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In the Netherlands, local communities are countering multinational power companies.
Language: Dutch
Subtitles: English
S.O.S. is recognized as the international signal for help. Our neighbors in Sunnyside, WA, are looking for ways of how their neighborhoods can be changed. In the context of community, change does not happen in a vacuum, nor is brought from the outside, or solved with programs. Change is the result of multiple decisions, actions by people.
More community residents are asking: "How can we come together?" "how do we work together for a common cause?" "how do we work together for the betterment of our communities?". In a democracy like ours, the power, energy and commitment to take the path toward community change lies within individuals.The creation of harmonious relationships, collaborative partners, and igniting the passion of residents, businesses, institutions relies on relationships between these individuals and entities.
To learn and practice Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) within a specific neighborhood or community, requires first a paradigm shift: A worldview of abundance, not deficit. Asset-based thinkers, posit the notion that communities are in need of people exhibiting these characteristics:
- Self - They remind themselves that they are possessors of skills, abilities, talents that they can contribute in a larger community context. They believe that giving of their capacities, abilities, talents can be brought to bear in addressing local challenges. Notions and practices about altruism, service to others, teamwork have been proven to help people become less selfish and more attuned with people's plight in community.
- Others - the point refers to the focus on the strengths and talents of others, and the positive qualities in our relationships such as trust, respect, reciprocity.Notions and practices about altruism, service to others, teamwork have been proven to help people become less selfish and more attuned with people's plight in community.
- Situations - Focused on the good experiences resulting from specific situations created by residents. Good experiences occur naturally between people; they stimulate opportunity, spark creativity, and energize people to forge ahead. Even unwelcome situations contain important assets - learning opportunities, develop "out-of-the-box" solutions for complex problems.
What is our community's S.O.S.?
Is a call to action. Bring your heart, mind, gifts, talents to work with like-minded neighbors to a make an impact for the whole community. Join us! Visit our Facebook page to learn more about more projects.