[Oe List ...] connections

Tue Feb 13 06:42:19 EST 2007

My experience with McNight's ideas (not any good for making a connection with him):

I worked hopefully for 3 years locally with a national United Methodist program called Communities of Shalom.  The 6? session training program was very good - full Saturdays a week apart.  Much of it was based, with the McKnight program permission, on their "Asset Based Community Development".  Part of the training brought in local presenters and panels dealing with arenas like local successes in low-income housing, parish nurse programs, interfaith cooperation.  It also had some imaginative procedures to build teamwork, and used some fair procedures for building an action plan.  

George, your analysis is right on, in terms of what ToP brings and what the Asset Based program brings.  I finally gave up working with the Shalom program, not so much because of overwhelming data in our case.  What I couldn't overcome was the failure to understand, much less manage, the tension between needing to be part of something big and significant and needing to engage in something focused (small) enough to be doable. This was true on the conference (regional church) level as well as the national level.  There were plenty of inspiring and comprehensive goals, and a number of creative focused local projects, but without continually refreshing the connection between the big picture and the nitty gritty project, the work in our area has tended to fade away.  After initial enthusiasm, a vision large enough to inspire commitment will seem unrealistically grandiose without ways to reflect on and remaneuver action, and enable the long march of care.  Local peace/justice efforts were generally more realistic, and working with an ecumenical peace/justice group has been a more effective place to put my efforts.  My experience is that many church folks are unused to the rough and tumble of community projects, and take a lot of support to grow into effectiveness.

Where I do think  the Asset Based approach is wise is in insisting that a quick inventory of assets needs to come before focusing on problems.  People are always surprised by what they find - first in team members and then in a quick scan of the community.  This can create a sense of fresh possibility.  It can be especially important if the limited geography the church/community team is dealing with is thought of as poor and needy.  (Where did they get the idea of a limited geography, dealing with all the problems!  All I know is that one of the founders of the Shalom program, Bishop Felton May, was a friend of Bishop Jim Matthews, and familiar with 5th City.)

I wonder if there can be advantages for all of us, as well as for the future, in finding ways to appropriately link whosoever will of the many creative programs based on methods developed by EI:ICA:OE.

Janice Ulangca
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: George R Packard 
  To: 'Order Ecumenical Community' 
  Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 11:01 PM
  Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] connections

  We have done some work in recent years with Jody Kretzmann who is Mcknight's Long term organizer and promoter. Due to costs and limited funding, commuities usually have to choose one or the other approach. There is overlapp and a great deal of shared value and philosophy, but as well some critical points of strategic emphasis which are as much the question of time and funding to be invested in the community or organizational intervention. 

  When we do asset analysis we would usually not go as far as they do (from institutions down to every individual's talents), but if asset analysis is the window ToP can provide a very productive compliment. Likewise if strategic planning is the window the asset analysis to the institutional level provides excellent environmental analysis, much like the gridding most recently done in the neighberhood academy. 

  Going below that can be a great teambuilding exercise. If done at a neighborhood level the asset data collection is a great door opener and conversation starter, but needs to be managed carefully so as not to burn out the very team You are trying to form. It can generate a lot of data that even the best intentionned intervention may not be able to use.
  George. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  From: oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of Norm and Judy Lindblad
  Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 6:01 PM
  To: Order Ecumenical Community
  Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] connections

  I think I have met John McKnight or worked with folks in Cincinnati that were using his insights and process for grassroots leadership.  He did work with Xavier U. and at one time we thought we could collaborate.
  I've only heard and read Robert Putnam. 
  Judy

  On 2/12/07, Carolyn Antenen <cantenen at mac.com> wrote: 
    Hi All, 
    Is anyone familiar with either John McKnight at Northwestern or Robert Putman at Harvard having contact or exposure 
    to ICA methods?  Did we ever work with either of them?

    Thanks.

    Carolyn Antenen

    cantenen at mac.com
    513-271-6583
    513-368-9836 mobile 

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