Building Community « Communities First Association

Ask, Listen…ACT!

March 5, 2012 Leave a comment

Jay Van Groningen

Talk is action…it’s not cheap. How do you see your role in the story of your neighborhood? What would you improve about your street? If resources were unlimited, what is the first area you would address? What about your neighborhood keeps you up at night? How would you describe a good neighbor? A great neighbor?

Start with questions not answers, one of the many principles of Asset Based Community Development discussed on February 24th and 25th at a recent CFA training in Minneapolis, MN. Facilitators Jay Van Groningen and George Montoya spent two days with 18 participants presenting practical and powerful methods of ABCD as an approach to effective community development work. Participants included neighbors, nonprofit workers, church leaders, professors, agency leaders, and others seeking to develop more connected and engaged local communities. Topics covered included:

Twin Cities Training at Calvary Church in inner city Minneapolis.

Methods to discover individuals’ gifts and their voluntary associations, including churches.
How to build more community engagement and involvement.
Approaches to sustain community organizations and leaders.
Ideas for building successful agency-resident partnerships.
Finding and mobilizing organizational and community assets.
Practical ways to expand social networks and local connections.

In addition to covering the fundamental principles of taking ABCD and community building and organizing into action, the trainers and participants spent time dreaming and believing together. See CFA events page for upcoming training opportunities.

ABCD training activity

Filed under Asset Based Community Development, Asset Based Community Development, General Stories, Neighborhood Transformation Tagged with ABCD, Asset Based Community Development, Building Community, Building Relationships, Community Development, Community Leaders, Northeast Community Transformation, Training, Training Leaders

Asset Based Community Development: Vision Begins With Listening

March 2, 2012 Leave a comment

ABCD asks “What can this community do itself to achieve its own goals and dreams?”

ABCD is a practice of engaging citizens in the things that can affect them! It involves finding out, through listening and asking, “What do you really care about? ABCD engages “learning conversations” to discover what neighbors care enough to act upon.

ABCD adds community development to individual development in order to effect sustainable, long-lasting change. Community mobilization uses learning conversations, the discovery of “motivation to act” and a connector/leader to bring all of the resources together.

Filed under Asset Based Community Development, Asset Based Community Development, Developing a Community Vision, General Stories, Neighborhood Transformation, Stories Tagged with ABCD, Asset Based Community Development, Building Community, Building Relationships, Community Development, Community Leaders, Community Listening, Gifts

Asset Based Community Development: A Story of Sharing

February 27, 2012 Leave a comment

Kimi Zimmerman–Community enCompass

What is ABCD?

It’s simple really. At its best, Asset Based Community Development comes out in life stories.

Take Linda for example. I honestly don’t know much about her. She’s a retired nurse and new to the McLaughlin neighborhood. Judging by her kind disposition, I’d venture to say she was the kind of nurse that people remembered and wanted to thank because she made an unpleasant doctor or hospital visit more bearable.

I met Linda one day at Sacred Suds. She wasn’t doing laundry or showering. Instead, she was taking blood pressure for neighbors that were using the facility. She wasn’t doing it for money or in any official capacity. She was doing it because she cares about her community. She was doing it because she has a passion for people and for nursing. It’s in her DNA. She has a God-given gift and she can’t help but use it.

This is ABCD - neighbors using their gifts and talents to enrich, change, help, care for, and love the community they are a part of. Neighbors like Linda. But the story doesn’t end there. Linda used her own blood pressure equipment, but found she didn’t have the right size cuff for some of the neighbors. Another neighbor heard about it and contacted a local agency to see how they could go about getting a larger cuff. When the agency heard about the volunteer work Linda was doing at Sacred, they couldn’t help but support the cause and donate the equipment. ABCD is contagious!

This is a simple story about one person doing good by sharing her gifts with her neighbors.

What is ABCD? It’s neighbors sharing the best parts of themselves to help build a stronger community.

Filed under Betterment to Development, Community Organizing, General Stories, Neighborhood Transformation, Stories, Uncategorized Tagged with ABCD, Asset Based Community Development, Building Community, Building Relationships, Community enCompass, Community Leaders, Gifts, Kimi Zimmerman

Crisis and Community: Neighbor Gives Back

February 23, 2012 Leave a comment

Judy Van Dyke–Good Samaritan Ministries

Antonio has lived in Holland, MI for seven years and lives in the Westcore Neighborhood with his 11 year-old son, Marvin.

This fall, Antonio was wrongfully evicted from his apartment when the house in which he was a tenant went into foreclosure. This caused a great deal of turmoil in Antonio’s life as he had to scramble to pack up his and his son’s possessions and find a new place to live, while keeping the rest of his life in balance. When the foreclosing bank was notified that Antonio had been wrongfully evicted, they offered financial compensation to Antonio with the condition that he remove all the personal property on the premises in less than 5 days! He had neither the time nor the means to do this huge task but was willing to do whatever it took to get those funds into the neighborhood. So with his cooperation, and help from a local pastor and realtor, a group of neighbors and friends, 2 trips to the dump were made with all the debris. Within a few days Antonio had a check from the bank. ALL OF THIS WAS DONE BY THE COMMUNITY IN A WEEK, WORKING TOGETHER!

What did he do with the money? He gave most of it ($1,200) to Nuestra Casa!!!

Why would he do this!?! Antonio recalled a very difficult time of his life. He had recently been divorced, and was going through an emotional roller coaster ride. He was brought to his knees. When he looked up, Antonio realized that God had waited until he was crying out in anguish before showing up in his life.

Since that moment, Antonio has grown in his love of God, his neighbors and many friends. This unexpected windfall to him was one way he could give back to the community, and he is happy to do it.

(Excerpts taken from the Nuestra Casa blog)

http://nuestracasathegatheringplace.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/antonio-teran-giving-back-to-the-community/

Good Samaritan Ministries works with the Westcore Neighborhood group to do community transformation in the center city of Holland. We had the privilege of hearing Antonio’s story when he came to GSM with a neighbor and their Community Connector to give us his donation. Nuestra Casa is a vacant house that the neighbors are renovating into a community center. Antonio’s compassion and generosity is a great example of how neighbors in the Westcore area value their community and care for each other.

Filed under Betterment to Development, Community Betterment, General Stories, Neighborhood Transformation, Stories Tagged with ABCD, Asset Based Community Development, Building Community, Building Relationships, Civic Engagement, Community Development, Community Leaders, Good Samaritan Ministries, Judy Van Dyke

Neighborhood Leading with LaDeitra

February 20, 2012 Leave a comment

Rebecca Lujan Loveless–POLIS Institute

The Community Center at The Palms Trailer Park bustled with life on a recent cool Saturday morning. This was unusual because up until that week the trailer that housed the Community Center was only open Monday through Friday. This Saturday, the neighborhood residents came in and out, using the computers, sitting to chat with a neighbor over a cup of coffee and I felt a deep sense of gratitude for the spirit of “togetherness” that was in this overlooked but much under-rated community.

The Palms Trailer Park is located between two highways on Orange Blossom Trail – “OBT” as it is affectionately referred to. OBT is notorious for the business of buying and selling women. So whenever I tell people where my office is located – in a trailer park on OBT- I am generally met with some kind of a joke about “working the Trail.” And while my work involves befriending women who do, in fact, “work the Trail,” it involves listening to the hopes and concerns of other people too: the former inmate who is unemployable because of his past, the older woman who has never worked a day in her life because of her crippling disabilities, and the young single mom who is passionate about her children having a chance to succeed in ways she never was given.

Recently, I have become friends with a young, single mom who has taught me so much about determination and a quiet patience. LaDeitra is curious and funny. She is hopeful yet cautious. She leads people with ease and yet is hesitant about being called a “leader.” She cares about her neighborhood and wants to be a part of creating a place where her kids can play safely, where she knows her neighbors well enough to understand their needs.

When I first met her at the Community Center she was shy and quiet. She would come in to use the computers and then leave as quietly as she came in. But over time she began to pick up on some of the conversations that were happening around her. As people would come in to the Community Center we would talk about their ideas about how to improve the neighborhood. She began to be curious. Eventually LaDeitra started contributing to these informal conversations. Finally, after several months of listening and observing she asked if she could come to the weekly meeting for our volunteer Hosts of the Community Center. Once LaDeitra was trained as a Community Center Host there was no stopping her. She began talking to her neighbors and listening to them dream about “what could be” in the neighborhood. She convenes people for Neighborhood Meetings and it was her organization and determination that allowed the center to start opening on Saturdays.

The work of Asset Based Community Development can be very lonely. Am I the only one that thinks this neighborhood is great? Does everyone [including the residents that live here] think this place is a joke? These are admittedly my dismal thoughts on days when I feel heavy-laden with the reality of generational poverty. But LaDeitra reminds me, “Things take time.” She reminds me that there are others that care about this forgotten part of our city. She confirms my deep suspicion that when the talents of the poor are properly engaged, well-being improves. She engages my talents of leadership and organization and in turn allows me, even invites me, to engage her talents to influence her neighbors towards change.

Each Saturday, if you stop by The Palms Trailer Park, you will see LaDeitra with her notebook open, listening to the dreams of her neighbors. She writes them down, showing that what her neighbors have to say is important. She talks to others about these ideas and invites people to find ways to empower them. LaDeitra is hesitant to be called a “leader” and yet, each week she leads me to believe that change –even in the most unlikely place- is possible.

Filed under Betterment to Development, Community Betterment, Community Organizing, General Stories, Neighborhood Transformation, Stories Tagged with ABCD, Asset Based Community Development, Building Community, Building Relationships, Civic Engagement, Community Development, Community Leaders, polis institute, Rebecca Lujan Loveless

Success Empowers Neighbors

February 17, 2012 Leave a comment

Eric Smith–Think Tank, Inc. and Springfield Promise Neighborhood

The neighborhood work in the Lincoln area began with the planning for the launch of the Springfield Promise Neighborhood (SPN) initiative. It was decided that there should be an event held on the grounds of the partner school, Lincoln Elementary, that would get children, youth, and families out and being “community” together while connecting with the local school. The planning for the event was done in partnership with neighborhood residents. The event was successful, drawing 300 people for a festive day of food, games, and family activities. Later, the event would come to be called PromiseFest.

The group of residents, feeling empowered by the success of their first venture working together, continued to meet and plan other community events, such as a Christmas Banquet, a Spaghetti Dinner, and a Spring Fling Cookout. In the course of their journey together, the group decided to take steps toward becoming an official Neighborhood Association.

Once school was back in session, the Neighborhood Association began to plan for a second annual PromiseFest. The second annual PromiseFest proved to be an even greater success than the first, and drew out 13 community organizations to provide educational and support services to the families that attended the event.

Importantly, holding a second annual event proved to the residents that they had the staying power necessary to inspire change over the long haul. It was also a significant event because it was held in front of the school garden, which was another program of the residents in the community that had been developed in the preceding year.

Filed under Betterment to Development, Developing a Community Vision, General Stories, Neighborhood Transformation, Stories Tagged with ABCD, Asset Based Community Development, Building Community, Building Relationships, Civic Engagement, Community Development, Community Leaders, Eric Smith, Inc., Springfield Promise Neighborhood, Think Tank

The “Dignity” Store

February 16, 2012 Leave a comment

Clark Blakeman– Second Stories

Five kids ranging from 8 to 3 years old came rolling out of the metal door on a small building across the parking lot from the neighborhood church, a mother chasing behind. Rapidly fired words mixed with giggles, package shaking, and directionless walking made the mom’s work of corralling the kids difficult. But she was in a great mood and full of smiles. She gathered up all the gifts she had just bought and wrapped with new friends from the church while her kids played games and made gifts for mom out of construction paper and glue. In her limited English she expressed her thanks and hugs were given to everyone as the family made their way to the bus stop. She seemed to especially cherish a framed family portrait that she received as a gift from a photographer from the church who had set up inside the Dignity Christmas Store.

During the month of December a low-income apartment complex and a local church worked together, facilitated by Second Stories, to create the Dignity Christmas Store. This effort is an expression of a growing understanding of Asset Based Community Development and the relationship developing between the congregation and the residents of the apartments.

The idea had three objectives. One was to support apartment residents who could not afford to purchase Christmas gifts and preserve their dignity in the process. To do this they developed a Christmas tree lot fundraiser that would enable gifts to be purchased and offered at a 90 percent discount from retail. Attending to the lot was shared by many. In this way the low-income residents would experience the dignity of purchasing gifts themselves rather than being demoralized by an “adopt a poor family for the holidays” approach.

Another goal was to further develop relationships between church members and apartment residents. They achieved this by sequencing each family’s shopping opportunity and pacing it so there was plenty of time for just hanging out. They wrapped gifts together, and sat for conversation over hot chocolate, coffee and snacks. Kids played foosball, made gifts or colored. Families were each offered the opportunity to get a family portrait, which was developed and framed while the parents shopped.

The third aim, and perhaps most important, was to listen for the gifts, abilities and passions of each other so as to discern what additional ways these two groups can work together for the common good of their neighborhood. Informal questions were developed and asked, designed to reveal motivations and assets to be given. Ideas were generated and new possibilities for working together have begun to emerge. Ideas were gleaned, like working to have sidewalks installed along the apartment complex that butts up against the neighborhoods’ busiest street, offering credit for use at the Dignity Store for anyone who volunteers at the tree lot, increasing the quality of snacks at the Dignity Store by utilizing the multi-ethnic foods represented at the apartments, and doing a jointly hosted international dinner at the local park.

This coalition of “workers for the common good” is young and still somewhat tentative. But already the quality of life for both church members and apartment residents is at a higher level due to the environment of dignity and inclusion being fostered. This is about healthy relationships on the small and larger neighborhood scale. And as the mother of 5 can attest, that’s exactly what’s being experienced in SE Portland.

Filed under Betterment to Development, Community Betterment, Developing a Community Vision, General Stories, Neighborhood Transformation, Stories Tagged with ABCD, Asset Based Community Development, Building Community, Building Relationships, Church Involvement, Clark Blakeman, Community Development, Gifts, Second Stories

ABCD: Neighbors Influence the Next Generation

February 15, 2012 1 Comment

Eric Smith–Think Tank, Inc. and Springfield Promise Neighborhood

I met George Young at the Springfield Promise Neighborhood Kickoff and Community Celebration, the first community event planned alongside residents, nearly one year ago. It turns out that George is a long-time resident of the Lincoln Neighborhood. As part of the listening process, I met with George for a one-on-one learning conversation.

It quickly became evident that George was interested in seeing the ethic of responsible fatherhood integrated into the fabric of his neighborhood. He also had a clear passion for developing the character of the youth of his community. However, George did not have an opportunity to exercise his gifts and passions.

I therefore invited George to attend a leadership training series on the principles of Asset-Based Community Development. Through the training, George’s vision crystalized. Another of the attendees, as it turned out, had a similar interest. So following the training, George invited a select group of his neighbors, also long-time residents of the neighborhood, as well as his colleague from the training, to a meeting.

The neighbors quickly decided that they could accomplish the corporate desire that they all had to impact others if they formed into an organized group. The initial meeting has led to the birth of the Lincoln Neighborhood POPS Club. The Club has been connected to Urban Light Ministries, the responsible fatherhood initiative in Springfield, to provide stability as needed.

As their first project, the Club leaders have worked to establish a safety patrol program at Lincoln Elementary. Though very much needed, Lincoln Elementary has not had a safety patrol program for many years.

What is inspiring and transformational about this story is the fact that now a core group of neighbors is more alive because they are able to give of their gifts and experience to influence the next generation. Even as they are becoming more alive and aware, they are instilling pride in the 16 youth that are part of the safety patrol. The patrol is quickly becoming an opportunity to nurture good character, self-regulation, and aspirational thinking in the lives of a select group of youth.

What was lacking before was merely the vision to see the gifts and dreams that connected the neighbors to each other and the Club to the youth. Imagine now what other opportunities exist just around the corner in a neighborhood of over 4,500 neighbors and youth!

Filed under Betterment to Development, Developing a Community Vision, General Stories, Neighborhood Transformation, Stories Tagged with ABCD, Asset Based Community Development, Building Community, Building Relationships, Civic Engagement, Community Development, Community Leaders, Gifts, Springfield Promise Neighborhood, Youth, Youth Activities

Asset Based Community Development: Working “With” the Community

February 13, 2012 1 Comment

CFA Executive Director, Jay Van Groningen, responds to a comment from a recent post, and discusses the idea of “In, To, or With:”

“How does one listen to neighbors in a way that: 1. Discovers what neighbors care about enough to act on it? 2. Discovers what gifts they bring to the things they want to work on? 3. Helps neighbors discover their neighbors who care about the things they care about – so they can work on them together?

Personally, I resist those programs and ministries that churches want to start, control and implement to/for their neighbors. I think it is much healthier when church comes along and supports the good things neighbors care about doing. Then the church and community can work together on how to sustain the good work. If ministry is done really well, the church does not need to own or control the ministry, it gets to support it in the ways that bless ministry and the congregation. If ministry is done really well, the community eagerly accepts and embraces the church members participation on a level, respectful, playing field (with respect to power in and control). They enjoy getting good things done together.”

Here are some further thoughts…

The Church “With” the Community:

desires to influence the community.
desires community stakeholders to influence it.
spends significant resources (time, talent, goods) in the community.
utilizes planning and assessment processes that are influenced by both church members and community stakeholders, and makes decisions based on the impact desired by church members and neighbors.
serves and develops the community for reasons and with with methods that bring transformational impact to the community and church alike.
looks for and unleashes the gifts, skills, and resources already present in the community.
is a convener of the community, a servant to the community, adding value to residents and the community as a whole; a net contributor to the community even though it does not pay taxes.

(Communities First, p. 10) Go to the Store for more information on this resource.

Filed under Asset Based Community Development (Tools), Betterment to Development, Essays, Stories, Tools Tagged with ABCD, Asset Based Community Development, Building Community, Building Relationships, Church Involvement, Community Development, Community Leaders, Gifts

In the News: Asset Based Community Development

February 9, 2012 Leave a comment

http://connect.facebook.net/rsrc.php/v1/yQ/r/f3KaqM7xIBg.swf

http://www.facebook.com/dialog/oauth?api_key=132720883409479&app_id=132720883409479&channel_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs-static.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Df10d137078a214%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fcommunitiesfirstassociation.wordpress.com%252Ff12cea2196dd33%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&client_id=132720883409479&display=none&domain=communitiesfirstassociation.wordpress.com&locale=en_US&origin=1&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs-static.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Df30c1b22f4c4fe%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fcommunitiesfirstassociation.wordpress.com%252Ff12cea2196dd33%26relation%3Dparent%26transport%3Dpostmessage%26frame%3Df1020f55ec61cc5&response_type=token%2Csigned_request%2Ccode&sdk=joey

The Muskegon Chronicle highlighted CFA member Kimi Zimmerman (Community enCompass) in a February 8th on-line article. Writer Dave Alexander describes the neighborhood transformation taking place in the McLaughlin neighborhood of Muskegon, MI, and focuses on the principles of Asset Based Community Development as the catalyst for change. He quotes member Kimi Zimmerman, “This neighborhood has grasped the concepts and put them to work here in Muskegon.” She continues, “We are seeing a beautiful transformation taking place.” Click here to read the full article.

Filed under Betterment to Development, Community Betterment, General Stories, Stories Tagged with ABCD, Asset Based Community Development, Building Community, Building Relationships, Community Development, Community enCompass, Muskegon

Neighborhood Transformation: From Handouts to Development

February 1, 2012 1 Comment

Wendy McCaig, Embrace Richmond

Most economically challenged communities experience scarcity of resources such as food, clothing, and especially things that cannot be purchased with food stamps like cleaning supplies, diapers and paper products. Over the past few years we have been experimenting with ways of providing for these basic needs of our community without fostering dependency.

In Asset Based Community Development the first question we ask is, “What does the community have to work with?” In our community, the answer to this question is time. Less than 30% of the residents are employed. This reality led us to experiment with various forms of time-banks over the years. In a “time-bank” system, participants earn “service credits” when they serve in the community. Those credits are then redeemed for goods and services. We are just getting our time bank off the ground in Hillside Court, but we used this approach extensively for our furniture bank program. The advantages to this approach, which is very similar to a co-op model, are very exciting.

We have found in our use of time banks over the years, that it is a good way of insuring fair distribution of goods as well as developing relationships. Given that depression brought on by isolation is one of the key issues facing our community, relationships are often in shorter supply than basic goods and services. By requiring an investment on the part of the recipient, this approach increases the recipient’s sense of ownership, and enhances the relationships between the residents as they serve together in the community. Time Banking utilizes what people have, while allowing them to access what they need.

Giving out food, clothing, and other goods is not a bad thing, but it should be seen as an emergency response and not as a long-term solution. Research shows that participating in feeding lines, food pantries, and other forms of charity that require nothing of the recipient can actually devalue a person’s sense of dignity, create dependency, and fuel a spirit of entitlement if it becomes a way of life. What I love about a co-op/time bank approach is that the need gets met, and the person is actually investing in the ongoing development of the community. This act of giving actually increases self-esteem and fosters a sense of community pride.

I know this type of approach will be messy. It is far easier to give away stuff, but I have seen how the hard work involved in setting up an Asset Based Community Development system pays off in the long-run as the residents take ownership of their future and that of their neighborhood.

Neighborhood Change: A Better Way

January 30, 2012 1 Comment

View this great video from one CFA member, and see what happens when neighbors,
“…call out each other’s gifts, and fill in for each other’s weaknesses.”

A Better Way from CFA Videos on Vimeo.

Kimi Zimmerman, Community enCompass

Filed under Betterment to Development (Videos), General (Videos), Neighborhood Transformation, Videos Tagged with ABCD, Asset Based Community Development, Building Community, Building Relationships, Community Development, Community enCompass, Community Leaders, Gifts, Kingdom Causes, Michigan, Muskegon

The Richness of Community

January 26, 2012 Leave a comment

Wayne Squires-Partners In Neighborhood Transformation, a ministry of The Other Way

Story by Kurt Reppart, Director of Family Development at The Other Way

Some of our most satisfying work at The Other Way happens around food and tables. Throughout the year on Monday evenings, 8-10 families get together in the Family Center to share a meal. Each family brings a dish to pass, and we literally get to taste the variety of cultures represented. The experience is rich. The goal of these gatherings is to build a community of trust and support. We do this by listening to each other, sharing our stories, playing games, and reflecting on God’s Word together.

After the meal is finished, the children are dismissed for enrichment activities so that the adults can have some focused conversation. This fall these adult conversations centered on the topic of “passing on our values to our children”. We broke up into 3 groups, and the atmosphere was full of joy and discovery as our discussion narrowed to how to foster responsibility in our children. Represented in the room were a wide range of values, ideas, and practical wisdom. The variety of experiences was rich. Several important things happened as we shared: we learned from one another, our love for our children was affirmed, and we all left with new insights and new ideas to try. The conversation will continue, but this particular conversation provided solid ground to build upon; to build community and to build hope.

Filed under Community Betterment, General Stories, Stories Tagged with ABCD, Asset Based Community Development, Building Community, Building Relationships, Community Development, The Other Way

The Christmas Gifts were ON the Tree

January 24, 2012 Leave a comment

Monika Grasley-LifeLine CDC of Merced County

Winton, California is known for unemployment, drug abuse and gangs, but for a growing number of community members it is becoming a community of hope, caring and working together. Several years ago a number of community members decided to “Put Winton on the map for something good” for a change and so under Ernie Solis’s leadership (who is coached in Asset Based Community Development) more and more people are working together for the common good.

This Christmas a neighbor donated a Christmas tree to the small community center that is the hub for many activities. Since there was no money for fancy decorations every community member who entered the center received a plain blank Christmas ornament and was asked to write on it one of their gifts (skills, abilities, passions) that they are willing to share with the community. The end result was a beautiful tree decorated with gifts.

As part of the ongoing conversation several people wanted to put a Christmas dinner together for the homeless of the community, but then decided it should be open to everyone. The word got out; people volunteered. Some purchased turkeys and supplies, others were willing to cook them, some wanted to help with decorating, others brought what they had. And so on December 29 a beautiful feast was spread out: Turkey, mashed potatoes, beans, stuffing, dessert, coffee, and cider. Everyone brought what they had and shared in this amazing feast.

Over 100 neighbors filled the room as Christmas music played in the background, and laughter and conversation filled the space. Gang members and seniors, young and old, undocumented community members and old-timers, homeless and business people all sitting beside each other and enjoying a beautiful time while the Christmas tree filled with gifts of community members stood in the corner of the room.

People who would never interact with each other under normal circumstances now heard each other’s stories. People who had prejudices against each other sat beside each other and broke down some walls. LifeLine CDC has a saying that “Everyone no matter how rich has a need. Everyone no matter how poor has a gift. That is why we build and celebrate community.” It was a beautiful sight to see this happening and know that it is one small part of community transformation.

Filed under Developing a Community Vision, General Stories, Stories Tagged with ABCD, Asset Based Community Development, Building Community, Building Relationships, Community Development, Gifts, LifeLine CDC

Best Practices: Church as a Gift for Neighborhood Transformation

January 20, 2012 1 Comment

Jay Van Groningen, CFA Executive Director

Over the years, I have noticed that most Christians who get serious about Community Development – serious enough to work at it – try to start the work of neighborhood transformation from a church platform. They hope and expect that a congregation will engage in God’s redemption story in the neighborhood as a lead agent for positive change. They expect that the church will care enough about their neighbors and neighborhood to want to be a lead “player” in the neighborhood redemption story. They are soon disappointed with Church as agent for neighborhood transformation. Those who have launched neighborhood transformation from a church platform (be it new church or established church) feel isolated, alone, under-resourced, and disillusioned with church participation. While church is loaded with gifts for neighborhood transformation, their focus and energies seem directed to “healthy church” issues, not “healthy community” issues.

Church can be a good neighbor bringing gifts/contributions to the neighborhood transformation story. It can be great neighbor – taking responsibility for the neighborhood transformation story. CFA has learned that a best practices approach is to lead neighborhood transformation from outside the church (a non-profit) and to call on the church to bring their gifts (as much as they are willing) in the same way any other institution is invited to bring their gifts to the neighborhood transformation process. “Healthy church” and “healthy community” is not a problem to be solved. It is a polarity to be managed. A community is healthier when church gifts are a shaping force; a Church is healthier when as servant/witness it stretches itself in giving gifts for the redemption of the neighborhood it occupies.

Filed under Essays Tagged with ABCD, Asset Based Community Development, Building Community, Church Involvement, Community Development, Community Development Best Practices, Gifts

Three Neighborhoods, One Voice

January 18, 2012 Leave a comment

LINCNewOrleans

This past December, three churches in the city of New Orleans, Journey 9^th Ward (Assembly of God), Grace Baptist, and St. Paul Lutheran from the St. Claude, Bywater, and Marigny neighborhoods respectively joined together to spread Christmas joy to their neighbors.

The idea originated from a fellowship gathering facilitated by LINCNewOrleans for persons either interested in learning about or currently participating in Christian community development. Many of the people present at the fellowship gathering attended last October’s Christian Community Development Association Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. The group was brainstorming about how to collaborate together to create a multi-denominational effort to strengthen the neighborhood. When singing was suggested, it produced a calming lull over the group, a reassuring familiarity. The Caroling Extravaganza took flight.

Young and old from each neighborhood’s church took to the streets together to spread Christmas cheer. Aaron Ford, youth pastor at Grace Baptist in the Bywater neighborhood, highly encouraged the churches youth to be in attendance, and despite it being a Friday night in a lively city, the youth came out in droves. It was found out later that some had fun in spite of themselves, as one of the youth later blogged, “Went caroling with some awesome people yesterday and I actually had way more fun than I thought I would.”

Though to the untrained eye, the aforementioned sounds like a cut down, it is actually a beacon of hope. The next generation is learning that intentional community isn’t only important, but enjoyable. “Simply put, it was fun,” explained another participant while reflecting on the night.

The churches visited two assisted living facilities in their neighborhoods, and sang both religious and pop tunes. Though it wasn’t a “sell-out crowd” by any means, the looks on the faces of those who invited us to share Christmas with them was utterly priceless.

Filed under General Stories, Stories Tagged with ABCD, Asset Based Community Development, Building Community, Church Involvement, Community Development

West Core City Holland: A Community Transformation Story

June 21, 2010 Leave a comment

What Was:

The City of Holland announced it had some funds for community development and specifically they were interested in some alley clean up and beautification. They decided the alley behind my house would be a good one start with. There is a Boys and Girls Club at the end of the alley.

The City sent out announcements and invited residents to a meeting. Several of us showed up. It is interesting who does and who does not show up. Some neighbors did not show up because they were sure their limited English would be a problem and maybe embarrass them. Not a single renter (and there are many) showed up. Mostly they are not willing to invest time, energy and resources into their properties.

During the meeting there was a lot of negativity, lots of stories about kids using the alley for their dope hangout and quickie trysts. Neighbors complained about how disrespectful the youth were when they asked them to move on and quit hanging out there. The Boys and Girls club was blamed, the local alternative high school was blamed (both inaccurately).

The transition:

After showing photos of the alley as it was, the facilitator asked us to dream about what could be. We talked about alternative lighting, alternative porous pavement (water runoff and puddles are a current problem), painting, fencing and more.

The neighbors were having a tough time coming to any kind of consensus. But, then something changed. We began to talk about what could we do… What would we be willing to do, using what we have? We were invited to offer our gifts:

One neighbor said let’s start with an alley clean up. Another said, I’ll make hot dogs, let’s make it a picnic. Another said, I’ll map things that need fixing, Another said, let’s have a cake for Brian and Shannon’s wedding (newly marrieds on the block); And so a preliminary commitment was made to alley clean up and picnic together.

A neighbor group was formed to plan it. And we did it!

The next step:
After the clean up day, a follow up meeting was held to imagine next steps. This meeting immediately degenerated into more blaming and complaining. One neighbor wanted everyone to have the same kind of chain link fence; Another wanted the city to do fencing and lighting. Another was still carrying bad feelings about youth in the alley.

Someone asked: What can we do using what we have? What a great question! It turned the meeting.
One said: “I can paint”, another said: “I can use my chain saw to take down a couple of the problem trees”; “I can talk to neighbors to see if they want help sprucing up their fence or garage”. “I can talk to some absentee landlords”. The offers of help were flowing…

The city officials pulled their prior offers of funding from the table. The city budgets were being cut… Their big contribution was to stoke our imaginations with pictures they brought of beautiful alleys from other cities. They helped us begin to imagine the alley as a gathering place, a place for neighbor connections, an extension of our yards and community space. It was a mind shift.

So now we are dreaming about what we could make the alley into, how beautiful it could be, how we could use it for interacting together, how it could be a safe place for kids to play; The most important contribution of the city at this meeting was to stoke our imaginations.

Imagination, with resident gift-giving can transform a place! I’m excited to see neighbors working together, acting on what they care about and making a better community together. I am excited about this opportunity to get to know my neighbors better. When I see them, we now smile, wave, stop and talk and engage. Signs of shalom!

Filed under Community Betterment, Stories Tagged with ABCD, Building Community, Community Beautification, Midwest, Transforming Community

Great Neighbors

June 18, 2010 Leave a comment

Great neighbors make great neighborhoods; Great neighborhoods make great towns and cities:

Sarah is a good neighbor to us. She is friendly, quick to chat. She has work connections that give her insider information about plant sales and she passes that information along to her neighbors. She is a willing helper watching neighbor children for a minute when the mom has to run to the corner grocery. Sarah has willingly given a cup of brown sugar when her neighbor ran out. She shares generously. Sarah has a ladder I need to borrow at times and I have a snow blower she uses. We share quite a few things, making life simpler for both us. When I blow her drive, she brings over fresh baked cinnamon rolls – so good! Sarah is a good neighbor!

There is another level of neighboring. Sarah has helped her neighbors Joe and Rene connect because Rene needed someone to watch her kids get on the school bus in the morning, because she was off to work before the bus came. Joe lives with a disability and is prone to depression. Getting up on time every morning to watch the kids get on the bus helps him get up and start his day with purpose. Sarah is a connector in the neighborhood. She is also finding ways to set the table for neighbors to interact together because neighbors who interact and know each other enjoy their community more. Sarah has offered her home as a place for neighbors to gather. She has organized block parties. Sarah builds the fabric of community.

Sarah has also been active in a community listening. Sarah loves to get neighbors dreaming about making their neighborhood the best it can be. Life here will be more like heaven when… As Sarah discovers what neighbors care about, ect., around common hopes and dreams so they can work together on what they care about. Sarah is a great neighbor because she takes responsibility for the condition of her neighborhood.

Communities First Association: Believes great neighbors make great neighborhoods, and great neighborhoods make great towns and cities.
Encourages congregations to leave a redemptive imprint in the neighborhood they occupy.
Is raising a growing cadre of leaders who are transforming a growing number of communities.

Miracles Wanted:

A safe place for kids to go after school
Green space
For non-resident people who bring trouble, to leave
Less gang violence
Neighbors who talk to each other, who are nice.
Parents working together on summer outings for kids

This is a community group in Bellflower CA who worked together to name and begin organizing residents to change things they wanted to see improved in their neighborhood.

Filed under General Stories, Stories Tagged with Being WITH the Community, Building Community, Building Relationships, neighbors

LifeLine Christmas Story 2009

December 19, 2009 Leave a comment

Once upon a time, (actually late last week, or the week before, it doesn’t matter, it’s just a story) a little non-profit sat forlornly on the curb with its chin in its hands. It was Christmastime, and the little non-profit didn’t have any Christmas programs to offer.

All the other non-profits had their Christmas coat drives and dinners planned. They had shelters open and parties booked. They had fund drives and toy drives and Christmas concerts galore. But the little non-profit had none of these, and was feeling self-conscious.

“If I were a real non-profit, I’d have programs,” it moped.

But then a man shuffled by in a worn-out coat. “Do you have a coat drive, because as you see, mine is worn clear through?”
“No,” said the little non-profit, “I don’t have a coat drive. I’m sorry. All I have is this big bus full of clothes, but for that you need to give something back.”

“Like what?” questioned the man suspiciously.

“Well, what can you do? Do you have a skill or talent to give? After all, everyone has a need, and everyone has a gift.”

“I used to lay carpet,” said the man, “But I haven’t had work these last few months.”

“That will do nicely,” said the little non-profit, and they got up to go look in the big bus for a coat. On the way there they met a woman with two little children. “Do you have a food drive? My children are hungry and the month is not yet half over.”

“No,” said the little non-profit, “I don’t have a food drive. I’m sorry. All I have is an emergency food pantry, but for that you need to give something back.”

“What do you mean?” asked the woman.

“Can you mend clothes?” asked the carpet layer in the worn out coat.

“Look at my children. Of course I can mend clothes,” replied the woman. Her children’s clothes seemed fine, but if you looked closely you could find here a patch or there a mended tear. But you had to look very closely indeed.

“Then come with us to the big bus,” said the little non-profit. “We have lots of donated clothes that need a little mending to make them good again. After all, everyone has a need, and everyone has a gift.”

Just as they all turned the corner, the little non-profit, the carpet layer, the seamstress and her children nearly collided with a young man on a skateboard.

“Do you have a Christmas concert I can go to? Something with Screamo?”

“No,” said the little non-profit, becoming a little more self-conscious with all these people in tow. “I don’t have a concert. All I have is a Community Center. The neighborhood children are out of school and need someone to spend time with them. Can you teach them anything? After all, everyone has a need, and everyone has a gift.”

“I can show them how to flip a skateboard,” offered the young man. So after they had visited the big bus and picked out a warm coat for the carpet layer and taken a bag of mending for the seamstress, they all went by the Community Center. The food pantry was there, and the children were all lined up on a big roll of used carpet, eating a snack. The snack was made by a retired school teacher who gave four hours a week at the center. She also gave money that bought the snacks, and heated the building, and helped pay the staff. Of course only the little non-profit knew about that part. The children all took keen interest in the skateboard, and the carpet layer looked at the big roll of carpet and the bare concrete floor, and smiled a big smile.

And the little non-profit didn’t have time to worry about not having a concert or a coat drive or a Christmas program. There was too much going on in the community. “After all, everyone has a need, and everyone has a gift. That is why we build community.”

James Grasley

Filed under Essays, Stories Tagged with Building Community, Christmas, Gifts, James Grasley, LifeLine CDC, Needs, West

Christmas, Carols, and Cocoa

December 25, 2008 Leave a comment

Earlier in the week, Erwin, the pastor of El Camino, called me and invited me to “Christmas, Carols, and Cocoa”, the church’s attempt at gathering some of the neighbors to Lydia’s house to meet them and tell them the Christmas story. Lydia lived in Baker and was very active in El Camino; I’d spoken to her a few times, but this was the first time I would be spending any substantial time in her house.

It happened that their neighborhood party was the same day as the Mika Christmas Store, so when I arrived at Lydia’s house, I had already worked a 10 hour shift on 5 hours of sleep after surviving an incredibly hard week for me personally. I wasn’t thrilled about having to leave the Store and return an hour later to spend the rest of my night cleaning, but I went anyway.

I walked in right at 5pm and was greeted with the smells of beans, rice, and fried tortillas. Erwin sat me down with a plate full of food and an excited look on his face and said, “Michaela” (my Spanish name), “we would be honored if you would read the Christmas story to the children. The story is in English and the kids will respond to you.” I knew they had wanted me there to talk to some of the neighbors, but I didn’t realize I would be heading up the activity that was the central purpose of gathering the neighbors together.

Because I had to get back to the Christmas Store within the hour, I hardly had time to think about it. Immediately after we finished eating, we went outside in the back alley behind the apartments where all the chairs and the nativity scene were set up. I was introduced to a few families and sat down in a chair in front of a group of 20-30 people. I was handed a microphone, a book, and a bag of prizes– to give to the kids after they correctly answered my questions about the story. All the children in the crowd gathered at my feet, and I stared back at them as they waited to hear what this girl that couldn’t communicate with most of the crowd could possibly have to say.

And then I read. I could hear my voice projecting through the speakers down the alley and into the apartments. Most of the kids had no idea what was happening. They fidgeted a lot and occasionally looked up at me to see the pictures. After I finished the story, I had to come up with questions about what I just read. “Who told Mary she was going to have a baby?” Silence. “God,” one child quietly answered. “Well, technically, yes…but…” I trailed off. “Okay, how about another question..Why do we celebrate Christmas?” I asked. “God,” another child answered. After what seemed like hours, we were finally able to coax the kids into giving the right answers and gave away all the prizes. A wave of relief came over me and the neighbors clapped and cheered for me.

Before I left, I sat at the sidelines to take it all in. Neighbors went and got food. Kids ran around and looked at the nativity scene. People smiled at me and I smiled back at them. I had left the comfort of my behind-the-scenes job at the Store with the rest of the Mika staff to stand in front of a crowd of native Spanish speakers who I hardly knew. They had invited me– insisting that I re-arrange my schedule so I could be there– to put me in a leadership position in their community. I realized what an honor it was to be a trusted part of their lives although we have so little in common. However, that which we do have in common– the desire to be in community despite our obvious differences– brought us together. I was refreshed, and suddenly going back to finish cleaning the Christmas Store didn’t seem so daunting.

Mikkele Bringard

Visit the Kingdom Causes Bellflower website by clicking here.

Visit the Kingdom Causes Bellflower blog by clicking here.

Filed under General Stories, Stories Tagged with Bellflower, Building Community, Kingdom Causes, West

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Communities First Association

Ask, Listen…ACT!

Asset Based Community Development: Vision Begins With Listening

Asset Based Community Development: A Story of Sharing

Crisis and Community: Neighbor Gives Back

Neighborhood Leading with LaDeitra

Success Empowers Neighbors

The “Dignity” Store

ABCD: Neighbors Influence the Next Generation

Asset Based Community Development: Working “With” the Community

In the News: Asset Based Community Development

Neighborhood Transformation: From Handouts to Development

Neighborhood Change: A Better Way

View this great video from one CFA member, and see what happens when neighbors,
“…call out each other’s gifts, and fill in for each other’s weaknesses.”

The Richness of Community

The Christmas Gifts were ON the Tree

Best Practices: Church as a Gift for Neighborhood Transformation

Three Neighborhoods, One Voice

West Core City Holland: A Community Transformation Story

Great Neighbors

LifeLine Christmas Story 2009

Christmas, Carols, and Cocoa

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View this great video from one CFA member, and see what happens when neighbors,
“…call out each other’s gifts, and fill in for each other’s weaknesses.”