Hampton's "True" Civic Engagment model

So we (the Neighborhood Office) are exploring this year what "true" Civic engagement is, what our most effective role should be within the city, and how we can strengthen neighborhoods in Hampton. No small task by any stretch. To really understand what we need to do we have to understand what has been done.

The work that was started here over 15 years ago to find better ways for citizens and government to work together (in partnership), was revolutionary at the time. The early 90's in Hampton saw other revolutionary programs around drug prevention, positive youth development, healthy family, and youth in government. The city leaders (most being Hampton residents as well) knew that the city's work needed to be done differently. They no longer wanted to develop plans, programs, and policies, only for them to be opposed or resented by the citizens they were working to serve. Trust of local government was quite low.

The short story version was that the leaders gathered and agreed upon a new Neighborhood Initiative that would change the way decisions were made. No longer would a professional make a decision in isolation based on their best understanding. Now, those with the greatest interest in the decisions (residents, property, and business owners) would be the ones to influence the decisions through deliberative discussions.

This type of initiative was largely unheard of from within a local government and even today large metro areas are still slow to adapt true civic engagement principles. The local leaders had to use their best judgment and advice of the citizens they serve and create a new way of doing business in Hampton. From that a body of community leaders, institutional representatives, business leaders, and city leaders was appointed by the city council to strengthen our neighborhoods and affect positive change. Leaders worked with staff to shape the future of the city and establish long term plans. They begin to build networks of residents, organizations, and leaders that had an interest, a dream for a better community, a hope in the power of collaboration.

Through the years they saw many successes in safety (second/third safest city in Hampton Roads), youth (nationally recognized youth civic engagement initiative), community enhancement (over $1 mil given to neighborhoods for public improvement), leadership development (Youth Leadership Academy, Neighborhood College & Workshop Series), education (beautification, volunteerism, and leadership). But with all great initiatives, challenges with sustainability of innovation and motivation are always looming overhead.

So we find ourselves, especially as the economy and communication media have changed, we must look for the next revolutionary approach the allows for a sustainable approach. Very few of those that developed the vision of neighborhood partnership are still around today. Retirements, advancements, health, societal changes have left us with a fewer founding faces, forgotten history, old ways, and lots of new tools.

There are now numerous opportunities for the "re-invention," "re-energizing," and "re-adoption" of the founding principles of the original Neighborhood Initiative. However, challenges lie in identifying and energizing the new "trust agents" (from Chris Brogan) in the community, renewing a sense of hope in collaboration, and celebrating the amazing things that one small community can achieve with shared efforts.

Next Post: How simple is community involvement needed to make a positive change?

Awsome resource on community development!

 I was reading Janice Foster's blog (Grassroots Grantmaking) and saw a publication from Indianapolis that might be of use.

What an awesome resource! Well worth the read and definitely deserves sharing for any neighborhood or community leader. The material applies to multiple areas and fields of work. Definitely a worthwhile resource!

Read her review and download a copy of the Organizers Workbook here.

Support through Ownership to Improve Effectiveness (Part 2)

A brief follow-up to the last post. Once we have ownership established, meaning the ones who have the greatest investment in results of the activity are activily involved in the entire planning process, then you move from an object or a resource and into a partnership role.  This is most commonly seen in youth development models of youth participation in programing. The result is a program that lasts because the participants are also partners in the process. They are integral in planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating a program or ministry.

Do you go with what is often comfortable which often isn't as effective? Do you take the time to find the key stakeholders and develop a much more effective product? 

I have always heard that in community building you have to go slow to go fast and far. This reminds us that often the process can be taxing and time consuming in the front but the results will be a much more efficient and effective product for the community that you serve. If I only include those in my own circle of influence then the circle of my ministry or work will never grow. 

I must use the social capital with the circles I am connected so that they can expand my influence to their own unique circles. But if I wait to include them at the end just to tell them what to do or where to be when, then I will inevitablly only recieve mediocre fruit for the my work. Thus, ownership of the process, the implementation, evaluation and celebration will result in a much more effective product. I must be reminded that I don't work for my boss or my paycheck but I work for the citizens, the youth, my neighbors, my friends, my family. If I don't do my job well, then they are the ones who will suffer for my bad decisions. I must take ownership of as well as offer it. Ownership builds responsibility, creates effectiveness, enhances our work.

Support through Ownership to Improve Effectiveness (Part 1)

I haven't posted as regularly because I've been busy at work and at church lately. It has been interesting to me how one concept has been reaffirmed repeatedly in the last two weeks. That concept is the essential key to community building, at the heart of democracy, and is one of the most powerful tools in building an organization, a movement, or community. 

The concept of creating support through building ownership come from 2 principles - 

1. Those most impacted by decisions should be involved in the decisions impacting them
   
2. Self-sacrifice and giving creates a greater level of ownership and involvement.

The importance here is that when we are given the opportunity to...

1. be involved from the beginning, 
2. give of our time, talent or other resources, and 
3. take an active role in decisions surrounding that activity or group, 

...then we tend to be committed longer, give more than we would have, and see more value in the results. 

Imagine I ask someone to do a construction job but share no vision with them, no blue prints, and no sketches. Then we wonder why the project didn't succeed or to level of quality we wanted. This happens all too often in community building. We as organizers, planners, leaders, decision makers treat people as recipients of our service rather than resources in the process. 

Many times we treat participants or members as if we are the Jordan river and they are the "Dead Sea" - the most mineral rich body of water on earth. We pour in resources and time (minerals/nutrients) and then expect them to miraculously take leadership or support our cause (growth/life). The reality is we have just saturated them with minerals and because there is no outlet for those resources to be shared or absorbed. 

The key message, in this Part 1 on Ownership, is that we cannot expect people to be involved because of us or our resources, we are replaceable. The most effective way to get others involved is because of their own self interest. We are our best motivators, our self interest is why we get involved and rarely will we do something because others want us to do it. Call it human nature, the flesh, or capitalism, the "what's in it for me" holds a powerful role in the programs, initiatives or ministries we manage. Capitalizing on it in a honorable and intentional way will advance our activities immensely.

Part 2 - Ownership to Citizenship to a stronger Community

Authentic Demand

Check out Grassroots Grantmakers blog from Tony Macklin on Annie E Casey Foundations report of Sustaining Neighborhood Change and "authentic demand" here. 

A good read and a great blog to follow. Enjoy!

Honor, Fear, Love: Keys to Christian Citizenship

It has been a while since I've posted due to a plethora of reasons that range from family, work and church activity and commitments. I was inspired to write today because of a passage that has grabbed my attention. But first let me share a little context for my study.

In a Sunday School class that I teach of young single adults, the other teacher and I developed a series called "Intentional Living." We are focusing on practical application of biblical principles on issues that closely impact singles and young adults.  We are covering topics such as "Singleness of mind & heart,"  "Right giving, Right Living,"  "The Family: Love, Submit & Obey," "The 5 Love Languages," "Outreach & Evangelism," "Church Body Building," and "Healthy body, Healthy soul." Rather than the traditional alternating teacher lecture style with just the same two teachers, we have elicited help from several experienced leaders in the church to share a 20 minute study (straight and to the key points) and lead a 20 minute discussion on the topic.

The format and the topics aren't ground breaking but the secondary impacts have been greater than expected - attendance is more consistent, students have conversations with leaders outside of class, current leaders are now more connected to the future leaders in the congregation.

So back to where I start this post. I have been tapped to teach a "Truth, Justice and the Christian Way" mini series on civic responsibility and social justice. I was studying the following passage and the last verse has sat with me constantly in the past few months:

13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

" Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the King." Four simple rules to live by as Christians. Even more importantly in today's climate, four principles to govern by. Here is my quick summary of these 4 simple rules, please share you comments:

• Honour All Men. We must remember the humanity of a man/woman and not just his/her profession  or stature in society. Do we respect and treat a millionaire CEO the same way we respect the homeless person we pass on a busy street. We must remember that each is a lost soul in need of Christ. No one comes from a high position in life because we are all humbled by our guilty sin.
  
  
• Love the Brotherhood. There is a unique bond between Christians that we should crave more of and cherish. This isn't a bond with the church but a bond with the brother/sisters in Christ. Our "allegiance" is to Christ and his joint-heirs not the organizations, institutions or structures we create. The brotherhood is about relationships, people to people, and great value should be given to these relationships in our lives.
  
  
• Fear God. The core of our life and world view should be a fearful respect for God. This is our guiding instruction that sets the standard for all of actions. We develop this fear from study of his word and spending time with him in prayer.
  
  
• Honour the King. The king represents the civic government that is in authority. As Peter writes in verse 13, we are to submit to the "king's" authority and ordinance that our just living will be an example to the lost and foolish. We cannot expect to follow the holy instruction of God if we are unable to follow the simple instruction of earthly kings. But as Psalms 118:8 says,  "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes." Honour but don't expect the prince or the king to provide the needs that only the Lord can provide through faith.

Just a few thoughts as I study the topic. I hope to bring more on a subject that I find fascinating and timely. Please let me know your thoughts on the subject, other reference materials, or your studies on the subject. Have a blessed week!

Diets, Dollars, and Dialogue

A new year brings new resolutions, new goals, and new hope. January reminds us that last year is now truly history and we've been given the opportunity to have a year to change what we did or did not do the year before. Many choose to change their diets, their spending, their friends, their routines.

At this point in the month, many of us have already given up on at least one of our planned changes. I guess you can say many of us have "failed" in some area of our life. I recently was in a class by a successful local businessman who emphasized the fact that we only truly fail not when we fail to succeed but fail to continue to try. But even still many of us tend to hold out hope that we will start the change "next week."

Change is a relative term. I believe that this is especially true in this most recent election and new presidency, with change as a key topic of discussion and motivation for millions in the last election. Millions became involved on a historic scope, in many areas of the country because they hope in the prospect of change. Some may hope for change in the middle eastern wars, the economy, abortion laws, marriage laws, drug enforcement, fossil fuels, climate change, or the way our democracy is run.

I must be honest and say that I have been intrigued with Obama's presidency this first week. From inauguration, to GITMO, and economic recovery discussions, I have been listening for my own version of change - a change in dialogue. So often politicians are elected to represent a constituency, but unlike true statesmen, they fail to do build a broad enough constituency to develop fair dialogue on the issues they are faced with. Political community organizing is often done to advance an agenda, secure a re-election, or prevent an opposing group from gaining ground. I hope to explore the idea of dialogue and deliberative democracy in the next few weeks.

In the mean time, check out some entries from some others on this issue.

Organizing for America (Social Capital)
"Start Listening" (Harwood Institute)

People Power (Peter Levine)

Consider what your approach to these tough issues of change have been. Are you looking for root causes, common areas of agreement, or just differences? How can this new administration foster local organization and dialogue around these national, state and local issues to bring effective, realistic and transformational change?