Forum Activity for @john-hamerlinck

Do attitude changes using ABCD last?

Data, Evaluation, and Research

Hi Ian. I have spent time in the sometimes uneasy intersection of ABCD and higher education. Here are two quick, initial reactions to your query.

1. ABCD is not intended as a strategy for the self-actualization of community members. ABCD is about organizing communities to lock arms, and get things done. The goal isnt permanently fixing peoples attitudes, or dispositions.
2. Peer review is based on an expert model. It is almost the antithesis of ABCD the wisdom of the few having primacy over the wisdom of amateurs. The evaluation that matters is that of the folks who decided to organize, and produce a better future. Look at the literature around the problems with peer review, and you may find insights into your current dilemma.

Maintenance vs. Real Change

Open Discussions

I recently wrote a piece on my website titled: "Balancing charitable maintenance with actions that achieve real social change." I would like to get some feedback on it, plus get additional insight from folks in this space, before writing a follow-up piece.

updated by @john-hamerlinck: 10/24/16 05:36:14AM

Talking Pieces

Tips, Tools, Strategies, and Technology

Hi Sheryl,

Id consider doing a little basic community organizing prior to meeting. I am a fan of starting with one-on-one conversations before moving to larger groups. Marginalized people feel unheard for a variety of reasons. Some have experienced poorly facilitated events before, and are suspicious of the processes that theyve participated in. Other people are simply shy, or introverted, and even though they have a great deal of value to contribute, they just shut down in groups. Other folks are simply too busy to attend larger meetings.

One-on-ones can help in all of these cases. The person who has been burned by being shut out of processes before gets validation from a conversation where another stakeholder has their full attention. The shy person feels like they have someone who has their back an ally who could provide support in a larger group. The busy person can at least have their ideas delivered by proxy, and may be tapped to contribute later, at a more convenient time.

Ideas for Consultations that are fun?

Tips, Tools, Strategies, and Technology

You might try this: Prior to meeting, ask people to take photos, or draw pictures of good things in the community - things that they like about where they live.Use those images to prompt small group conversations about how those good things might be connected in an effort to create something new. You may be surprised by some of the pictures. You may get a sense that the things that young people value are perhaps different than the things identified by older folks.

Asset Maps

Asset Mapping & Gift Inventories

Hi James. Depending at what scale you are defining community, I am not convinced that a comprehensive, community-wide asset map is an effective exercise from a strategic point of view. I prefer starting with identifying multiple goals that folks are committed to achieving, and then mapping, connecting, and mobilizing the assets of smaller groups of stakeholders to achieve specific outcomes. Maps change constantly, so an archived document will lose value even with periodic updating.

Evaluating Relationships with Community Partners

ABCD and Institutions (Universities, Hospitals, Government, Libraries, NGOs, etc.)

Of course.

Evaluating Relationships with Community Partners

ABCD and Institutions (Universities, Hospitals, Government, Libraries, NGOs, etc.)

Hi Teryn,

The fact that you want to measure relationships is an indication that you value relationships. That's a great place to start. I have two thoughts.

First, one of the most important aspects of any relationship is trust. I'm sure there is a social scientist out there who will tell you that you can quantify trust (I trust you 7, I trust you 4.6 . . .), but I'm not sure I'd want to engage in that research. I think that those kinds of numbers diminish the value of relationship building. I would look for stories that provide evidence of trust.

Secondly, I would focus the evaluation on contribution rather than attribution. How multiple people contribute to a whole paints a picture of relationship. How did people's actions complement the actions of others? Did they act knowing this connection in advance? What actions in collaborative work were not based on contractual agreements, or exchange of some sort?

Best of luck.

applying the ABCD approach

ABCD - Getting Started/Challenges

Hi Kimberly.Just one thought. I would think small. Even though there is not a general consensus among community members, there are smaller groups of people who do share common goals. These smaller groups can certainly act without everyone's permission. Small successes will most likely lead to other people believing that community-building can lead to positive things.

Resources and Ideas Please

Shared Resources and Materials

Hi Dawn, I would suggest a project that is applied, rather than merely theoretical. Do you have a small group of folks who are interested in improving the quality of life in your community in some way? You could create a vision, identify your capacities (assets), connect them in creative ways, and act. Regardless of how small a project you take on, you will have planted some seeds, and deepened relationships. Your academic project could be a case study focused on how your work in the community was reflected in the basic principles of ABCD. Good luck.

When the Internet generation thinks ABCD is a dinosaur?

ABCD - Getting Started/Challenges

Yes, they did know ahead of time that there would be training on 1-to-1 conversations. They showed up for a variety of reasons - recommendation of a faculty member, membership in a student org that felt they could benefit from knowing something about organizing, curiosity about community conversations, particular local issues they thought might be talked about . . .

It was by no means an effort to drum up broad participation. The training did not for example, follow any kind of visioning or goal setting. It was more of an opportunity for the already motivated or curious to gain some useful skills.