Asset-Based Community Development Reflection

Rachel Gerton

3/14/18

Misericordia’s mission statement itself is the foundation of focusing on

assets. The goal to maximize the “independence, self-determination, interpersonal

relationships, and engagement” of all residents highlights the capabilities and assets

of each individual and shifts focus to these resources. While this may not always be

demonstrated in practice when deficits are identified throughout the organization, I

think Misericordia is consistently identifying that the ultimate focus is always on the

residents.

In John McKnight’s basic outline of Asset-Based Community Development, he

identifies “Local Residents” as the first building block of this framework. Secondly,

are the “gifts, skills, and capacities of these local residents” that are used as building

blocks for community development. This is seen clearly in the way Misericordia

focuses on the capabilities of all residents through normalizing the lifestyle and day-

to-day functioning of the organization. Many residents are employed at

Misericordia’s restaurant, bakery, or as laundry or cleaning staff, and others are

hired out in the community at restaurants or small businesses. This focus on skill,

knowledge, and experiences upholds the idea of an asset-based community

development full of producers rather than consumers. Misericordia is not simply

relying on external help or charity, but rather utilizing their resources and skills to

create sustainability. In this way, Mis has focused immensely on the assets of their

community and falls back on these assets whenever an issue arises.

 The consideration of deficits is also important however, especially in

identifying areas of growth for the organization. For example, in the fitness

department specifically there is a lack of staff and economic resources. While the

current staff is utilizing assets such as the interns and volunteers, it is still a deficit

that they have identified and need to address.

I think for me, it is often harder to identify assets when I immediately enter

into a new community. Without the knowledge, understanding, and experience in a

specific community, I am only able to see the superficial shortcomings of that

community or organization as an outsider. I try to combat this with patience

knowing that there are many intricacies within assets of a community. One instance

of this was when I first began interning at Misericordia. On the first day, a huge

number of residents came to fitness and I was sure the Moore Center didn’t have

enough space to host and serve all of them at once. I was skeptical because I didn’t

know anything else, and I assumed that what I observed was a reality. I failed to see

the immediate assets (physical and human) that Mis used to combat this deficiency

of space – going outside and utilizing volunteers to lead group fitness activities. In

this way, it was only the deficits that I could immediately identify, and an

understanding of the assets came only once I had established some knowledge of

the community.

However, I think after 6 months at Misericordia, it is much harder for me to

identify deficits in the community. I think being able to identify both deficits and

assets of a community are important, but focusing on and utilizing these assets are

what enable successful asset-based community development.

 The ABCD Animation provided a simple but important outline for my

understanding of community development. It defined the community aspect as

“development from within the community” and development as “the natural process

of improvement and growth”. I think that my time at Misericordia and in our

internship class has challenged me to be more open to what development may mean

and how it can come about. It is not simply economic or physical growth, but

nurturing a culture of creativity, kindness, wisdom, and respect. I have seen this at

Mis in the emphasis on relationships, hospitality, and fun. When residents come to

fitness each day there is not simply an exercise to be done and tasks to be

completed, but a cultivating of spirit that I think is corroborated by acknowledging

each resident as an asset to the community.

In thinking about my own understanding of community development, John

McKnight also challenged to focus on connecting people, organizations, and

resources - therefore building up those around you and enabling assets to be

identified and supported. This is something I hadn’t considered as an aspect of

community development but something I hope to put into practice during my

remaining time at Mis.

While there is always more to learn, I think the mission at Misericordia really

challenges traditional ideas of needs-based development and encourages me to

think about what my purpose is in the organization and how I can best relate to

their organization’s development. Consistently working to identify the value in the

fitness center and my internship urges me to contribute and work toward

maximizing the quality of life, independence, and interpersonal relationships that

Mis has identified as its mission.