An Economy of Abundance: Building Community from the Inside Out

A Familiar Story for Some David and Goliath

TWO DIFFERENT PATHS

Faith Community = Charity & Savior Charity is not the answer to poverty. It only helps poverty to continue. It creates dependency, takes away the individual’s initiatives to break through the wall of poverty. -Muhammad Yunus But, we keep doing charity because it makes us feel good and it’s relatively easy.

A different approach is needed... A bold approach that is based upon some core theological beliefs: The divine is at work everywhere. The image of God is present in every person. God is not done with any of us or with any of our communities. Love can bring hope in the worst situations.

An Assets-Based Approach Identifies and mobilizes the assets of individuals and institutions, especially those who are “clients” of social services. Builds relationships among community members and institutions, especially those that are mutually supportive. Gives community members more roles and power in local institutions. Citizens lead efforts!

Learning Individual Assets The first step

A “five loaves and two fish” mentality -Share Self first -Learning interviews - move beyond labels to see the gifts and hopes -EVERYONE has gifts, no exceptions -EVERYONE must share their gifts -Powerful communities create a place for people to share their gifts

gardening...listening...cooking....laughing....joking....a smile....a realistic view of the situation...good with money....good with a paintbrush....building a house...repairing a car...leading a band...cleaning a house....creativity....safety...an eye for talent...an eye for good art...time...storytelling...history recording...singing....administration....hospitality....visionin g....unclogging drains....electrician...plumber...fabric artist...teacher...friendship....yoga instruction....massage therapy....counseling...talking...knitting...dishwashing... SO.... WHAT ARE YOUR GIFTS? GIFTS OF THE HEART GIFTS OF THE HEAD GIFTS OF THE HANDS

The Mosaic Cross: Gifts from brokenness

Learning Conversations to Discover Motivation to Act Less Successful More Successful Start with the answer Start with learning conversations Recruit people to implement Discover what people care “the” answer about, how they see the situation, & what they Look for answers to the to offer additional problem of “lack of motivation” Mobilize assets to action

The Roving Listeners

- If you could do any project and not worry about money, what would you do and why? -What do you want to do right now at this season of our life? - Are you willing to help us interview others?

Discovering Institutional Assets: Organizational Asset Mapping

BUILDING ON STRENGTHS: INSTITUTIONS Identifying strengths within through group process and learning interviews “What do we care about?” “What do we have to offer?” Asset mapping within our organization Identifying community institutions/associations “What do they have to offer?” “What do they want?” One-on-One relationships inside and outside institutions around common issues

Goal of Community Development Go to the people Live among them Learn from them Love them Start with what they know Build on what they have; But of the best leaders when their task is done The people will remark “We have done it ourselves.”

How should we live together at in our faith community? Who’s at the table? Who has been left out? What’s the difference between our faith’s vision and our reality? What aren’t we doing that we should be doing? VISION OF COMMUNITY

Resources Building Communities from the Inside Out -McKnight, Kretzman - ACTA Asset Based Strategies for Faith Communities - ACTA (800) Power of Asset Mapping-How Congregation Can Act on its Gifts-Luther Snow; Alban Institute When People Care Enough to Act - Mike Green with Henry Moore & John O’Brien; Inclusion Press, 2006 ( Care Enoug