By the time this article gets published Christmas will be over with, but the season has brought some things to my attention. Maine residents are very good at coming together in small groups to help each other during the Christmas season or when someone is in need due to tragedy and illness. This tells me that we do care, but do not know what to do to keep this feeling going throughout the year. I think that the first thing we need to do is to realize what community is.
I believe that community is more than a group of people who live in a specific geographic location such as a neighborhood. A community consists of those same neighbors opening their eyes to really see who lives near them. When you do this you will notice the strengths and gifts that the neighbors have as well as any weaknesses or needs. Once you can see each other as a person with skills you can come together and work on common goals and overcome any weaknesses that you see.
I am still working on this aspect in my life. One way to begin the process is to opening up your home to your neighbors by holding a neighborhood barbeque or party and inviting everyone in the immediate neighborhood. If you cannot afford to supply all of the food or refreshments you can ask your guests to bring something so that you share each other’s cooking. Think about the families with children, and try to have activities that they can do so that they feel welcome. In the summer, if you have the room you could hold a community softball game. In the winter you could hold contests for the best snowman, or snow fort in the neighborhood. Anything that will bring neighbors together is good.
I would like to thank you all for taking the time to read my writing and invite you to comment on anything I say. You can email me at tedbessey@pathwaycrc.org. I usually post my writing at http://ted-growingtogether.blogspot.com/, so if you do not live in the neighborhood and would like to follow my writing you can do so there. I apologize in advance if it takes a while to publish my next article.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
What Do You Like About Newport?
Please take a moment to think about the question asked in the title. While you are thinking I will let you know just a few of the things that I like about Newport.
The first thing I like about Newport is that when there is a need the community comes together to fill the need. Guys & Gals, one of the hair salons in town is holding a benefit yard sale this month to raise money to help pay medical bills for one of the women who works there. When the Newport Historical Society and the Newport Library decided that they needed a new home they worked to raise the money for a new building. Many people, businesses and organizations were involved in this project.
The Sebasticook Valley Community Center has many programs for the children and the elderly in town. There is everything from summer day camps to different sports programs for the children and bingo games or “Meals on Wheels” for the elderly. They are in the process of getting approval to start a day care center right on their facility.
Pathway Community Church is opening a KidCare America Center at their facility. This is an after school mentoring program that will reach up to 20 children from kindergarten to fifth grade.
As I talk about what I like about Newport I can’t leave out the school system. Yes there are some things that need improvement but there is a lot going for the new RSU19. First off, the Middle Schools are doing a great job of introducing the technology our children need. The High School has many programs geared to draw the children into the classroom. There is Taxidermy, an Agricultural class and a great Audio/Video class. The RSU is also looking to the future. There is going to be a conference in early October called "Future Search" where many people will be invited to discover where the education of our children will be going in the next five or six years. The information gathered will then be used to strategically plan the future. This conference alone can be a key factor in building community in the Newport Region.
On the classroom side the RSU will be implementing “Response to Intervention” which looks at the educational level of each student and gears the lessons towards the individual. This will make sure that children who have a hard time in class can still learn without falling behind. It will also give a challenge to those who are at a more advanced level.
The Newport Community Food Bank is another great example of what a community working together can do to improve life for its neighbors. The food bank started out as an idea of the High Street Congregational Church. They were looking for a way for the congregation to help their neighbors. Fifteen years later it is an independent organization supported by many churches, organizations, businesses and individuals in the area. The food bank is fully staffed by volunteers only and serves between 30 and 50 families a week. They disburse food every Saturday starting at eight. The process is kept fair by a stringent application process so that those in most need are able to get food. They support not only the town of Newport, but Plymouth, Dixmont, Etna, and Palmyra as well.
Now let’s imagine what Newport would be like if everyone worked together as neighbors. More would be accomplished as it would be more than just a few key people working towards community.
The first thing I like about Newport is that when there is a need the community comes together to fill the need. Guys & Gals, one of the hair salons in town is holding a benefit yard sale this month to raise money to help pay medical bills for one of the women who works there. When the Newport Historical Society and the Newport Library decided that they needed a new home they worked to raise the money for a new building. Many people, businesses and organizations were involved in this project.
The Sebasticook Valley Community Center has many programs for the children and the elderly in town. There is everything from summer day camps to different sports programs for the children and bingo games or “Meals on Wheels” for the elderly. They are in the process of getting approval to start a day care center right on their facility.
Pathway Community Church is opening a KidCare America Center at their facility. This is an after school mentoring program that will reach up to 20 children from kindergarten to fifth grade.
As I talk about what I like about Newport I can’t leave out the school system. Yes there are some things that need improvement but there is a lot going for the new RSU19. First off, the Middle Schools are doing a great job of introducing the technology our children need. The High School has many programs geared to draw the children into the classroom. There is Taxidermy, an Agricultural class and a great Audio/Video class. The RSU is also looking to the future. There is going to be a conference in early October called "Future Search" where many people will be invited to discover where the education of our children will be going in the next five or six years. The information gathered will then be used to strategically plan the future. This conference alone can be a key factor in building community in the Newport Region.
On the classroom side the RSU will be implementing “Response to Intervention” which looks at the educational level of each student and gears the lessons towards the individual. This will make sure that children who have a hard time in class can still learn without falling behind. It will also give a challenge to those who are at a more advanced level.
The Newport Community Food Bank is another great example of what a community working together can do to improve life for its neighbors. The food bank started out as an idea of the High Street Congregational Church. They were looking for a way for the congregation to help their neighbors. Fifteen years later it is an independent organization supported by many churches, organizations, businesses and individuals in the area. The food bank is fully staffed by volunteers only and serves between 30 and 50 families a week. They disburse food every Saturday starting at eight. The process is kept fair by a stringent application process so that those in most need are able to get food. They support not only the town of Newport, but Plymouth, Dixmont, Etna, and Palmyra as well.
Now let’s imagine what Newport would be like if everyone worked together as neighbors. More would be accomplished as it would be more than just a few key people working towards community.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
What Can I Do?
For those who have been following my blog and have asked yourself this question the answer is simple. Just reach out to your neighbors and see where you and they have a common cause while learning each other’s skills and assets. For those in the Newport, Maine area who would like to work with me on this I would like to meet with you and your neighbors.I can be reached at tedbessey@pathwaycrc.org, or you can leave a message at (207)368-9977 Ext. 5. Some ways that we can all get to know our neighbors better is to invite some of them over for a cookout or back yard ball game. Whatever you think they will be interested in. You can start with one neighbor and ask them over for coffee or dinner. I think that even in the state of Maine where neighbors sometimes try to be independent and self sufficient we all need other people to help us and are just too proud to ask.We are all stronger and more empowered while working together trying to reach acommon goal.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Community Development in a Rural Town
I am by no means an expert on Community Development in a rural town, but I have been successful in reaching out and making contact with people with the same vision that I have for Newport, Maine. When I returned from “The Power of With” conference I had a few ideas. I started out realizing that one on one contact with our neighbors would not work due to the fact that others use that process to push their ideals and the neighbors at best will just say “I’m not interested.” Usually they will close the door in your face. I started out looking for people who are working with the youth as they were our original focus when our team started. I contacted the high school Principle, Community Center Director, and Cultural Center Director and they were all perceptive and open to Asset Based Community Development. It ties right in with their missions. We are still in the early stages of growth so there are no major initiatives in the process. I went to one of the local trade shows and met many people who are interested in Community Development. The Chamber of Commerce Executive Director was very interested and asked for an article for their news letter. I will be making presentations to the Chamber later in the fall.
Another plus for promoting Community Development is the Community Consolidation Asset Mapping Process (CCAMP) which we have purchased a license for through the Communities First Foundation who purchased the umbrella license. This shows a tangible means to document and utilize not only the skills and assets of the individual neighbors of the community, but the organizations, institutions, and businesses in the area.
The most important thing to remember is that you need to start small and think of the overall vision as the ultimate goal. If you try to go too fast you can get frustrated and fall into the “Service” mindset which limits the possibilities for the neighborhood. When building your teams you do not want to restrict yourself to the business and organizational leaders, but use those contacts to reach out to the community to invite natural leaders that have the same vision that you have. They are the ones who live in the community and know where to start in the Asset Mapping process. After you get your team established you can use CCAMP to develop your plan for your first initiative. You must always remember to look at each individual as an asset with skills and try to overlook their perceived weaknesses. This will not only empower them and their community but will bring you in as a neighbor and a friend, not just someone trying to bring their own ideas into the area.
Another plus for promoting Community Development is the Community Consolidation Asset Mapping Process (CCAMP) which we have purchased a license for through the Communities First Foundation who purchased the umbrella license. This shows a tangible means to document and utilize not only the skills and assets of the individual neighbors of the community, but the organizations, institutions, and businesses in the area.
The most important thing to remember is that you need to start small and think of the overall vision as the ultimate goal. If you try to go too fast you can get frustrated and fall into the “Service” mindset which limits the possibilities for the neighborhood. When building your teams you do not want to restrict yourself to the business and organizational leaders, but use those contacts to reach out to the community to invite natural leaders that have the same vision that you have. They are the ones who live in the community and know where to start in the Asset Mapping process. After you get your team established you can use CCAMP to develop your plan for your first initiative. You must always remember to look at each individual as an asset with skills and try to overlook their perceived weaknesses. This will not only empower them and their community but will bring you in as a neighbor and a friend, not just someone trying to bring their own ideas into the area.
What Is Asset Based Community Development (ABCD)?
• Before I begin to answer that question I have a few questions I would like for you to think about.
• How long have you been in Newport?
• What do you like about your neighborhood?
• If you had a magic wand and could have whatever you want, what would you change in your neighborhood?
• What skills do you have that you can use to help bring this change about?
• If others had a similar vision would you be willing to work with them to make the changes?
Traditional service to the community relied on finding out what was needed in the community and trying to fulfill that need. An example of this is to go into a neighborhood and finding that the youth need something to do for recreation. From there you would go and raise money to build a community center. The problem with this is that the youth may not want to utilize the community center as they have no ownership of the project and feel that there are too many rules.
With ABCD you go into the community, preferably as someone who lives there and has an interest in making a difference. You would then talk to the youth and find out the answers to the above questions. After you find these answers you would research what needs to be done to fulfill the vision and work with the youth to come up with a plan to bring it about. This not only gives them ownership of the project, but it also empowers them as they realize that they have skills that they can use to make a difference in their own lives and in the community as a whole.
To further explain ABCD we have to realize that today’s programs have a tendency to label people we perceive as being in need. We label people as disabled, poor, welfare recipient, etc. What we have to remember is that every person that society has labeled has skills that they can use to make a difference in their own lives. ABCD finds these skills and brings them out. We are promoting “Community” which is a group of individuals working together for the common good.
ABCD addresses the needs of the community by looking at the skills and working together “WITH” our neighbors to make positive changes. It doesn’t ignore the needs, but addresses the reasons for the needs and helps eliminate those reasons. This makes social and economic changes for the better and everyone benefits, not just those we perceive as being in need.
Pathway Community Church through the Pathway Community Development Team would like to partner with the town of Newport, businesses, churches, associations, and institutions in the region to develop community.
The Pathway Community Church is currently involved in the Community Connection Asset Mapping Process to track the skills and assets in the community and use this information to work with our partners to plan initiatives of change. For more information contact Ted Bessey: tedbessey@pathwaycrc.org, Ph: 207-368-9977
• How long have you been in Newport?
• What do you like about your neighborhood?
• If you had a magic wand and could have whatever you want, what would you change in your neighborhood?
• What skills do you have that you can use to help bring this change about?
• If others had a similar vision would you be willing to work with them to make the changes?
Traditional service to the community relied on finding out what was needed in the community and trying to fulfill that need. An example of this is to go into a neighborhood and finding that the youth need something to do for recreation. From there you would go and raise money to build a community center. The problem with this is that the youth may not want to utilize the community center as they have no ownership of the project and feel that there are too many rules.
With ABCD you go into the community, preferably as someone who lives there and has an interest in making a difference. You would then talk to the youth and find out the answers to the above questions. After you find these answers you would research what needs to be done to fulfill the vision and work with the youth to come up with a plan to bring it about. This not only gives them ownership of the project, but it also empowers them as they realize that they have skills that they can use to make a difference in their own lives and in the community as a whole.
To further explain ABCD we have to realize that today’s programs have a tendency to label people we perceive as being in need. We label people as disabled, poor, welfare recipient, etc. What we have to remember is that every person that society has labeled has skills that they can use to make a difference in their own lives. ABCD finds these skills and brings them out. We are promoting “Community” which is a group of individuals working together for the common good.
ABCD addresses the needs of the community by looking at the skills and working together “WITH” our neighbors to make positive changes. It doesn’t ignore the needs, but addresses the reasons for the needs and helps eliminate those reasons. This makes social and economic changes for the better and everyone benefits, not just those we perceive as being in need.
Pathway Community Church through the Pathway Community Development Team would like to partner with the town of Newport, businesses, churches, associations, and institutions in the region to develop community.
The Pathway Community Church is currently involved in the Community Connection Asset Mapping Process to track the skills and assets in the community and use this information to work with our partners to plan initiatives of change. For more information contact Ted Bessey: tedbessey@pathwaycrc.org, Ph: 207-368-9977
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
The Power of "WITH"
Some of you might be wondering about the strange title. It was the name of a conference that I went to at the end of February. The Christian Reformed Church and many of it's member organizations sponsored this conference to promote working "WITH" the community you are in. What exactly does this mean? Most people especially churches and other civic organizations still look at the poor as "them" and the well off as "us". This view promotes the idea that we have to help the poor and we know exactly how we are going to do it. By having this attitude not only do we do a disservice to those we are trying to help as it promotes both the attitude of dependency and a sense of entitlement. It does nothing to solve the core reasons behind the poverty. The Power of "WITH" promotes going out into the community and learning each others skills and gifts. We walk amongst those we are "helping" and become their friends and true neighbors. This empowers all of us to become better people and to make the changes needed to improve our own lot in life. I personally see this as a way to reduce poverty by showing the skills we all have to go out and make jobs as well as fill existing jobs that are already in place. By working with our neighbors we focus on finding the natural leaders in the community and work with them to make the changes they feel are needed to make life better. This not only works on an individual level, but organizational as well. My previous blogs touch on this part so I will not go into too much detail. I am opening the blog up to the public. All I ask is that if you make a comment please try to think of ways to implement this process not only in your own community but in others as well.
Thank You,
Ted
Thank You,
Ted
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