Capacity-Based Capacity-Based Approaches toApproaches to

Civic EngagementCivic Engagementfor Colleges and for Colleges and

UniversitiesUniversities

John Hamerlinck, Associate DirectorMinnesota Campus Compactjohn@mncampuscompact.org

Civic Engagement:Civic Engagement:Individual and collective actions

designed to identify and address identify and address issues of public concern

• Asset-Based: discovers gifts & talents in the community right now

• Internally-Focused: Relies on community’s strengths, not on outside resources

• Relationship-Driven: Seeks to connect local people, associations and institutions

We all haveassets

anddeficits.

Needs BasedFocus on deficiencies

People are consumers of services

Residents observe as issues are being addressed

Asset BasedAsset BasedFocus on effectivenessFocus on effectiveness

People are producersPeople are producers

Residents participate and Residents participate and are empoweredare empowered

A capacity-based approach . . .

• reinforces core principles of social justice and equity;

• develops respect for community and its individuals;

• helps shift from a charity to an investment model; and

• shifts from research-driven and funder-driven, to community-driven outcomes.

Assets

IndividualsEverybody!

AssociationsSocial Assets

InstitutionsPublic, private, nonprofit

Physical AssetsBuildings, natural assets

ExchangeFinancial transactions and other exchanges

Associations & Institutions

• Consensus • Control

• Care • Production

• Citizens • Consumers

• Capacities • Needs

DEMOCRACY = VOTING + ASSOCIATIONS

Is Democracy the Goal?

Nations with Strong Institutions& Weak Associations . . .

What can campuses do?

Capacity InventoriesWhat skills, gifts, talents, etc. do individuals, associations and

institutions bring to the table?

Connect these “assets”

Help to identify low hanging fruit and “strange bedfellows”

Support an association of associations

Expand civic spacePut a community lens on every aspect of the school’s business

Vision Skills Incentives ResourcesActionPlan

Change=

Adapted from Knoster, T. (1991) Presentation at TASH Conference, Washington DC(Adapted by Knoster from Enterprise Group Ltd.)

Skills Incentives ResourcesActionPlan

Confusion=

Vision Incentives ResourcesActionPlan

Anxiety=

Vision Skills ResourcesActionPlan

Resistance=

Vision Skills IncentivesActionPlan

Frustration=

Vision Skills Incentives Resources Treadmill=

Adapted from Knoster, T. (1991) Presentation at TASH Conference, Washington DC(Adapted by Knoster from Enterprise Group Ltd.)

John HamerlinckAssociate DirectorMinnesota Campus Compactjohn@mncampuscompact.orgPhone: 651-603-5091Fax: 651-603-5093Web: www.mncampuscompact.orgBlog: http://mncompact.wordpress.com

http://cdce.wordpress.comTwitter: mncompact