cat006 - the tao of macgyver
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!eTAOof
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
MacGyver
in partnership with
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
MacGyver is one of the
most popular
crime fighters in American pop
culture.
Like Batman, Superman, and Spiderman...
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
But unlike them, he
has no special
powers or technology.
The only thing he
carries around is a
simple Swiss army knife.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyverSo what’s his
weapon?
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
His MIND
So what’s his weapon?
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
His MIND =
knowledge +
creativity
So what’s his weapon?
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
In the hit TV
series that bears
his name,
MacGyver goes up
against bad guys
and always gets
himself into life and
death situations.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
But he always
manages to get
out of them by
IMPROVISING
SOLUTIONS
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver Example 1
Magnifying Glass + Watch Crystal + Newspaper =
Telescope!
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver Example 2
Cut-up Umbrella + Rope (tied together) =
Grappling Hook!
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver Example 3
Headphone + Rubber Tubing (inserted) =
Stethoscope!
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
In short, MacGyver...
looks at his immediate surroundings
1
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
In short, MacGyver...
1sees what he has to work with
2looks at his immediate surroundings
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
In short, MacGyver...
1 2and then uses
his mind to come up with
a creative solution.
3looks at his immediate surroundings
sees what he has to work with
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver His modus operandi:
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver His modus operandi:
Do what you can with what you have
where you are.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
It’s how 14-year-old William Kamkwamba built his windmill at his village in rural Malawi.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
It’s how Shailesh and Ujala brought lighting to 17 homes - using tractor batteries.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
Do what you can with what you have
where you are.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
It’s easy for activists to do the opposite: to focus on THE PROBLEM... on what they NEED... on how to get what they DON’T HAVE.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
But many changemakers now say, “We need to...BE LIKE MIKE!”
Mac
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
We need to set goals based on our ASSETS - what we have - rather than our NEEDS.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
There are three main reasons for this...
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
Outside resources and support are not easy to get.You can have a great idea and a talented team but that doesnʼt gurantee youʼll get the funding or backing you want. Often, youʼll need good timing and luck... and those donʼt always happen on your schedule.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
You already have resources. Why not use them?Youʼd be amazed at the change you can create with existing resources. So why wait for legislation to change, major funding to come through or major partners to come on board?
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
It builds “social capital.”Youʼll find that “existing resources” and “assets” usually mean other people. Working with people means you have to engage and “empower” others. The relationships you form will not only help you but strengthen your community in the long run.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyverQ: So... how might MacGyver go about creating social change?
A: Heʼd start with Asset Mapping.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
ASSET MAPPING 101
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
What are assets?
All the people who might support you.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
What are assets?
All the skills they can offer your team.
All the people who might support you.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
What are assets?
All the institutions your people are connected
to - schools, churches, charities, businesses,
government agencies, etc.
All the skills they can offer your team.
All the people who might support you.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
What are assets?
All the associations your people are connected to - sports leagues, clubs,
bands, professional groups, etc.
All the institutions your people are connected
to - schools, churches, charities, businesses,
government agencies, etc.
All the skills they can offer your team.
All the people who might support you.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
What are assets?
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
Let’s begin…1.! Call a meeting of your team members, volunteers, supporters, and friends.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
2. Ask each person to write down all the people, skills, institutions and associations that your project can depend on. Write one item per card.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
3. Separate cards into four different groups and lay them face up so each card’s words are visible.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
4. Have everyone glance at all the cards to see what others put down.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
5. Go around the room and ask each person to quickly come up with an activity for your project that would involve 2 or more cards.
Write them down. Keep going until everyone has offered 2 or 3 ideas.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
Example 1:
Jennie Jennie’s Mom Theater
Jennie, a teammate, says her mom owns a movie theater in town. Idea - organize a film night on your issue.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
Example 2:
José Filmmaking School
José, a friend, is already a talented filmmaker and produces the school’s TV newscast. Idea - produce a 30-second public service announcement (PSA) on climate change for newscast.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
Example 3:
Lisa The Food Fare
Merchants Association
Lisa, team leader, works at The Food Fare after school and her boss is the head of the Merchants Association. Idea - work with businesses to enact a town-wide ban on plastic bags.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
6. Discuss the proposed activities as a group and see which ones people are most excited about... or which ones will produce the most outcome. (See chapter on Make It Count.)
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
7. Take a group vote to decide which activity or activities to move forward with.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
I GUARANTEE you will be AMAZED at your existing assets - the rich connections you already have.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
After mapping your assets, it’s all about building relationships between them. Build, build, build!
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
One final note: asset mapping
isn’t just an exercise.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
It’s a whole mindset you can carry over into all areas of life, the way
MacGyver does.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
Once you’ve mastered The Tao of MacGyver, you will never look at…
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
situations like this...
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
and only see poverty...
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
you will see wealth too.
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
the tao of macgyver
JUST ASK YOURSELF
What would MacGyver
do?
Check out other chapters...
the tao of macgyver
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
Check out other chapters...
the tao of macgyver
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
about the author
thanksThe Creative Visions Foundation
The Vancouver FoundationThe Steve Nash Foundation
Jon and Amy Eldon Turteltaub, Joanne MarienElaine Munro, Debbie Riopel, Jaspal Lisa RaiBruce Johnson, Brooke Kuhn, Serge Martin
creditsAmy Eldon Turteltaub Executive Producer
Charles Tsai Managing Director
John L. McKnight and John P. Kretzmann of the Asset-Based Community Development
Institute
Creative Activist Toolkit 006
Charles Tsai is the founder and Executive Director of Social Creatives. Previously, he worked for Ashoka’s Youth Venture as Director of Virtual Program and at CNN as a reporter and producer. www.charlestsai.com
creative activist toolkitThe Creative Activist Toolkit is a series of PDF booklets designed to help today’s youth impact the world through creativity and social entrepreneurship. Produced by Social Creatives and the Creative Visions Foundation, the toolkit chapters are offered free to download. Email us if you would like to contribute a chapter.
Copyright ©2009 Social CreativesFeel free to pass this booklet on but you may not alter the content or charge for it. You may quote brief sections if you credit Social Creatives and provide a link to socialcreatives.org
Social Entrepreneurship Educator
Charles Tsai
Charles Tsai is a journalist, writer, speaker and consultant for social entrepreneurs.
A former reporter and producer for CNN, Charles ventured into the social sector to
help youth design and implement their own solutions for change. He then helped
Ashoka launch its first global campaigns to support youth-led social ventures.
Now, he has launched SOCIAL Creatives, a new framework to learn, teach and
practice social entrepreneurship.
Charles Tsaicharles@socialcreatives.org
www.socialcreatives.org
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