Sustainable community development: from what's wrong to what's strong | Cormac Russell | TEDxExeter
TEDx Talks・14 minutes read
Helping should focus on strengths rather than weaknesses, as imposed change can feel like violence and cause unintended harm. Emphasizing community strengths over weaknesses leads to transformative outcomes and a more inclusive world where everyone collaborates towards solutions.
Insights
- Change imposed on individuals can feel like violence, while self-driven change is liberating, as noted by Rosabeth Moss Kanter, emphasizing the importance of empowering individuals to find their own solutions.
- Focusing on strengths within individuals and communities, rather than weaknesses, is crucial for effective help, as highlighted by various studies and exemplified in initiatives like the UK's Leeds and Wirral programs, showcasing transformative outcomes through community engagement and support.
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Recent questions
How can change imposed on people feel?
Change imposed on people can feel like violence, according to Rosabeth Moss Kanter. She highlights that self-driven change is liberating, while change forced upon individuals can be perceived as oppressive and harmful. This distinction underscores the importance of empowering individuals to drive their own transformations rather than imposing external solutions.
What should effective help focus on?
Effective help should focus on strengths within individuals and communities, not weaknesses. By recognizing and building upon existing strengths, individuals and communities can experience sustainable growth and positive change. This approach shifts the focus from problems to solutions, empowering people to take ownership of their development and fostering a sense of agency and self-reliance.
What is the impact of focusing on weaknesses in assistance programs?
Focusing on weaknesses in assistance programs can lead to unintended harm. This harmful focus can result in defining individuals by their problems, misallocation of funds, diminished active citizenship, and dependency on external solutions. By shifting the focus towards strengths and assets, assistance programs can better support individuals and communities in achieving long-term success and well-being.
How can community engagement lead to transformative outcomes?
Community engagement can lead to transformative outcomes by harnessing the strengths and resources within a community. By involving community members in decision-making processes and initiatives, a sense of ownership and empowerment is fostered. This collaborative approach not only addresses challenges more effectively but also strengthens social bonds, enhances well-being, and promotes sustainable change within the community.
What is the significance of grassroots actions in community support?
Grassroots actions in community support play a crucial role in fostering transformative change. By identifying and mobilizing the strengths within communities, individuals can address challenges collectively and create sustainable solutions. This bottom-up approach emphasizes the power of local initiatives, active citizenship, and community collaboration in creating a more inclusive and prosperous society.
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Summary
00:00
"Emphasizing Strengths: Transformative Community Change Worldwide"
- The question "can I help you?" is a common inquiry made by many individuals daily.
- Helping others is a powerful human impulse, but certain forms of assistance can be harmful.
- Rosabeth Moss Kanter highlights that change imposed on people can feel like violence, while self-driven change is liberating.
- Effective help should focus on strengths within individuals and communities, not weaknesses.
- Various studies emphasize the importance of relationships and community for happiness and well-being.
- Many governmental and non-governmental programs focus on weaknesses rather than strengths, causing unintended harm.
- This harmful focus leads to defining individuals by their problems, misallocation of funds, diminishing active citizenship, and fostering dependency on external solutions.
- A more effective approach to helping involves starting with strengths, as demonstrated by John McKnight and Jody Kretzmann's research on sustainable community change.
- Examples from Leeds and Wirral in the UK showcase how focusing on strengths and community engagement can lead to transformative outcomes.
- The global shift towards emphasizing community strengths over weaknesses is evident in various countries, with practical initiatives demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach.
15:30
Empowering educators through community supermarket initiative.
- A school focused on providing life skills alongside education created a supermarket within the premises to support teachers on low salaries, enabling them to purchase local produce at reduced prices, fostering dignity and morale among educators.
- Emphasizing grassroots actions and community support, the narrative highlights the transformative power of individuals identifying strengths within communities to address challenges, envisioning a more inclusive and fruitful world where everyone collaborates towards solutions without distinctions between those with problems and those with solutions.
