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Healthy People and Communities Takes a Relay Race
As I do ABCD consulting and training I have been seeking a metaphor to explain why we need the gifts of the people we serve as co-producers of their own and their community's well-being to truly make a difference. I think I have that metaphor in the idea of a marathon vs. a relay race. I would love to hear peoples comments and suggestions.
If we view institutions and professionals as the ones responsible for improving the lives of the people they serve as a Marathon race (26.2 miles or 42.195 kilometers) and the finish line as where they actually achieve that outcome of improving the lives of those they touch, it becomes clear that institutions and professionals do not have enough energy, stamina,and resources to cross thefinish line. They just cannot go the 26 miles alone. To be successful we must turn the individual Marathon into a relay race. Institutionsand professionals must pass the baton to the people they serve and their associations, neighborhoods, ad communities. In a relay race everyone has a role to play and by working together we can cross the finish line.
As a relay race, theinstitutionsand professionals can save their energy for only those things they must do, and not try anddo those things that people/residents can do for themselves. They can also save energy by working together with people on those things that require joint efforts. But most importantly, they can stop using their energy to do those things that people can do for themselves. Conversely, as a relay race, the people they serve must be supported asco-producersto do those things that only they can do to ensure their own and their community's well-being. We must pass the baton back and forth. Collectivelywe can can cross the finish line asequal partners and finish the race to buildstronger, healthier and safer neighborhoods, communitiesand their residents.
The challenge forinstitutionsand professionals is how toviewthe people andcommunitiesthey serve aspartners in arelay race and not just people at the finish linewaiting for the runners that never come.
And of course, as in a relay race it is important to recognise that everyone in 'the team' has a particular strength and therefore a specific role to play in the race. Sometimes the challenge is for the sprinter to know they cannot win the race alone, but they have their own leg to achieve.