The document discusses strengths-based community development which focuses on identifying community assets rather than deficiencies. It promotes an approach called the "5 Ds Process" which involves discovering strengths, dreaming of possibilities, designing plans, defining resources, and delivering actions. The approach aims to empower communities by recognizing what they have rather than what they lack.

1. You can’t know what a community needs, until they first know what they have. C ormac Russell Fair Share Trust, CFN, April 2011.

2. people focused their attention on…. What can be done instead of what can’t be done What might be possible if rather than problems more than weaknesses

3. In the real world there are both strengths and needs So where is most practice focused? Where is most policy focused?

4. The Dilemma . . . Children and Families have deficiencies & needs Children and Families also have skills and talents On which should we focus most?

5. The 5 Ds Process of Strength Based Community Building D1- DISCOVER D2 - DREAM D3-DESIGN D1- We have done it before. D2 – We have a vision for our future. D3 – We agree on what could be done. D4 – We have a list of our resources to draw from. D5 – action plan & start implementing it. D5 – DELIVER/DO IT D4 -DEFINE

6. Transition from village communities to the money economy

7. Some see fluff .

9. 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)

11. Doing work the old way

12. SBA: processes with ownership

13. No matter how rich you are you have needs No matter how poor you are you have gifts

14. Stop pitting Assets against Needs Needs analysis, needs analysis But we cannot ignore needs

15. 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)

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

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

18. Hope for change…

20. 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. Community Building

23. Real change…

24. Our Solutions are often not fit for purpose

25. Addressing systems culture…..

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

27. Before you reap the harvest…..

30. 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

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

37. 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

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. 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

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

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

48. Spot the difference?

49. My Vision Kevin Russell

50. My Good Life Real friends A relationship like Cormac has A real job Enough money to do the things I like

51. 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

52. A new policy anyone? People are the Answer Programmes are the Answer Develop Potential ‘ Fix People’ See People as Citizens and Co-producers See People as Clients Development Maintenance Focus on communities/neighbourhoods Focus on Individuals Emphasis on Associations High Emphasis on Agencies Fewer Services More Services Grants, Loans, Investments, Leverage Grants to Agencies Investment Orientation Charity Orientation Opportunity Identification Problem Response Focus on Assets Focus on Deficiencies Why not also have a model that… Present Policy

54. Strengths-based Community Development Methodology Discovering Strengths Organizing & Mapping Linking and Mobilizing Community Driven Initiatives Sustaining the Process

55. Our Team-Principals Cormac Russell, CEO Nurture Development; international faculty member of the ABCD Institute. Jim Diers, author of ‘ Neighbor Power, Building Communities the Seattle Way ’; faculty member of the ABCD Institute and architect of the world renowned Department of Neighbourhoods in Seattle. Martin Simon, founding advisor, Timebanking UK, author of ‘Your Money or Your Life: Time for Both’.

56. Contact us We would be happy to discuss how Nurture Strengths UK can add value to your endeavours. Please contact: Cormac Russell +353 (87) 928 0998 or [email_address]