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
Sunday, December 7, 2008
The Genesis Project
The following is a rough draft of the beginning of a presentation of the Genesis Project. Your input is welcome. As you may notice, I have incorporated information from my last blog.
What is the Genesis Project?
The Genesis Project is a Christian organization that is striving to follow in Jesus Christ’s footsteps by going out into the community to not only see the needs of those around us, but to also try and lessen those needs. We are striving to demonstrate the love of Christ in both words and deeds.
(Matthew 4:23) And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Our Vision-
To mobilize the people, churches, community & civic organizations of the Newport region to transform their community through mercy, development and justice.
How are we going to fulfill this vision?
By partnering with these same people and organizations to find what skills and assets are in the community and develop a plan to organize what we have already going for us into a cohesive community development plan.
What are we looking for?
A. What social organizations are in the area, and what services are they already providing.
Ex. Churches, Veteran Groups, etc.
B. What businesses are in the area, and how they plan to work towards a better local economy.
1. What products are being provided?
2. What economic service do they provide?
3. Are they willing to start an apprenticeship program?
C. What Educational Assets do we have, both for our children and for adults?
D. What are the municipal assets and is it possible for citizens to supplement in a crisis?
1. Police, Fire, Communications, etc.
E. What are our food supply assets, and distribution methods?
F. What are the medical assets, and is there a plan for emergencies in the event that the community is cut out of the State and National web.
G. Individuals who have skills and want to use these skills to build a better community.
The Genesis Project is more than a data collection and storage project. We were formed from one mothers need to provide something for her teenagers to do to keep them out of trouble, and her pastor’s desire to fulfill Jesus’ command to love God, love your neighbors and go out and make disciples. The Genesis project is Pathway Community Church’s answer to the command to love your neighbors. One of our short term goals is to develop an after school program for families who need it.
What is the Genesis Project?
The Genesis Project is a Christian organization that is striving to follow in Jesus Christ’s footsteps by going out into the community to not only see the needs of those around us, but to also try and lessen those needs. We are striving to demonstrate the love of Christ in both words and deeds.
(Matthew 4:23) And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Our Vision-
To mobilize the people, churches, community & civic organizations of the Newport region to transform their community through mercy, development and justice.
How are we going to fulfill this vision?
By partnering with these same people and organizations to find what skills and assets are in the community and develop a plan to organize what we have already going for us into a cohesive community development plan.
What are we looking for?
A. What social organizations are in the area, and what services are they already providing.
Ex. Churches, Veteran Groups, etc.
B. What businesses are in the area, and how they plan to work towards a better local economy.
1. What products are being provided?
2. What economic service do they provide?
3. Are they willing to start an apprenticeship program?
C. What Educational Assets do we have, both for our children and for adults?
D. What are the municipal assets and is it possible for citizens to supplement in a crisis?
1. Police, Fire, Communications, etc.
E. What are our food supply assets, and distribution methods?
F. What are the medical assets, and is there a plan for emergencies in the event that the community is cut out of the State and National web.
G. Individuals who have skills and want to use these skills to build a better community.
The Genesis Project is more than a data collection and storage project. We were formed from one mothers need to provide something for her teenagers to do to keep them out of trouble, and her pastor’s desire to fulfill Jesus’ command to love God, love your neighbors and go out and make disciples. The Genesis project is Pathway Community Church’s answer to the command to love your neighbors. One of our short term goals is to develop an after school program for families who need it.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Asset Mapping as a Tool
It has been a while since my last post so I decided to try to organize my thoughts on the whole process. I have started working with Pathway Community Church in Newport on the Genesis Project which they are sponsoring. The Genesis Project is doing a Community Asset Map of the town and we will be working on some of the things that I have been writing about. We handed out a survey to collect information on individual gifts that people are willing to use to better the community. We will then compile the information and use the information along with information from further surveys to develop a plan to use our assets.
I was thinking that along with what the Genesis project is doing there needs to be a broader base Asset Map performed to map the following.
A. What social organizations are in the area, and what services are they already providing.
Ex. Churches, Veteran Groups, etc.
B. What businesses are in the area, and how they plan to work towards a better local economy.
1. What products are being provided?
2. What economic service do they provide?
3. Are they willing to start an apprenticeship program?
C. What Educational Assets do we have, both for our children and for adults?
D. What are the municipal assets and is it possible for citizens to supplement in a crisis?
1. Police, Fire, Communications, etc.
E. What are our food supply assets, and distribution methods?
F. What are the medical assets, and is there a plan for emergencies in the event that the community is cut out of the State and National web.
After collecting the information and generating our Asset Map we need to organize all of our assets and work together and not independent from each other to make the town, county, and state more independent from the world economic and social web. We do not want to isolate ourselves, just be prepared in the event that the current syst
I was thinking that along with what the Genesis project is doing there needs to be a broader base Asset Map performed to map the following.
A. What social organizations are in the area, and what services are they already providing.
Ex. Churches, Veteran Groups, etc.
B. What businesses are in the area, and how they plan to work towards a better local economy.
1. What products are being provided?
2. What economic service do they provide?
3. Are they willing to start an apprenticeship program?
C. What Educational Assets do we have, both for our children and for adults?
D. What are the municipal assets and is it possible for citizens to supplement in a crisis?
1. Police, Fire, Communications, etc.
E. What are our food supply assets, and distribution methods?
F. What are the medical assets, and is there a plan for emergencies in the event that the community is cut out of the State and National web.
After collecting the information and generating our Asset Map we need to organize all of our assets and work together and not independent from each other to make the town, county, and state more independent from the world economic and social web. We do not want to isolate ourselves, just be prepared in the event that the current syst
Sunday, May 18, 2008
The Real Beginning
Good morning everyone. This is the real beginning of our journey together. As you read this Blog please feel free to discuss it with any one you feel would be interested in working with us on this project. If they feel like it is something worth working on please ask if it is OK to pass their email address to me. I will then add them to the permissions list.
This is a nation with a feeling of entitlement. To fulfill our goal of making this a better community we not only have to work together on our current community service projects, but we also need to work together to find the source of all of the social, economic, and educational issues. To do this the Churches, Schools, Small Business Associations, and our local governments need to get together and research these issues. I believe that everyone, including the Veterans organizations have something to offer in this respect. We will need to find the right people within these organizations to help coordinate our efforts so that we are not working against each other or duplicating efforts. This is a small portion of what I feel is needed to make this community self sufficient in the event of a breakdown in either the global economy, or our central government. I believe that if we Start in our local economy we can work our way out to neighboring communities and eventually out into the rest of the state. Have a good day.
This is a nation with a feeling of entitlement. To fulfill our goal of making this a better community we not only have to work together on our current community service projects, but we also need to work together to find the source of all of the social, economic, and educational issues. To do this the Churches, Schools, Small Business Associations, and our local governments need to get together and research these issues. I believe that everyone, including the Veterans organizations have something to offer in this respect. We will need to find the right people within these organizations to help coordinate our efforts so that we are not working against each other or duplicating efforts. This is a small portion of what I feel is needed to make this community self sufficient in the event of a breakdown in either the global economy, or our central government. I believe that if we Start in our local economy we can work our way out to neighboring communities and eventually out into the rest of the state. Have a good day.
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