EPLD Opening Dinner

Guest SpeakerMark Ella AM

Strengthening Communities

Peter KenyonDirector

Bank of I.D.E.A.S

Strengthening Communities

Presentation notes

Peter KenyonDirector

Bank of IDEAS(Initiatives for the Development of Enterprising

Action and Strategies)Ph: 61 8 9293 0623Fax: 61 8 6293 1137

email: pk@bankofideas.com.auweb: www.bankofideas.com.au

‘In times of change it is the learners who inherit the

future.

Those who have finished learning find themselves

equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.'

(Eric Hoffer)

“Leadership and learning are indispensable from

each other”

(John F Kennedy, prepared for delivery in Dallas, the day of his assassination, Nov,

1963)

‘You've got to be hungry – for ideas, to make things happen

and to see your vision made into reality.’

(Anita Roddick)

MY PASSION

Building strong, healthy, inclusive and connected communities

Seven Pillars Of A Healthy Community

Practices ongoing dialogueGenerates leadershipShapes its futureEmbraces diversity

Knows itselfConnects people and resourcesCreates a sense of community

(Healthy Cities and Communities Coalition, USA)

STRONG COMMUNITIEShave strong leadershave strong networks with other communitiescan build on their existing assets and resourceshave a ‘can-do’ community spirit and areoptimistic about the futurecan grasp the opportunities that come their wayhave a sense of ‘belonging’ to the communityamong it’s membersembrace change and take responsibility(Stronger Families, Stronger Communities at Department of Family and

Community Services)

SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITIESBuild on the strengths of local individuals, associationsand institutions;Focus on specific actions and measurable results toimprove community life;Promote participation by people of all abilities, races, genders, cultures and age groups;Ensure local decision making and ownership;Draw upon the resources of the whole community;Bridge all sectors to develop healthy children, familiesand communities,andShare experience and knowledge to promote continuouscommunity learning.

(ACCORDING TO PRIME MINISTERS YOUTH PATHWAYS ACTION PLAN TASKFORCE 2001)

Healthy Unhealthy

Optimism, hope and 'we are in this together’ Cynicism"We can do it 'Nothing works'Value intangibles like vision and values Emphasis only on tangiblesConsensus building PolarisationCollaboration ConfrontationFocus on the future Debate the pastInterdependence ParochialismBroad community participation Few do everythingLeadership renewal Same old facesThink and act in long term Short term thinkingListening AttackingReconciliation Hold grudgesWin-win solutions Win-lose solutionsPolitics of substance Politics of personalityDiversity and involvement ExclusionChallenge ideas Challenge peopleProblem solvers Blockers and blamersView challenges as opportunities See themselves as victims

CHARACTERISTICS OF A HEALTHY COMMUNITY

Critical Behaviours and Attitudes

Encourages participation and social connectednessEmbraces inclusiveness and the gifts of allGenerates hope and possibility

Encourages Participation and Social Connectedness

‘Most communities can often be compared to an soccer game where 30,000 people who need the exercise, turn up to watch 22 players who

don’t.’( Peter Kenyon )

Beginning in 1970, Italians established a nationwide set of potentially powerful

regional governments. They were virtually identical in form, but the social, economic, political, and cultural contexts in which they were implanted differed dramatically ranging

from the pre-industrial to the post-industrial and from the inertly feudal to the

frenetically modern. Some of the new governments proved to be dismal failures inefficient and corrupt. Others have been

remarkably successful…(Robert Putnam: Making Democracy Work: Civic Tradition in Modern Italy)

PUTNAM’S CHALLENGEBEST REGION WORST REGION

60% unemployedLabour shortage

1 family clinic for every 3,850,000 persons

1 family clinic for every 15,000 persons

1 day care centre for every 12,560 children

1 day care centre for every 400 children

‘Contrary to our expectations, we were unable to explain the differences on the basis of such obvious factors as party

politics, affluence or population movements…the historical record

strongly suggests that the successful Communities become rich because they Were civic, not the other way round.

The social capital embodied in norms and networks of civic engagement seems to be a precondition for economic development as well as for effective government. Civics

matters’(Robert Putnam: Making Democracy Work: Civic Tradition In Modern Italy)

Social Capital

‘Those features of social organisations such as trust, norms and networks that can improve the efficiency of society by facilitating coordinated actions’.

(Robert Putnam)

'the fabric that holdsthe community together‘

(Robert Putnam)

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‘The central premise of social capital is

that social networks have enormous

value’(Robert Putnam)

‘Much hard evidence has accumulated that civic engagement and social

connectedness are practical preconditions for better

schools, safer streets and even healthier and longer

lives’(Robert Putnam)

‘Increasing evidence shows that social

cohesion is critical for societies to prosper economically and for development to be

sustainable.’(The World Bank, 1999)

‘The strongest predictor of crime rates is social

capital and crime is lower in communities in which there is a high level of connectedness’

(Robert Putnam)

The more people know each other’s first

name, the lower the crime rate in the neighbourhood.

(Robert Putnam)

Being Social and Involved is Good for Personal Health

‘Being involved with community groups and having strong

social networks are as good for health as healthy food and

exercise’. (Department of Public Health, University of Flinders)

‘Young people reporting poor social connectedness (no one to talk to, no one to trust, no one to depend on, no one who knows you well) are between two and three time

more likely to experience depressive symptoms compared with peers who have confiding

relationships’.

(Institute of Family Studies)

BERKMAN AND SYME (CALIFORNIA) FINDINGS

People who lacked social and community ties were more likely to die than people with more extensive contacts

Joining a community group cuts in half your odds of dying next year

Joining a community organization for fun was better for health than giving up smoking

‘As a rule of thumb, if you belong to no group, but decide

to join one, you cut your risk of dying over the next year in

half. If you smoke and belong to no group, it’s a toss – up

statistically whether you should stop smoking or start joining’

(Robert Putnam)

Proven Benefits Of Building Social Capital

Improved health, economic and social well – being of the community and therefore its constituentsStronger network development within and across communitiesIncreased confidence in communityImproved community resilienceLowering of transaction costs associated with community economyImproved conflict resolution processesIncreased sense of belongingIncreased knowledge and understanding

(According to ABS Info Paper: Measuring Social Capital, 2004)

‘Social Capital simply accumulates when people

interact with each other in families, workplaces,

neighbourhoods, interest groups, community

organisations and a range of formal and informal meeting

places.’(Tim Costello)

‘Social Capital is all about conversation, trust and doing things together. To nourish

social capital begin with conversation. Bring people together to look at issues

affecting them. Give people opportunities so they

know that they matter.’(Reverend Tim Costello)

Individual Social Capital Actionsorganise a social gathering to welcome a new neighboursupport local businesses volunteer your skills to a local groupinvite the neighbours over for a favourite mealavoid gossipget to know your children’s teachersattend P & C meetingsuse public transport and start talking to other commuterstell friends about social capital and why it is important

(see Bank of I.D.E.A.S. 150 things you can do to build social capital)

‘Be the change you wish to see in the world’

(Mahatma Ghandi)

‘Nothing more surely builds community

than engagement in shared tasks’

(John Gardiner)

Community Social Building Initiatives

Passion and skills audit Street PartiesCommunity Workshop /ShedWalking School Bus‘Adopt a Grandparent Program’Learning Centres / NeighbourhoodCentresCommunity GardensCommunity welcome groups and kits

(See Bank of I.D.E.A.S. 150 Community Projects that Build Social Capital)

Embraces Inclusiveness and the Gifts of All Residents

‘Communities that view their citizens as their greatest asset and invest in

the development of their full potential are those that will have the capacity to effectively compete in

the global political, social and economic arena.’

(David Littrell)

places where the capacities of all residents are identified, valued and

harnessed

Healthy Communities are …

(Peter Kenyon)

'Every living person has some gift or capacity of value to

others. A strong community is a place that recognises these gifts and ensures they are

given. A weak community is a place where lots of people

can't or don't give their gifts'(John McKnight And Jody Kretzmann)

Story of the New Prospect Baptist

Church

(Cincinnati USA)

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 benefit the 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?2. If you could start a business what would it be?3. What do you like to do that people would pay you to do?4. 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.1. What are your dreams?2. If you could snap your fingers and be doing anything, what would it be?

New Prospect Baptist ChurchCincinnati, OH

Survey Guidelines

‘Every time a person uses his or her capacity, the community is stronger and the person more powerful. That

is why strong communities are basically places where the capacities

of local residents are identified, valued and used. Weak communities are places that fail, for whatever

reason, to mobilise the skills capacities and talents of their

residents or members.’(Asset-Based Community Development Institute)

Generates Hope and Possibility

‘Nowadays towns are really not so different from businesses, they need to keep recreating

themselves. Not so many years ago country towns were subject to general trends. They would all do

well or all do badly. The picture is now very uneven. The successful towns are likely to be driven by people who are passionate and creative, who seean opportunity and go for it. You need communities with a bit of get up and go spirit. Some have it,

some don't’.(Roy Powell, Centre for Agricultural and Regional Economics)

Kaikoura, (New Zealand)Kaikoura : Population 4000

Traditional farming and fishing

1987 - 3600 international visitors2002 - 350 000 international visitors2004 - 650, 000 international visitorsTourism sector contributes $67 million to the local economy.

1/3 of the town’s full time jobs are in tourism, and another 1/3 rely on a proportion of the tourism income to make their job sustainable.

Comparison - Kaikoura 1987 – 2004

+ 439%22141Building Permits Issued

New Service10Taxi Services

+ 1060%585Tour Operators

+ 250%3510Restaurants / Cafés

+ 975%434Licensed Premises

+ 5,500%112 weekly 2 each weekCoach Services

+ 382%1860386Guest Beds

+ 317%9623Accommodation Complex

1987 2004 Variance %

Kaikoura Whale WatchEstablished in late 1980’s by local Maori desperate to create employment and build a future for their children.

Local Maori (over 90% unemployment rate) borrowed $35 000 to initiate –used their homes as collateral.

Only grant in their history - $5000 for a feasibility plan.

Kaikoura Whale WatchToday:

Biggest employer in Kaikoura with over 250 staff.2004 – 200,000 Whale Watch customers Winner of the Best Global Eco Tourism Business Award.Besides Whale Watch, the company has a wide range of businesses:- biggest Day Tour company operating from Christchurch

- chain of 9 coffee shops throughout New Zealand - Clifford Bay Marine Farm- technology investments.

Whale Watch1989: 1 boat & 3000

customers

2006: 5 boats & 200,000 customers

Kaikoura …first township in the world to achieve full Green Globe

21 status- a benchmarking and certification programme for sustainable travel

and tourism

To qualify, Kaikoura met strict criteria for energy use:

greenhouse gas emissionsair qualitywater usesolid waste productionresource conservationbiodiversitywater quality

‘I think negative people should be taxed. They require

an incredible amount of energy. They're like corgis

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

difference between heaven and hell.’

(Vicki Buck, Former Mayor, Christchurch City Council)

‘The future of every community lies in

capturing the passion, imagination and resources of its

people’.(Ernesto Sirolli)

‘If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more and become

more, you are a leader’.

(John Quincey Adams)

'Leadership:to foster creativity rather than conformity, to guide rather than goad, to clarify rather than confuse, to support rather than supplant, to respect rather than judge,to motivate rather than captivate, to listen rather than tell, to encourage rather than discourage, to link rather than divide,to involve rather than limit, to make independent rather than dependent‘.

(Eve Schindler - Rainman)

Contact Details

Peter KenyonPh: +61 8 6293 1848 Fax: + 61 8 6293 1137

14 Bird Rd, Kalamunda WA 6076

Email for copy of presentation:

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

list:

www.bankofideas.com.au