Break Out Session: Get Off Your Assets, Discovering and Deploying Assets in Your Neighborhood
“A good neighbor is one who steps outside of their personal boundaries, lends a helping hand, and shares their gifts unconditionally with any and everyone.”
In this workshop, the speaker pointed out that focusing on the needs of a community sets up a model where the church provides services to meet those needs, leading to the creation of consumers where programs = the answer.
Instead, we should map out the assets of the community. Parks, charities, local institutions. This sets up a model of working with community members:
Assets (What is there) à Connections (for contributions) à Citizens (People = the Answer)
When they did this, they used Google maps to map out the community assets, including the HOA president and people who might be block representatives. They went door to door in the neighborhood, saying, “Hi, we just wanted to see how we can be better neighbors.” People would talk to them, sometimes for half an hour, about their concerns.
Then,
Discover What People Care Enough About to Act On
If the people of the community don’t care enough to get involved around a particular transformation, then it’s not that important.
Mobilize people around what they care about
Teams are a necessary way of getting more done. In addition, they will support and encourage each other, creating relationships along the way.
Focus on The roles of programs and people
Community groups, politicians, business owners – all can work together.
Last, Lead by stepping back
The challenge is timing. We must be patient. “I know we could get this program done tomorrow. But if we engage the neighbors and it takes 6 months, that’s even better. Because we’ve created relationships so that we will continue to working together. “ Let those in the community lead. “Follow me, I’m right behind you.” What is the felt need amongst my community vs. what I want.
This is not a quick fix. One person says, “If you can’t commit to a neighborhood for 15 years, don’t bother. It takes at least that long.”
Red Pill Brethren 