HIST Model Community Transformation

1. HIST ModelCommunity Transformation

2. Intro to Community Development GROUP ACTIVITY: Take 5 minutes to create a one or two sentence definition of Community Development.

3. Community Assessment GROUP ASSIGNMENT: Using your definition of Community Development, assess one of the following communities.

4. Community Assessment #1 Indonesia

5. Community Assessment #2 Somaliland

6. Community Assessment #3 Myanmar

7. Community Assessment Choose one community: Describe what you see. What are the issues? What will you do? #1 Indonesia #3 Myanmar / Burma #2 Somaliland

8. DEFINITION Community Transformation: A comprehensive, integrated approach that enables community-wide transformation by improving the baseline capacities of a community so that it is able to sustain itself and provide dignity and justice for its members.

9. How many Mangos are in a Seed? We all can count the seeds in a mango, but who can count the mangos in a seed? A seed is full of potential. As we look at communities, how do we assess them? Do we see their problems, or do we help create an environment which maximizes the potential in the “seed” of that community?

10. Community Transformation What issues affect Community Transformation? Worldview Foundations Methodology

11. Worldview – Our Belief Systems are our worldview, which is that solid rock into which we anchor the blocks that form the foundation of our lives. Foundations – These are the building blocks we lay in our lives built upon the worldview rock. We integrate important stones into our foundations, which determine whether the “buildings” we build in our lives will be sturdy and long lasting. This forms our actions and our life style and also defines our response to the challenges of our community’s transformation. Aspects that Impact Development Methodology – These are the visible outward expressions or methods of presenting our worldviews and our foundations, but they are the external issues and are not as important as the invisible things upon which we base our Belief Systems.

12. Belief System Each of us has a set of lenses through which we interpret the world around us. Based upon what we see through these lenses, we create a “belief system” for our lives, which becomes our worldview. We evaluate our life and culture, making choices accordingly. Worldview

13. Belief System Formation • In each of our lives, there have been key people or other sources that have influenced us. Name some of the “influencers” that helped you build and form your worldview. • These could include influencers, such as: • Parents Siblings Friends • Teachers Vocation Religion • Culture Media Others…? • Worldviews of individuals collectively form the worldviews and cultures of communities. Worldview

14. Worldviews and their Foundations • Each worldview has, as its roots, a specific belief system, out of which values are derived, leading to corresponding behaviors, which produce varied results. • In other words ideas, and the values we place on them, produce behaviors and lifestyles that impact people, changing cultures, nations and history. Worldview

15. Worldview: It Develops like a Tree Fruit = Results Branches = Behaviors Trunk = Values Roots = Belief Systems Worldview 1Darrow Miller, “Power of Story,” Disciple Nations Alliance, 16 Oct 2007

16. Worldview Influences Foundations Discord Dishonesty Oppression Freedom Honesty Healthy Relationships False Perceptions Ignorance Manipulation Truth Truth Knowledge & Wisdom What kind of foundations will we lay for Community Transformation? What may be the visible end result?

19. Primary Challenge to Development We must correctly address the single, most negative influence that inhibits the efforts of those that work to achieve healthy Community Development… …POVERTY Methodology

20. Dependence to Dignity Continuum What is real Wealth? Where does real Wealth fit on this continuum? Where do the poor fit on this continuum? Self- sustainability Pauperism Poverty Wealth Pauper – Extremely poor person with no support from family or neighbors; totally dependent upon external support. The Poor person can move toward Wealth... …Or toward Pauperism. We want to enable them move toward Self-Sustainability. Methodology

21. Worldviews and their Responses to Poverty • Of all the worldviews, there are three worldviews which incorporate ideas from many of the major belief systems and offer distinctive approaches to poverty: • Animistic • Humanistic/Materialistic • Holistic Methodology

22. Definitions • Animism – “the belief in a supernatural power that organizes and animates the material universe,”2 or an organizing force in the universe as a separate spirit. • Materialism – the theory that “the only thing that exists is matter; that all things are composed of material and all phenomena (including consciousness) are the result of material interactions,”3 or what can be perceived by the five senses in the material world. 2 Oxford Dictionaries, “animism,” 25 June 2010 <http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_us1221920#m_en_us1221920> 3 Wikipedia, “Materialism,” 25 June 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Materialism>

23. Definitions • Humanism – “A doctrine, attitude, or way of life centered on human interests or values; especially: a philosophy that usually rejects supernaturalism and stresses an individual's dignity and worth and capacity for self-realization through reason”4 • Holistic approach – An integrated approach that focuses on complete or whole systems, the temporal and the eternal, valuing body, soul, mind and spirit. 4Merriam-Webster, “humanism,” 25 June 2010 <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humanism>

24. Definitions • Dichotomy – A division or contrast between two things that are, or are represented as, being opposed or entirely different5, and can also be understood as a split in thinking. 5 Oxford Dictionaries, “dichotomy,” 25 June 2010 <http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_us1240174#>m_en_us1240174>

25. Animism: Belief System and Values • The causes of hunger and poverty lie outside the physical world • Floods, earthquakes, droughts and diseases are physical manifestations of irrational forces • There are millions of gods, who are unpredictable • Bad things happen when the gods are angry • Effort expended in helping the poor is done as a way to gain favor with the gods or move to a “higher state” Methodology

26. Animism: Behavior and Results • Constantly appease the gods • Live in harmony • Because suffering is a virtue, just endure it • Survive the endless cycle of existence and escape the world • Believe there are no lasting solutions, so no point trying to help those in need Methodology

27. Humanism, a form of Materialism Materialism: considers all things impersonal; hunger and poverty are a result of the lack of shared resources. Mankind must struggle for control of these resources Humanism: Builds upon a foundation that centers on man as the focus of all things Emphasizes the outward things of life, it seeks to evolve mankind to a higher level by conquering poverty and other social ills Methodology

28. Humanism - Belief System • Humanism is currently the most commonly accepted approach to poverty alleviation: • Mankind is good, but the ‘System’ is bad • Dichotomized thinking, with over-emphasis of physical/material realm vs. non-physical • It concludes that mankind’s endeavors to bring change fail because of the belief that the world is a “closed” universe, consisting of: • Too many people • Too few natural resources • Oppression through complex, unjust social and economic structures Methodology

29. Humanist View of Poverty Lack of assets Material Poverty Lack of reserves Lack of choices Easy to coerce Too many dependents Lack of strength Vulnerability Physical Weakness Powerlessness Isolation Lack of education Excluded from system Lack of influence Lack of social power Exploited by powers 6 Robert Chambers, Rural Development — Putting The Last First (New York: Longmans Scientific and Technical Publishers, 1983) 110

30. Humanism - Values • Over-emphasis on physical resources and the physical realm of nature • Try to overcome one’s selfish nature by ‘doing good’ • Value charitable giving, in the hope that by transferring or redistributing wealth, people will move from poverty to prosperity Methodology

31. Humanism – Behavior “Absolute faith in our ability to control our own destiny…”7 An approach which attempts to change how societies function and redirect the lives of others Attempt to redistribute society’s wealth Methodology 7 David W. Ehrenfeld, The Arrogance of Humanism (New York: Oxford University Press, 1981) 9-10

32. Humanism - Approach Examples of development efforts that have not moved people from dependence to dignity, in spite of massive resource investment: Aid Programs Impoverished Nations Centralized Control Communist Nations Human Development Western Nations Methodology

33. Aid and GDP Growth in Africa8 Aid as a percentage of GDP Methodology

34. Centralized Control Systems* Example: Soviet Union *(Graph Indicates General Trends Only) Methodology

35. Humanism’s Response to Poverty USA - an example of a nation, which transitioned from its original societal model to a humanistic approach to poverty: Early USA had virtually no poor Poor cared for by families, neighbors and churches Believed: if given the option, people opt to not work Therefore, endorsed a work ethic, with motivations: “Work, Be Independent” “Don’t work, Go Hungry”9 Poor Houses were established requiring: An “Oath of Poverty” No “Outdoor Relief” allowed = donations given without accountability lead to pauperism The focus of Aid was to help to find work10 Methodology 9 Marvin Olasky, The Tragedy of American Compassion (Washington, D.C.: Regnery Publishing, 1992) 10 10 Olasky, 13

36. Humanism’s Response to Poverty Until the late 1870’s, “there was no national welfare system and very little…state…”11 assistance Society’s goal in early years Personal examination of need12 Giving was based on personal involvement not material aid13 Promote good role models – people who had lived wisely However, a transition took place Change of belief that man is naturally good and productive Dichotomy introduced – spiritual uncoupled from physical No further requirement to work for self-sustenance Pay others to care for poor - do what we do not want to do Methodology 11 Olasky, 71 12 Olasky, 19 13 Olasky, 14

37. Humanism’s Response to Poverty By the early 1900’s, a new belief system evolved, which proposed that: “people are naturally good and that every person has a right to…temporal prosperity.”14 “…everyone had a right to sustenance, and that forced redistribution of wealth through a collective agency might well be the moral way to fight poverty.”15 “…social distinctions…were the cause of evil. The way to end evil was to redistribute wealth…to tax the better off and distribute…to those less well off.”16 Methodology 14 Olasky, 50 15 Olasky, 51 16 Olasky, 55

38. Humanism’s Response to Poverty Proponents created social associations, which depersonalized how issues of poverty were handled Associations set the example by readily giving financial assistance without verifying people’s need or willingness to work Eventually, the US government adopted this approach and set up welfare departments, which began to give out cash, rather than material aid Methodology

39. Humanism - Results: Dependence Most governments and agencies have implemented policies, which resulted in dependency, creating welfare states Mass media has an insatiable appetite for the extreme and problematic story Communities have little incentive to become producers;rather, they become “consumers of services”, creating a “client community” mindset Methodology

40. Humanism - Results: Dependence Funding is based on problem-oriented data collected from “needs surveys” Most institutions and organizations are funded based on their numbers of “poor” clients Society's most influential institutions have a vested interest in maintaining policies and programs that are deficiency-oriented As a result, institutions and organizations have little motivation to help lift people out of poverty or other societal ills Methodology

41. Summary of Results • Many communities and nations, which received funds from aid organizations and individuals are now worse off than before they received aid • The net-effect has been minimal or resulted in a negative change: • No long-term improvement in quality of life • Minimal poverty alleviation

42. Laying New Foundations Re-Align Behavior to build Positive Relationships Reform Values Change of Belief System Paradigm to a Holistic Worldview Truth

43. Holistic: Belief System • Defines the world or the universe as an “open” system not a “closed” system • Hunger and poverty begin inside of human beings • Poverty is not a lack of resources, rather it is rooted in a “culture” of poverty - a set of ideas held corporately that produce certain behaviors which, in turn, yield poverty Methodology

44. Holistic: Values • Resources must be handled responsibly • Not all resources are limited because many are renewable • We can use our creativity to take what is available and multiply it exponentially • Poverty is not the result of a lack of material goods or resources, but rather the result of broken relationships Methodology

45. Poverty as…Broken Relationships Diminished value of the Creator Social System: political, economic, religious, local / global Creator Individual to Themselves Marred identity, poverty of being, diminished vocation Oppression Access denied Moral povertyWeb of lies Violence Racism Domination Self Self Others Community = broken orunjust relationships Environment Overused land Poor land No land 17 Adapted from: Bryant L. Myers, Walking with the Poor (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2000) 87

46. Holistic: Behavior • Focus of community transformation is asset-based • Encourage people to prepare and build constructive societal models that restore dignity and value to individuals and communities • Train people to be Agents of Change – active, positive influencers in their society • Agents of Change work with entrepreneurs to lay solid foundations Methodology

47. Agents of Change They can help a community, if they will: Accept the people of the community Engage community - build relationships Serve as a catalyst within the community Strategically nurture communities to health Create change by influencing all sectors of society Transformed Communities result in Transformed Nations

48. Holistic: Results • Sustainable, healthy societies • Change is stimulated at all levels: • Personal • Societal • Broken relationships restored • Inner resources identified = assets • Developed capabilities (quality) • Built capacities (quantity) Methodology

49. The HIST Model for Community Transformation H Holistic Incorporating the whole person (all aspects) Incorporating all sectors of societies I Integrated Accepted into the community A part of that community S Sustainable Long-term, Lasting Reproducible T Transformation Complete, all-encompassing change of the community Change paradigm and thinking of communities

50. Asset-Based Community Transformation (ABCT) Characteristics: Asset-based18 (Capacity-focused) Look within community for answers Relationship-driven Holistic approach to development Each person has value with multi-dimensional assets/needs Each community has sectors with various and multi-faceted assets/needs Methodology • Kretzmann, J.P., & McKnight, J.L., (1993). Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community's Assets ,Asset-Based Community Development Institute, , http://www.abcdinstitute.org/publications/basicmanual/