The purpose of SCOPE’s work in neighborhoods is to build connections and relationships between neighbors and local organizations and enhance and encourage neighborhood-based work driven by “active citizens.”
Connected neighborhoods do more than create good memories. Active neighborhoods incubate community leadership. They help resources flow among people beyond the reach of social services. They allow citizens and local organizations to identify common goals, pool resources (talents, skills, connections, etc.) and share ownership of the results.
SCOPE recognizes “active citizens” as those whose efforts have long-lasting community impact because they:
recognize and build on the skills and goals that exist within a neighborhood
lead neighborhood projects in a way that encourages broad ownership of issues control rather than exclusive ownership by a few
respect and value diversity and striving to bring new voices to the table. Fostering active citizenship involves a shift in how people gather, communicate with one another, and think about how change happens in community.
Acknowledging the value of connections and relationships between neighbors and local organizations, SCOPE works with individuals in neighborhoods, groups of neighbors and local institutions to build their capacity and to inspire community action.
"I have learned the concerns and cares of many of the residents and gained ideas for how to move forward and create an even more connected and supportive community."
– Pam Bournival of The Winds of St. Armand’s
CURRENT WORK
SCOPE is currently focusing its work in the communities of Newtown and North Port. Read more about our newest staff.
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER
In this section you’ll find stories about the neighbors we meet in North Port and Newtown. These are stories about what’s good in neighborhoods: neighbors’ skills and talents, what they care about enough to act on, and what they are already doing to improve things in their community.
Since 2007, SCOPE has been working with the Newtown community to encourage resident-led change using the goals and assets of the community itself as a starting point.
We participate in ongoing conversations with existing organizations, share resources with active and emerging community leaders, and spend time learning with residents about the community to better understand the issues, relationships, and opportunities for action.
Most recently:
Newtown resident Mary Butler joined the SCOPE Staff as an Americorps VISTA worker. She will work along with SCOPE Staff and other residents to build community capacity for identifying and mobilizing Newtown’s strengths and assets.
Residents have begun to map community assets and meet with SCOPE Staff to find ways to unite Newtown around key issues in a way that will create lasting change and engage the gifts of all community members.
In February 2009, thirty Newtown residents attended a workshop with John McKnight of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute of Northwestern University at New Bethel Church. Residents learned about community-organizing tools, reviewed ABCD principles and began working on ways to identify and mobilize assets within Newtown. Several participants committed to interviewing fellow residents about their “gifts” (talents, skills, resources) and what they would like to help change in the community. Participants began a list of associations and “friendly” Newtown institutions. SCOPE will support the activities of this group and other citizens who resonate with this philosophy of change.
Pastor Phillips of New Bethel Church shares his views of community change, ministry, and Newtown in our interview with him. Read interview
NORTH PORT
SCOPE has begun partnering with the neighbors of the La France Area in North Port to build upon the success of one year of weekly “Neighbors Gatherings.” These gatherings help build a strong community and mutually supportive relationships among neighbors. Neighbors tell of the impact the Gatherings have had on their lives in these interviews and founder Don Vande Krol tells of how the Gatherings began here. SCOPE will support the La France Area Neighbors to help other residents begin similar gatherings in their neighborhoods.
North Port resident Jennifer Grant has joined the SCOPE Staff as an Americorps VISTA
worker. Jennifer will work with North Port residents and organizations to build community capacity for identifying, connecting and activating North Port’s strengths and assets.
In February ’09, members of North Port CHAT and Vision North Port joined SCOPE for lunch with John McKnight of the ABCD Institute of Northwestern University. The goal was to hear about the Asset-Based philosophy and to see how the two groups might add to one another’s efforts. SCOPE staff talked with two participants about the experience, what they’re doing in community and why they’re doing it. Read interview
SPOTLIGHT: VENICE GARDENS
SCOPE worked with the Venice Gardens Civic Association (VCGA) to engage and connect residents in new ways. The association was striving to include the growing number of young families in their community. Over the course of 3 years, SCOPE helped VGCA organize two “Fun Fairs” and an Open House designed to strengthen relationships and connections among neighbors.
The process of planning neighborhood activities and clarifying the group’s goals has strengthened the VCGA in a number of ways:
Members solidified visioning and planning skills.
The group’s new identity as an “Envisioning Committee” marks a movement toward greater ownership of the need to think strategically about the future.
The group’s goals and the processes of dialogue and consensus-building provide a potential foundation for positive unified action.
The dialogue and consensus required to create the goals and plan the Open House has built committee members’ abilities to work together despite existing differences of opinion or vision.
“We organized an Open House and were able to attract new members. SCOPE is helpful in encouraging people to come together to realize their strength and abilities.” -Linda Lukacs, Venice Gardens Civic Association
“I don't know what we would have done without SCOPE leading the way. We all knew we needed to take some kind of action, but the experience you have with neighborhoods was a fantastic guide.” -Leann Fellmeth, Venice Gardens Civic Association
SPOTLIGHT: A SPECIAL TIME
In the past year, SCOPE supported the continued development of the volunteer, faith-based caregiver respite program “A Special Time.” SCOPE worked with A Special Time from its early stages to help founders clarify their goals and directions, identify and tap assets within the faith-based community, and build partnerships within the faith-based community. SCOPE staff helped foster leadership within the group by strategically stepping back while providing some basic support in website creation and organizational form templates. SCOPE helped A Special Time gain national recognition by including it in Sarasota County’s winning “All America Cities” award application in 2007. A Special Time is now taking steps toward incorporation as a 501C-3, the formation of a board, and achieving greater visibility in the community for both fundraising and collaborative purposes. SCOPE’s role has shifted to that of a conduit for the group to connect with local resources, including the Nonprofit Resource Center, Friendship Volunteer Center, and Legal Aid of Manasota. A SCOPE staff person now sits as an active member of A Special Time’s advisory committee.
"The best thing SCOPE was able to do was connect us with various organizations in the city and county and give us a direction to go when we weren't sure what the next steps should be… SCOPE's involvement has been invaluable to A Special Time." - Wilma Ellis, Program Director, A Special Time
ASSET-BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
WHAT IS IT?
This initiative, like all of SCOPE’s work, follows an asset based philosophy. Asset-Based Community Development harnesses the power of each individual's talents, skills and abilities. Each community member has a gift to share and the power to make a difference in their community.
An asset based approach also looks to connect the space between groups of citizens and businesses, nonprofits, and government. This type of collaboration allows citizens to drive the design and delivery of services and programs in their community. Local businesses, government, and nonprofits can serve better by working in partnership with neighborhoods.
John McKnight, cofounder of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute at Northwestern University, visits Sarasota County on occasion. He shares his experiences and learning with local citizens, nonprofits and government.
LOCAL ACTION
ABCD Sarasota - Asset Based Community of Practice
ABCD Sarasota is a learning community of individuals from all parts of the community with others who are inspired by and want to get better at using Asset-Based Community Development’s inside-out approach to community transformation. The group’s goal is strengthen local individuals’ ability to put ABCD into practice and to share its principles with others. To join or learn more, visit their Yahoo Group. Contact April Doner at (941) 365-8751 with any questions.
“Partnering with Community” – Conversation with John McKnight
In February 2009, SCOPE hosted a discussion with between local nonprofits and government agencies and John McKnight, Co-Founder of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute. Discussion centered around can work with community to mobilize the many talents, skills, and resources—“assets”—that exist in neighborhoods. Click here to view a summary of the discussion, links to related resources, and names of participants. Read the full report here.
"The approach helped me understand how residents feel about their neighborhood. I have also gained new leadership skills and a method to get residents to share what they care about." – Carl Stephens, Amaryllis Park
