Building Strength- QCOSS Conference –

- Brisbane-

Peter KenyonDirector

Bank of IDEAS

‘Learning and innovationgo hand in hand. The

arrogance of success isto think that what youdid yesterday will besufficient tomorrow'

(William Pollard)

‘You’ve got to be hungry-for ideas, to make thingshappen and see yourvision made into reality’. (Anita Roddick)

“We arestronger whenwe listen, andsmarter whenwe share”

(Queen Rania Al-Abdullah)

“Whoever inventedthe first wheel was

smart. Whoever invented the

other three was agenius”. (Sid Caesar)

‘Community is for and about people. It isthe life-blood of society and the landscapefor human interaction and nurturance. It

provides for stability, safety and security.Community is characterised by

connectedness, independence, belonging,mutual support, respect, sharing, acceptanceof others and a sense of pride and identity.It involves cooperation, collaboration, shared

responsibility and common purpose.’

(Wayne McCashen, The Strengths Approach)

‘Our purpose is not tohelp people. Our

purpose is to build adifferent kind of

community for us all.’ 

(Susan Rans)

“If I lived in a society where beingin a wheelchair was no more

remarkable than wearing glasses,and if the community wascompletely accepting and

accessible, my disability would bean inconvenience and not much more

than that. It is society whichhandicaps me, far more

seriously…”.(Shut Out Report, 2009)

‘WHAT WE FOCUS ONBECOMES OUR REALITY.IF WE FOCUS ON WHATIS WRONG OR WHAT ISMISSING, WE TEND TO

SEE EVERYTHINGTHROUGH THAT FILTER

OR FRAME.’ (Anon)

‘Communities have neverbeen built upon theirdeficiencies. Buildingcommunity has always

depended upon mobilizingthe capacities and assetsof a people and a place.’

(J. McKnight & J. Kretzmann)

Asset Based CommunityDevelopment (ABCD)

• Shifting the development mindset fromneeds and deficiencies to assets and

capacities.• Highlighting, mapping, connecting and

celebrating the diverse range ofcommunity assets.

• Harnessing the connected assets foraction that strengthens caring and

inclusive communities.

Story of theNew Prospect

BaptistChurch

IntroductionMy name is ___________. 1. What is your name? 2. Did someone talk to you about what the ‘Gift Exchange’ is all about? 3. What do you understand it to be?

Basically, we believe that everyone has God-given talents and gifts that can be used to benefitthe community. I’d like to spend a few minutes talking to you about your gifts and skills.

GiftsGifts are abilities that we are born with. We may develop them, but no one has to teach them to us.1. What positive qualities do people say you have?2. Who are the people in your life that you give to? How do you give to them?3. When was the last time you shared with someone else? What was it?4. What do you give that makes you feel good?SkillsSometimes we have talents that we’ve acquired in everyday life such as cooking and fixing things.1. What do you enjoy doing?• If you could start a business what would it be?• What do you like to do that people would pay you to do?1. Have you ever made anything? Have you ever fixed anything?DreamsBefore you go, I want to take a minute and hear about your dreams – those goals you hope to

accomplish.• What are your dreams?• If you could snap your fingers and be doing anything, what would it be?

New Prospect Baptist ChurchCincinnati, OH

Survey Guidelines

‘We were feedingfolks, but we

were not gettingto know them.’

(Damian Lynch 111,New Prospect BaptistChurch Pastor)

‘Every single person hascapacities, abilities, gifts andideas, and living a good lifedepends on whether thosecapacities can be used,

abilities expressed, gifts givenand ideas shared.’

(Jody Kretzmann)

1. See People as Citizens andCo Producers, not as Clientsand Consumers of Services

‘The root of the word ‘client’refers to ‘a person who is a

dependent follower’, while the rootof the word ‘citizen’ refers to ‘a

person who acts united withothers’.

‘Go to the peopleLive among themLearn from them

Love themStart with what they knowBuild on what they have

But of the best leaders when theirtask is done

The people will remark “We have it done it ourselves”’.

(Lao Tze)

‘Go to the people with an agendaFind out what is wrong with them

Tell them what to doEnable and fix them

Start with what don’t knowTell them what you think they should

know But of the worst leaders, when their

program is doneThe people will remark

“What have they done to us.’(Joanna Hubbard)

‘Strong communities are createdwhen citizens are the producers oftheir own future. They can not be

replaced. No professional,institution, business or government

can substitute for the power,creativity or relevance of

productive citizens’.(Mike Green)

‘Most communities can often becompared to a rugby gamewhere 30,000 people who needthe exercise, turn up to watch 30 players who don’t.’

(Peter Kenyon)

‘The wisdom of thecommunity always

exceeds the knowledgeof the experts’

(Harold Flaming)

‘I work from the firmbelief that “whatever the issue, community is the answer.”’(Margaret Wheatley, Author)

‘The future ofevery

community liesin capturing the

passion,imagination, andresources of its

people’.(Ernesto Sirolli)

2. Recognise and Respond tothe Giftness of All

‘Every single person has capacities,abilities, gifts and ideas, and livinga good life depends on whetherthose capacities can be used,abilities expressed, gifts given andideas shared” (Jody Kretzmann)

World Health Organisation (WHO)Definition of Mental Health-

“a state of wellbeing in which theindividual realises his or her ownabilities, can cope with thenormal stresses of life, can workproductively and fruitfully, and isable to make a contribution to hisor her community.’

Labelled People:

Homeless Unemployed Low income person Non-English speaking Single parent Addict Offender Old person At-risk youth Person with disability Refugee

SamJohnson

‘A strong community has a ‘‘treasure hunt’’ mentality in

which members look ateveryone as bearing gifts’

(Mike Green)

3.Adopt an AppreciativeMindset and Language

“Life is different when you focuson the positive. There is more

affirmation, more possibility andmore hope.”

(Father Gregorio Banaga Jr., C.M.)

“Elevate the languageof hope andpossibility, to

overcome a discourseof cynicism andjudgement”.

(Bliss Browne)

Job Seeker’s InterviewYes No Comments/Solutions

Inadequate Housing

Limited job seeking skills

Poor work history

Fired from jobs or quit jobs

No recent work history

High rate of absenteeism

Early school leaver

Lack training for career goals

Age

Pregnant

Single parent

Job Seeker’s Interview(cont.)Yes No Comments/Solutions

No child care available

Job skills not currently in demand

Lack reliable transportation

No drivers license

Health of dependents

Lack necessary qualifications orcredentials

Poor communication skills

Uncertain about goals

Unrealistic goals

Lack appropriate job seekerclothes/work clothes

Job Seeker’s Interview(cont.)Yes No Comments/Solutions

Family problems that couldhinder training or employmentPhysical problems with:

EyesightHearing

Dental

Other medical problems thatcould hindertraining/employmentFinancial problems that couldhinder training/employmentAttitudes of friends andfamily members about youworkingFamily and friends notsupportive of training orcareer choice

Job Seeker’s Interview(cont.)Yes No Comments/Solutions

History of mental illness

History of drug or alcoholabuseCriminal record

Previous lose of benefits

4 September’10- 7.1 magnitude22 February’12 – 6.3 magnitudeSince – more than 11,000 tremors

‘I think negative people should be taxed. They require

an incredible amount ofenergy. They're like corgis

nibbling at your ankles and I'msure they exist to show us the

difference between heaven and hell.’

 

(Vicki Buck, Former Mayor, Christchurch City Council)

‘A positive attitude maynot solve all your

problems, but it willannoy enough people to

make it worth theeffort”

(Herm Albright)

4. Start and Focus on Assets andStrengths, not Needs and

Weaknesses‘We are trained to ask – “Whatis the need, what’s wrong and

how do we fix it?” We need to ask other questions– “What and who have we got?”,

“What’s possible?” and “Whocares”’.

Communitiesand their

residents havedeficiencies and needs

Communitiesand it’s citizenshave capacities

and assets

COMMUNITY NEEDS MAPUnemployment

Vacant Shops Run

Down Shopping

Centre

Homelessness

Truancy

Dysfunctional Families

WelfareDependency

AlcoholismDrug Abuse

Youth Suicide

Loss of Community Spirit

ChildAbuse

Mental Health

Crime

Bullying

Graffiti

Early School Leavers

Illiteracy

COMMUNITY ASSETS MAPLOCAL INSTITUTIONS & RESOURCES

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS

GIFTS OF INDIVIDUAL

Local Businesses

Ovals

Hospital

Schools

Service Clubs

Neigh -bourhood

House

Community Organisations

Sporting Teams

Churches Young People

All Residents

Senior Citizens

Community Stories

Artists

LabelledPeople

Local Facilities GovernmentAgencies

Local Council

We Can Ask Questions in Two Ways – 1. What is wrong with our community?

What problems can we fix?What are the needs of our community?What is broken?

or 

2. What are the strengths and assets of our community?

Share a time when you felt our community was at it’s best?What do you value most about our community?What is the essence of our community that makes it unique and strong?

AppreciativeInquiry

Appreciative Inquiry (AI)is a conversationmethodology that seeksout the ‘best of what’ tohelp ignite the collectiveimagination of ‘what mightbe’.

AI is a reaction to problem based anddeficiency focused change

methodologies. It is the cooperativesearch for the best in people, their

organisations and their community. Itinvolves systematic discovery of whathas happened in the past, and whatgives a person, an organisation or

community ‘life’ when most effectiveand capable.

Appreciative Inquiry (AI)

AI involves the art and practice ofasking questions that strengthen

capacity to heighten positivepotential. It mobilises inquirythrough crafting ‘unconditionalpositive questions’ that lead tosharing best practices, magic

moments and life givingexperiences.

Appreciative Inquiry (AI)

Appreciative InquiryAssumptions

• In every society, group and individualsomething works.

• What we focus on becomes our reality –communities and people grow from whatthey personally ask questions about.

• People have more confidence and comfortto journey to the future (the unknown)when they carry parts of the past (the

known).

Appreciative InquiryAssumptions

• When we carry parts of the pastforward, always best to focus on

what is the best of the past.• It is important to value differences.

• The language we use, creates ourreality.

Key AI Questions• What experiences do you

value most?• What made these

experiences possible?• How do we get more of

it?

Shifting from a deficiency/needsapproach to a assets/strength

based focus is more than learning anew language. It involves adifferent culture, thought

processes and interventions.

‘We want so much that ourdaughters know a communitylife that is truly good....mydream has always been thatAnne will the get the chanceto live a life where she isneeded for her gifts’ ‘.’

(Mike Green)

WayneMcCashen

(InnovativeResources)

Innovative ResourcesAnglicare, Bendigo, Victoria

www.innovativeresources.org

Strength Cards

BOI Websitewww.bankofideas.com.au

COPYLEFT POLICY BOI resources, either in full or part, can becopied, quoted, reprinted, given away and

circulated. Parts may be torn out, extracted,summarised and further enhanced. In short, all

the contents are public property. Please use in anyway to build the passion, skills and knowledge of

citizens to contribute to healthier localcommunities and economies.

‘Ma to rourou, ma tokurourou,

ka ora te iwi’

With your gifts, withmy gifts,

the people will be wellMaori Proverb

Contact Details

Peter Kenyon 

Email for copy of presentation:

pk@bankofideas.com.auWebsite for bookshop & newsletter mailing

list:

www.bankofideas.com.au