Dublin Docklands Seniors Forum and the Limerick Story

‘Young people present us with a wonderful canvas, but Seniors

truly are a work of art.’

Cormac Russell

Pseudo-changePseudo-change

History

• 2007 Citizens demand Authority facilitate the establishment of a Seniors Forum to represent over 3,200 Seniors in the Dublin Docklands;

• A month later DDDA convened all Seniors Associations in the Docklands together through a strengths based process

Real change…Real change…

Addressing systems culture…..

TrustTrust

BMaking a Community of Place

People Place

AssociationsInstitutions

EconomicExchange

From needs to rights & assets

Balance responsibilities

Active ageing policies and programmes recognize the need to encourage and balance personal responsibility (self-care), age-friendly environments and intergenerational solidarity.

And nowadays….transition from village communities to themoney economy

Some see fluff.

1. Care & Mutuality2. Local economic develop3. Community safety4. Care for the environment5. Flexible response to local crisis6. Safe and sustainable food production7. Co-production and localism8. Social justice

Others see gold. (Core Economy)

Fundamental Needs

Security

Autonom

y

Belongin

gCompetence

?

Emotional & Material

Agency. Independence. Sense of efficacy in the world. Plus authenticity

Community, Family & Friends, as giver & receiver

Ability to sustain tasks of choosing, to contribute.

Russell, C (2010)

In a Welfare State……

What’s the fare for being well?

‘You can’t know what you need, till you know what you have…’

Our Solutions are often not fit for purpose

Neighbour-hood Organising

Even strangers are Twice as Likely to

Assist as You Think

Studies by Flynn & Lake (2010) of Columbia University show that people underestimate how likely others are to help by as much as 100%

Development trends

• Do development to the people• Do development for the people• Do development through the

people  • Do development with the people• Developing local capacity for self-

development

Consequences of the Power of the “Needs Map”

• Internalizations of the “deficiencies” identified by local residents

• Destruction of social capital• Reinforcement of narrow categorical

funding flows• Direction of funds toward professional

helpers, not residents• Focus on “leaders” who magnify

deficiencies• Rewarded failure, produced dependency• Created hopelessness

Community Asset Map-Ballinacurra Weston

IndividualsGifts, Skills, Capacities,

Knowledge and Traits of Youth

Older AdultsArtists

People with DisabilitiesStudentsParents

EntrepreneursActivists

InstitutionsSchools

UniversitiesCommunity CollegesPolice Departments

HospitalsLibraries

Social Service Agencies

Non ProfitsMuseums

Fire DepartmentsFoundations

Physical SpaceGardens

ParksPlaygroundsParking Lots

Walking PathsForests/Forest

PreservesPicnic AreasCampsites

Fishing Spots

StoriesOf background and personal historyOf what you like to do and contribute

Of existing and ongoing skills and capacities

Of successful community developmentOf economic growth

Of addressing discriminationOf including those who are marginalized

Of recognizing the value of everyoneOf a time when you or your group felt

appreciated and valuedOf a time the community was at its best

Local EconomyFor-Profit Businesses

Consumer ExpendituresMerchants

Chamber of CommerceBusiness Associations

BanksFoundationsInstitutional-

Purchasing Power and Personnel

Micro enterprisesLocal Coops

Corporations and Branches

Animal Care GroupsAnti Crime Groups

Residents AssocBusiness Organizations

Charitable GroupsCivic Events Groups

Cultural GroupsEducation Groups

Elderly GroupsEnvironmental Groups

Family Support Groups Health Advocacy and

Fitness Groups

Heritage GroupsHobby and Collectors Groups

Men’s Groups Mentoring Groups

Mutual Support GroupsNeighborhood Improvement

GroupsPolitical Organizations

Recreation GroupsReligious Groups

Service ClubsSocial GroupsUnion Groups

Women’s GroupsYouth Groups

Associations

Physical Space

Local Economy

StoriesInstitutions

Associations

Individuals

My Commun

ity

My Commun

ity

Our Community

A new policy anyone?Present Policy Why not also have a model that…

Focus on Deficiencies Focus on Assets

Problem Response Opportunity Identification

Charity Orientation Investment Orientation

Grants to Agencies Grants, Loans, Investments, Leverage

More Services Fewer Services

High Emphasis on Agencies Emphasis on Associations

Focus on Individuals Focus on communities/neighbourhoods

Maintenance Development

See People as Clients See People as Citizens and

Co-producers

‘Fix People’ Develop Potential

Programmes are the Answer People are the Answer

The move is from services to clients

to

supports for citizens

Inclusion

Social inclusion? Where it matters?

Participation

Friendship

Intimacy

Economic Exchange

Actually it takes a child to raise a village!

The main protagonists:

• Leader – someone that can bring people together to work on an issue

• Gift Giver – a person that is willing to contribute their asset to work on an issue.

• Invisible Person – a person that has not yet been “discovered” or been convinced to use their assets to help achieve their dreams for or fix their concerns in the neighborhood.

The unsung hero!

• Connector – an individual that is good at discovering what people care about and where their assets can be used.– Gift centered– Well connected– Trusted– Believe they are welcome

Asset Based CD model

• The Asset Based CD model lends to Seniors now saying – we are citizens (someone that contributes to the community)– We can all make a contribution– Community can take pride in itself– Local relationships are important and improvable – We are the answer– We are equal with others – we work together– But we also have rights to expect high levels of co-

production – And when services are unilaterally delivered we

will demand best in the class; transparency and accountability as standard.

Effective Communities

• Look inside first to solve problems

• Relationships are seen as power

• Have a good sense of assets and capacities, not just needs

• Leaders open doors

• Citizens are involved

• People take responsibility

• Leverage outside support effectively

• Are inclusive

1. What can you do with people power?

Once There is a

NEIGHBOURHOODVISION…ask

2. What can you do with help from outside agencies? What would that help look like?

3. What do you need outside agencies to do unilaterally?

Reflection points• What is your organization’s relationship to

community residents inclusive of Seniors? How accountable is your organization to the people and community it serves?

• How does your work foster communication and relationship-building among the people you serve and older residents in your community?

• How does your service define and engage constituents? What power do they have?

• What can you do to make your service more asset-based?

Take away messages

• There is more to a good life than services, and more at stake than money.

• Start from a place of strengths and wellness as opposed to deficits and sickness.

Thank you!

Cormac Russell,

Nurture Development

Nurture Strengths UK

+353 87 9280998

cormac@nurturedevelopment.ie

www.nurturedevelopment.ie