Community Centered Work Inclusion

31. Social inclusion? Where it matters? Participation Friendship Intimacy Economic Exchange

32. Actually it takes a child to raise a village!

36. 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.

37. 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

38. 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.

39. 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

40. 1. What can you do with people power? Once There is a NEIGHBOURHOOD VISION…ask

41. 2. What can you do with help from outside agencies? What would that help look like?

42. 3. What do you need outside agencies to do unilaterally?

43. 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?

44. 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.

45. Thank you! Cormac Russell, Nurture Development Nurture Strengths UK +353 87 9280998 [email_address] www.nurturedevelopment.ie