creating space for community listening how to engage everyone in your community in meaningful...
TRANSCRIPT
Creating Space for Community Listening How to Engage “Everyone” in your Community in Meaningful Dialogue.
CCDA CONFERENCE
MIAMI,2008
Delia Caderno & Michael philip
October 24, 2008
CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY LISTENING
Delia Caderno & Michel philip
COMMUNITY LISTENING IS CRUCIAL TO CCD WORK!
Simply described, “Community Development” is
a process of listening to the community,
determining the assets and resources available,
casting a vision for a preferred future and
developing programs and activities that meet felt
needs within the community.
October 24, 2008
CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY LISTENING
Delia Caderno & Michel philip
Nehemiah a Lesson in Community Listening & Organizing Began by building relationships. A lot of bad news, but he
simply kept asking questions, probing and listening to the stories people have to tell. He asked questions and listened.
Internalized the pain - he sat down and wept Prayed for the people - Nehemiah fasted and prayed Considered the resources - he was cupbearer of the King Built first actions on relationships - start with what have
and ID the influence leaders Assess the situation yourself - personal interaction Publicly articulated the problem (arising out of what heard
from the people) Turned the problem into an issue - “Come, let us rebuild the
wall of Jerusalem, so that we no longer suffer disgrace.” People determined the issue & committed to common good People created their own strategy - involving each family &
using self interest People carried out the action- they were stakeholders People confronted and defeated the systems -threat of
violence, political opposition Nehemiah confronted principalities & power of Israel (5)-
short term loans, foreclosure; stories of exploitation; covenant The people celebrated their victory (6)
*Transforming Power by Robert Linthicum
October 24, 2008
CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY LISTENING
Delia Caderno & Michel philip
Relationships Are Crucial
Relationships are the building blocks for all community initiated activities.
People won’t care unless they know YOU care.
Relationships begin with listening to one another.
Relationships are the means for achieving community goals.
Change will be built on good relationships with community stakeholders.
October 24, 2008
CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY LISTENING
Delia Caderno & Michel philip
We Listen to Discover & Map the Assets
October 24, 2008
CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY LISTENING
Delia Caderno & Michel philip
We Listen to Make Connections
What you have to share, what will help you
Listening & looking at the “assets” & connections for action
October 24, 2008
CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY LISTENING
Delia Caderno & Michel philip
StakeholdersStakeholders are those that have a
vested interest in something. In
Community Development that
includes. Adults Senior Citizens Children People with Disability Poor People Rich People Middle class people Documented residents Undocumented residents
IN COMMUNITY THERE’S NO ONE WE
DON’T NEED!
October 24, 2008
CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY LISTENING
Delia Caderno & Michel philip
Community ListeningStrategies & Tools Prayer walking Listening Conversations “Natural” Connections Community Survey World-Café Discussions Community Convening
October 24, 2008
CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY LISTENING
Delia Caderno & Michel philip
Prayer WalkingSeeing the Community with Fresh Eyes
Whether as an individual action or an organized effort, prayer walking the community is an essential part of the listening to the community process. As you walk pray for discernment-ask God to give you fresh eyes to see the community.
Structures: What re the building types, usages, conditions, who’s leaving, who’s replacing them, etc.
Pieces of Life: What artifacts do people leave around, what’s on the front porches/lawn, are they ethnically or culturally specific etc.
Signage: What is being advertised, what language is used, who is the target audience, what is being sold by business owners, what do the signs say about the community’s political or religious values, etc.
October 24, 2008
CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY LISTENING
Delia Caderno & Michel philip
Prayer WalkingSeeing the Community with Fresh Eyes
Sounds and Smells: What music is being played, what age group does it cater to, what do you smell and what do these smells say about the neighborhood.
Signs of Hope: Keep an eye out for evidence of God’s people at work. Look for the presence of “small mustard seeds: of the kingdom and for what God is already doing the community.
Interact with the neighborhood - talk with anyone interested about personal, community issues and anything else that might come up; don’t be in a hurry; encourage people to share their passions & gifts with others, to come together around common concerns
October 24, 2008
CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY LISTENING
Delia Caderno & Michel philip
LEARNING CONVERSATION
Learning conversations are the way to build public
accountable relationships. Through these conversations you will discover what people care about.
Learning conversations begin with a questionnot an answer. How long have you lived here? Where did you live before? Why did you move here? How would you describe your community? What do you love most about living here? What is the community’s greatest
challenge?
October 24, 2008
CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY LISTENING
Delia Caderno & Michel philip
Learning ConversationsLearning Conversations should Invite
Participation
What would you like to see happen in this community?
How do you think you could help make that happen?
What talents and resources do you have to make this happen?
Would you be interested in meeting with others who have the same interest?
Learning Conversations Build and Strengthen Relationships. What associations/organizations/institutions are
you involved with? Who else should I be talking to? Do you want me to share with you what I learn
from talking to others?
October 24, 2008
CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY LISTENING
Delia Caderno & Michel philip
“Natural” Connections
We are in communication “naturally” withpeople everyday. Look for places whereyou are already connected and create “listening spaces”. Other Parents at school/park Co-workers PTA/Boys Scout/Art, Civic group Mail person Grocery Store owner/clerk Hair-stylist/Barber Laundry or Car wash place
October 24, 2008
CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY LISTENING
Delia Caderno & Michel philip
Community Surveys
Surveys and Interviews are another
helpful way to listen to your
community. Survey’s should be designed to
capture the thoughts of the diverse members of the community. There’s not a one-one-size fits all survey.
Surveys should be conducted with individuals, associations, institutions, businesses, government and social agencies to get the “big-picture” of your community.
October 24, 2008
CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY LISTENING
Delia Caderno & Michel philip
World Café Conversations
The World Café is an innovative yet simple method for hosting conversations about questions that matter.
A variety of conversations take place at the same time and they link and build on each other as people move between groups, cross-pollinate ideas, and discover new insights into the questions or issues that are most important in their life, work, or community.
As a process, the World Café can evoke and make visible the collective intelligence of any group, thus increasing people’s capacity for effective action in pursuit of common aims.
http://www.theworldcafe.com/bank.htm
October 24, 2008
CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY LISTENING
Delia Caderno & Michel philip
Community Gatherings
Community gatherings are essential ingredients in both listening to the community and inviting the community to Vision a preferred future together. It is important to hear what is being said AND to what is NOT being said.
Community gatherings can happen in a variety of ways. In an informal setting like a block-party, community clean-up OR formal like a “Town-Hall” meeting.
Gifts of the Heart, Hands and Mind.
October 24, 2008
CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY LISTENING
Delia Caderno & Michel philip
Listening to the Community is Transformational! Neighbors come together Relationships are created “Community” is Celebrated Venues are created where
individual gifts are recognized and valued.
Creates Generational and cultural bridges.
Leads to action!
October 24, 2008
CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY LISTENING
Delia Caderno & Michel philip
Franciscan Blessing
(from God’s Mission in the World, Augsburg Press)
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation & war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort themand to turn their pain into joy.
May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world,so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
And the Blessing of God Almighty, the Father,the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you forever. Amen.
October 24, 2008
CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY LISTENING
Delia Caderno & Michel philip
Resources for Action
Communities First, Jay Van Groningen;CRWRC (Book, workbooks, cd- including the Theology of Development) www.communitiesfirstassociation.org
Building Communities from the Inside Out -McKnight, Kretzman - [email protected]; or Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) Northwestern University-get order form.
Asset Based Strategies for Faith Communities - ACTA (800)397-2282
Power of Asset Mapping-How Congregation Can Act on its Gifts-Luther Snow; Alban Institute www.alban.org
Compassion, Justice and the Christian Life (Rethinking Ministry to the Poor) Robert Lupton, Regal Press
Transforming Power-Biblical Strategies for Making a Difference in Your Community-Robert Linthicum; IVP Books
Delia Caderno Partnership for Community Development (P4CT)(786)214-0828 [email protected]
Michael Philip Urban Resurrection (UREZ)([email protected]