by Terry L. Besser
Assistant Professor and Extension Sociologist
Iowa State University
It seems to be human nature to emphasize the negative. Most of us are convinced that we're overweight, unattractive, not smart enough, and don't have enough money. We think the next generation is the worst ever, and drugs and crime are everywhere.
Community professionals often approach neighborhoods and communities in the same way. They tend to search out and dwell on all the problems and weaknesses, instead of concentrating on community assets. Traditional community development wisdom encourages this perspective. The logic is that it's easier to garner local support for improvement and development if organizers can point to specific needs and problems which will be addressed. Also outside funding sources generally require that communities demonstrate that they have a problem (and that the problem is dire and much worse than in other communities) in order to be eligible for financial support. Thus, one of the first steps in community improvement is usually an assessment of local weaknesses and problems.
We can understand why communities concentrate on weaknesses. What is more difficult to see is the negative impact the problem perspective has on community spirit and improvement efforts. Two community development experts, John Kretzmann and John McKnight criticize the problem perspective and propose an assets based community development orientation instead. They call their approach "Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community's Assets".
Kretzrnann and McKnight contend that the problem orientation forces us to concentrate on what's wrong and ignore what's right. They say it causes us to overlook valuable internal resources and view ourselves as recipients and consumers (of government programs, foundation grants, smoke stack industries, etc.), instead of doters and producers. It leads us to define our local community vision according to what these external agents desire, flopping around haphazardly depending upon what new programs or potential employers are available. For example, if a government agency has a new program to give grants to develop value added agricultural enterprises, we are encouraged to demonstrate that this has been a deficiency in our community and that our vision is to develop value added ag resources. The point is not about the importance of value added agricultural enterprises, but about communities deciding for themselves what their future should look like. The hard truth, according to these authors, is that communities must look inside to find direction and resources. Other orientations lead to attitudes of helplessness and futility. Kretzmann and McKnight aren't saying that communities need no additional resources from the outside. Rather they suggest that outside resources will be more effectively used if the local community is itself invested and mobilized.
Assets based community development begins with an assessment of strengths. Four specific areas should be examined to determine community strengths.
1. Inventory the gifts, skills and capacities of the community's residents. Include citizens who are frequently overlooked like; youth and children, the elderly, the mentally handicapped or lower income residents.
2. An important resource in communities are the local citizens' associations. Consider here groups like neighborhood associations, church groups, bowling leagues, parent teacher organizations, support and self help groups, civic and fraternal groups. At the very minimum generate a list of the organizations, the names of their officers and membership, and a statement of organizational mission.
3. Examine local formal institutions, such as schools, churches, private businesses, government agencies, hospitals and retirement communities. What strengths and resources do they represent for the community?
4. Catalog local physical characteristics. Geographic features and resources, buildings, housing, transportation and utility systems should be evaluated.
Once community assets are recognized, development can proceed along a more traditional path which includes broad based citizen involvement in formulating a community vision for the future, action planning to realize components of the vision, etc.
An asset based orientation emphasizes the importance of building and sustaining relationships within neighborhoods, and between and among all local groups, associations and institutions. Research consistently shows that friendship and acquaintianship ties between people form the basis for community spirit and persistence in the face of threats. The forces driving people apart are many and varied, e.g. the necessity of two or three jobs to support a household, long commutes to work (people are too exhausted to interact with neighbors, volunteer, or go to council meetings), exclusion of newcomers, mass media (people would rather watch television than get involved), greater income inequality, and the necessity of moving for job opportunities.
Community builders who focus on assets and rebuilding local relationships offer a promising route to community development. You can obtain information about this approach from the Center for Urban Affairs and Policy Research. Neighborhood Innovations Network. Northwestern I University 2040 Sheridan Road. Evanston, IL. 60208, telephone 708-491-3518
Contacts:
Terry L. Besser, ISU
Extension Sociology, (515) 294-6508
Del Marks, ISU Extension
Communication Systems, (515) 294-9807
