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Friday – May 13, 2011Tokai University

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Our Big Question #1

A Network Approach To Asset Building?

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The Abundant Community – John McKnight & Peter Block

Gift-Mindedness – the raw material for community; focus on the gifts of community members.

Associational Life – relationships, the process through which gifts are exchanged.

Hospitality – that which widens our inventory of gifts; offer hospitality, welcome strangers.

3 Properties Of Competent Communities

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Every community, organization, or social group has individuals whose exceptional behaviors or practices enable them to get better results than their neighbors with the exact same resources.

Positive Deviance – Building From Our Gifts

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Mission – focus on mission, not the organization.

Trust – focus on trust, not control.

Node – focus on being a node, not on being the hub with partners as spokes.

The Power Of Networks

Source for Network Graphic: orgnet.com

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Nurture quality connections so projects can be high risk & high impact

Bridge difference. Connect people and ideas that normally don’t go together

Support overlapping projects or collaborations, many very small, initiated by many

Map the network in order to visualize structure, diagnose strengths and weaknesses, and identify strategies for growing the network

Grow and engage periphery to bring in new resources and innovation

Strengthening Networks . . .

Source: Adapted from June Holley, www.networkweaving.com. Source for Network Graphic: orgnet.com

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Example – Children’s Savings Initiative27,000 Hawai‘i Island Children

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Example – Children’s Savings Initiative27,000 Hawai‘i Island Children

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Children’s Savings Initiative27,000 Hawai‘i Island Children

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Our Big Question #2

Asset Building – For Hawai‘i & Hawai‘i

Families? More Than Just Financial?

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Our Value Proposition – Asset Building

Assets are essential to:

have financial security against difficult times – the dignity of choice and control;

create economic opportunities for oneself and family – realize human potential through education and entrepreneurship; and

leave a legacy for future generations to have a better life – realistically reduce the cycle of poverty.

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Self Sufficiency =Choice & Control

“Those who are self-sufficient have control and choice over their lives. Having and keeping control and choice requires an

accumulation of a critical mass of social and economic assets, which provide stability and

access to opportunities.” Maurice Lim Miller

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Hawai‘i’s Asset Building Framework

Make Work Pay (EITC, tax policies)

Teach Asset Building (broad public awareness, schools, workplaces)

Break Down Barriers to Asset Building (asset limits, predatory lending, insurance)

Help People Save (IDAs, children savings accounts, retirement, education)

Help People Start and Own Businesses (microenterprise, community lending, training)

Help People Buy Homes (government matches and grants, employee assistance)

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Ho‘owaiwai Hawai‘i Island Building Genuine Wealth

June, 2011 County of Hawai‘i, Department of Research & Development

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Oikonomia – ‘Ohana Economics

Increase Earning Opportunities

Manage Household Expenses & Reduce Debt/ Risk

Increase Family Assets

Steady Income + Reduce Expense = Opportunity to Increase Assets Assets = Financial Security, Economic Opportunity, and Future Legacy

Access to Learning Opportunities

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Ho‘owaiwai Hawai‘i IslandPolicy Action AreasEarn It Strategies . . . Financial Education, Planning, &

Management VITA & EITC Living Wage Jobs Anchor Institutions

Grow It Strategies . . . Affordable Home Ownership &

Rental Options Community-Based Investment

Models CBED, Asset Building, & Regional

Community Development Planning

Keep It Strategies . . . Financial Services Matched Savings Consumer Protection Access To Transportation Options &

TOD Opportunities Access To Healthy, Local Food

Sources Increased Energy Efficiency

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Ho‘owaiwai Hawai‘i IslandImplementation Approach

Embedding Asset Building In Local Government . . .

Cities for Financial Empowerment Involvement, Understanding, & Commitment From All County

Agencies

A Network Approach . . .

Communities are built on connections. Better connections usually provide better opportunities.