Community Asset Mapping J.R. Roush & Shane Shope Ohio University

Contrasting orientations to thinking about communities and schools Resource versus asset Extraction versus capacity-building

INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY ASSET MAP –(15 MINUTES). Exercise: INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY ASSET MAP –(15 MINUTES). *DRAW A MAP OF YOUR COMMUNITY & IDENTIFY ALL OF THE ASSETS--e.g., a historic site, a wetlands. Roush

JOT DOWN AN INSIGHT YOU GAINED FROM YOUR PERSONAL MAP TO SHARE WITH A SMALL GROUP e.g., a new business is owned by an alumnus of your district (2 MINUTES)

COMMUNITY MAP DISCUSSION- SMALL GROUPS OF 4 (15 MINUTES). * Individuals will share their insight with the group and discuss commonalities, differences.

SMALL GROUPS PLEASE SHARE SOME “AHA SMALL GROUPS PLEASE SHARE SOME “AHA!” MOMENTS WITH THE ENTIRE GROUP (10-15 MINUTES).

Community Asset Mapping Identified key community components Listed human assets and created categories Provided a listing of Churches in the districts Identified physical resources/ assets Located all assets on GIS map of county Provided census data Shope

Deficit based thinking: Highland County Has the highest unemployment rate in Ohio as of 12/1/09 through current 1/15/10 Currently 4th highest teen pregnancy rate in Ohio and has historically either had the highest or one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in Ohio. Casualty of approximately 10,000 jobs lost through DHL alone. Roush

Census data Mowrystown- major town in the Bright Local District (2 post secondary degrees in the entire town). 1 associates degree/ 1 B.A. (9.7% in Highland County –Ohio 21.1%) 36.7% drop out rate (WHS currently 3.4%) 39.4% unemployment (age 16 and older) Roush

Lynchburg-Clay & Bright Local Schools Highland County 3 buildings: LC Elementary (PK-5), LC Middle School (6-8), LC High School (9-12) Enrolment- 1347 ED %-45-50% SWD %-12% Bright Highland County 2 buildings: Bright Elementary (PK-6), Whiteoak Jr/Sr High School (7-12) Enrollment- 811 ED – 60-65% SWD -14% Shope

Asset Based Thinking www.brightlocalschools.com Learn and Serve Grant- http://www.learnandserveohio.org/ OACHE Grant- http://www.oache.org/ Roush

Human resources and local knowledge Roush

COMMUNITY PLANNING DAY-S.T.A.R. LAB Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources & Soil and Water Conservation coordinating efforts with students, parents and staff to design the outdoor classroom. Roush

BRIGHT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT MAP Know the diversity in your district and the resources. Give keen attention to the resources and or obstacles placed in front of your customers Roush

Lynchburg-Clay & Bright Local Schools Shope

Asset Map Key White Map Pins- Church Black Map Pins- Kin/ Advocates Red Map Pins- Services(agencies- non government) Green Map Pins- Business Blue Map Pins- Government Bulls eye- School Building Black Bulls-eye – County Seat (Hillsboro) Major towns Shope

Community Asset Mapping/Placed Based Education- Web Sources hhttp://srdc.msstate.edu/publications/227/2 27_asset_mapping.pdf ttp://outreach.msu.edu/bpbriefs/issues/brief 4.pdf http://extension.missouri.edu/about/fy00- 03/assetmapping.htm http://backspace.com/notes/2004- 2006/what -is-asset-mapping.php http://www.bonner.org/resoureces/modules/ modules_pdf/BonCurCommAssetMap.pdg Shope

Place-Based Education http://www.promiseofplace.org http://www.peecworks.org/PEEC/Benefits_of_ PBE-PEEC_2008_web.pdf

Suggested implications Regardless of your perception the focus should be on LOCAL capacities to solve problems. Joint venture – Schools (YOU) and the community (?) Relationship Driven – Develop, Maintain and Renew!!!!!!! Remember this key “the glass is always half full” – Communities have capacities and gifts. Shope