Showing posts with label the poor and community development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the poor and community development. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Monday, August 20, 2012
Dallas 2024???
Already a group of Dallas folks are hard at work on a bid for the 2024 Olympics! If developed properly with determined sensitivity to existing communities, a winning bid could be leveraged to renew areas of Dallas like South Dallas-Fair Park.
What do you think?
Note: listen for a big Dallas mention toward the end
of the video report below:
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Hope's power
We've observed for a long time that if people have hope, life improves, no matter what the circumstance.
Working with children across the years, we've noted that if a child possesses some reasonable measure of hope about life and the future, that child will learn to read at or above grade level.
Along these lines, my associate here at CitySquare, Obinna Jon Ubabuco refered me to the following essay from The Economist. As always, I'd love to know your reactions.
Hope springs a trap
An absence of optimism plays a large role in keeping people trapped in poverty
May 12th 2012
THE idea that an infusion of hope can make a big difference to the lives of wretchedly poor people sounds like something dreamed up by a well-meaning activist or a tub-thumping politician. Yet this was the central thrust of a lecture at Harvard University on May 3rd by Esther Duflo, an economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology known for her data-driven analysis of poverty. Ms Duflo argued that the effects of some anti-poverty programmes go beyond the direct impact of the resources they provide. These programmes also make it possible for the very poor to hope for more than mere survival.
She and her colleagues evaluated a programme in the Indian state of West Bengal, where Bandhan, an Indian microfinance institution, worked with people who lived in extreme penury. They were reckoned to be unable to handle the demands of repaying a loan. Instead, Bandhan gave each of them a small productive asset—a cow, a couple of goats or some chickens. It also provided a small stipend to reduce the temptation to eat or sell the asset immediately, as well as weekly training sessions to teach them how to tend to animals and manage their households. Bandhan hoped that there would be a small increase in income from selling the products of the farm animals provided, and that people would become more adept at managing their own finances.
The results were far more dramatic. Well after the financial help and hand-holding had stopped, the families of those who had been randomly chosen for the Bandhan programme were eating 15% more, earning 20% more each month and skipping fewer meals than people in a comparison group. They were also saving a lot. The effects were so large and persistent that they could not be attributed to the direct effects of the grants: people could not have sold enough milk, eggs or meat to explain the income gains. Nor were they simply selling the assets (although some did).
So what could explain these outcomes?
Read the entire essay here.
Working with children across the years, we've noted that if a child possesses some reasonable measure of hope about life and the future, that child will learn to read at or above grade level.
Along these lines, my associate here at CitySquare, Obinna Jon Ubabuco refered me to the following essay from The Economist. As always, I'd love to know your reactions.
An absence of optimism plays a large role in keeping people trapped in poverty
May 12th 2012
THE idea that an infusion of hope can make a big difference to the lives of wretchedly poor people sounds like something dreamed up by a well-meaning activist or a tub-thumping politician. Yet this was the central thrust of a lecture at Harvard University on May 3rd by Esther Duflo, an economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology known for her data-driven analysis of poverty. Ms Duflo argued that the effects of some anti-poverty programmes go beyond the direct impact of the resources they provide. These programmes also make it possible for the very poor to hope for more than mere survival.
She and her colleagues evaluated a programme in the Indian state of West Bengal, where Bandhan, an Indian microfinance institution, worked with people who lived in extreme penury. They were reckoned to be unable to handle the demands of repaying a loan. Instead, Bandhan gave each of them a small productive asset—a cow, a couple of goats or some chickens. It also provided a small stipend to reduce the temptation to eat or sell the asset immediately, as well as weekly training sessions to teach them how to tend to animals and manage their households. Bandhan hoped that there would be a small increase in income from selling the products of the farm animals provided, and that people would become more adept at managing their own finances.
The results were far more dramatic. Well after the financial help and hand-holding had stopped, the families of those who had been randomly chosen for the Bandhan programme were eating 15% more, earning 20% more each month and skipping fewer meals than people in a comparison group. They were also saving a lot. The effects were so large and persistent that they could not be attributed to the direct effects of the grants: people could not have sold enough milk, eggs or meat to explain the income gains. Nor were they simply selling the assets (although some did).
So what could explain these outcomes?
Read the entire essay here.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
409
Place is important. History and memory lead us back toward significant places where things occurred, were planned and executed.
Such a place is 409 N. Haskell Avenue (409) here in Dallas, Texas.
In 1994, thanks to the commitment of Jim and Betsy Sowell, along with the support of many of their friends at the Preston Road Church of Christ and from other churches, Central Dallas Food Pantry purchased the property at 409 to accommodate the expansion and growth of the organization. The property had been purchased from the Resolution Trust Corporation at a very good price.
I arrived at Central Dallas Food Pantry just as the remodel began on this new facility. Previously, the organization ran everything from the much smaller building located at 801 N. Peak Street in the same neighborhood (and that is another story to be told at another time!). The new property signaled a new beginning for what soon would be tagged "Central Dallas Ministries."
With the current development of CitySquare's Opportunity Center, the 409 property is now for sale.
As we move on to the next chapter in our history, it seems appropriate to reflect on all that transpired in this special, unique corner here in inner city, Old East Dallas. So, over the next several months (most likely it will take that long!), I'll be telling stories on this page about the events at 409 that have shaped us all and that have led to the transformation of so many lives.
Thinking about this little memory project brings to mind so many key words and tags. Here are a few just for starters. . .
- Church and Food Pantry
- Seasoned, burned out volunteers from outside the community
- Changes in staff leadership and choice
- Learning the ropes of day-to-day food distribution
- Memorable trips to the North Texas Food Pantry
- A truck without brakes
- Josefina Ortiz
- Conflict and change
- Janet Morrison and contemporaries
- Volunteers who got it
- Theology of urban renewal
- Cocaine campground
- Crack house at the corner
- Pay phone at Crutcher and Haskell
- Getting out a newsletter. . .seriously?
- Jeffie Massey
- Beyond charity
- The Christmas Store
- Dallas Morning News Charities
- Project Access Dallas
- The first Kids Kamp
Stay tuned for short stories and vignettes from our past at this very sacred place where community has been breaking out for years now!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Opportunity Center Update. . .
Photos taken this week at the site of CitySquare's new Opportunity Center located at the southeast corner of I-30 and Malcolm X Boulevard, an important gateway to South Dallas Fair Park. Great views of the Downtown skyline and easy access from all directions make the property very attractive for its purpose.
Early in 2012, we will launch the public phase of a capital campaign to fully fund the new development that will include a health creation center, workforce training and job placement, nutrition education, food distribution and literacy instruction.
More details coming very soon about our partners and our plans.
Stay tuned!
Early in 2012, we will launch the public phase of a capital campaign to fully fund the new development that will include a health creation center, workforce training and job placement, nutrition education, food distribution and literacy instruction.
More details coming very soon about our partners and our plans.
Stay tuned!
Friday, July 08, 2011
Systems vs. Community
Working among and with low-income people over the past two decades has taught me a lot about the importance of terminology, assumptions and how we understand what it is that we are about. I noticed early on that a very common way of managing the challenges of poverty involves systematizing responses and work product so that poverty is somehow "professionalized." In such systems poverty can be subjected to various processes and responses to it can be bench marked against agreed upon methods, best practices and predetermined protocols.
At the same time, and very early on, I noted the amazing impact of genuine community to transform people, environments and collective self-understandings far beyond the reach of professional approaches or standard processes.
In looking through some old files I found this passage from Mary O'Connell's The Gift of Hospitality. Clearly, she understands the distinction that I've noticed across the years.
In a social service system people are known by what's wrong: by their condition or label
In a community people are known as individuals
In a system people are incomplete and need to be changed or "fixed"
In a community people are as they are, with opportunities to follow their dreams
In a system relationships are unequal; service workers do things "for" clients and don't look for any contribution in return
In a community relationships are reciprocal, give and take; and the diverse gifts of many people are recognized
In a system people are broken into parts and separated into groups
In a community people have a chance to be accepted as whole persons, and viewed as part of the whole society
In a system problems are solved by consulting authorities, policies, procedures
In a community people seek answers from their own experience and the wisdom of others
In a system there is no room to acknowledge mistakes and uncertainty; information is communicated in professional jargon that distances individuals from others
In a community people can make honest efforts and acknowledge honest mistakes and fears
In a system all problems have rational solutions
In a community there is room for confusion, and mystery, and a recognition that some things are beyond human control
At the same time, and very early on, I noted the amazing impact of genuine community to transform people, environments and collective self-understandings far beyond the reach of professional approaches or standard processes.
In looking through some old files I found this passage from Mary O'Connell's The Gift of Hospitality. Clearly, she understands the distinction that I've noticed across the years.
In a social service system people are known by what's wrong: by their condition or label
In a community people are known as individuals
In a system people are incomplete and need to be changed or "fixed"
In a community people are as they are, with opportunities to follow their dreams
In a system relationships are unequal; service workers do things "for" clients and don't look for any contribution in return
In a community relationships are reciprocal, give and take; and the diverse gifts of many people are recognized
In a system people are broken into parts and separated into groups
In a community people have a chance to be accepted as whole persons, and viewed as part of the whole society
In a system problems are solved by consulting authorities, policies, procedures
In a community people seek answers from their own experience and the wisdom of others
In a system there is no room to acknowledge mistakes and uncertainty; information is communicated in professional jargon that distances individuals from others
In a community people can make honest efforts and acknowledge honest mistakes and fears
In a system all problems have rational solutions
In a community there is room for confusion, and mystery, and a recognition that some things are beyond human control
Monday, May 17, 2010
Poor folks Downtown?
Are poor people welcome in Downtown Dallas?
Great question.
My office sits on the 3rd floor of our newly redone building at 511 N. Akard on the Arts District side of Downtown Dallas. It is also going to be home to over 200 low-income persons. So, since they live here, it's hard to say that poor people aren't welcome in Downtown. We had help getting the development done, including help from the City of Dallas. We're grateful for the partnership.
That said, it is clear to me that many people don't believe low-income folks can contribute anything positive to the revitalization of the central core of our city. We've heard and received various expressions of concern and opposition to our City Walk project. While the city's housing department helped us with the development by providing funds and counsel, compared to city support provided developments of upscale projects, what we received reflects the city's priorities about workforce and permanent supportive housing in the Downtown area. Poor folks and their housing needs just aren't high on the city's list.
Consider: less than 1/10 of 1% of the general revenue operating budget for the City of Dallas goes to the Housing Department. Most of those funds pay salaries and support specialized programs. The city doesn't have a robust, adequately funded strategy for the development of affordable housing or permanent supportive housing. The bulk of the development funds flowing from the city to developers comes from the federal and state governments. Our local commitment to addressing the problem is anemic.
What to do?
One: begin a stairstep increase in the Housing Department's allocation from 1/10 of 1% to a full 1% over a 5 year period. This would allow the department to implement an effective plan over 60 months as funds rose gradually.
Two: craft, support and pass a bond issue to create a City of Dallas Housing Trust Fund of $50 million in the next bond election, hopefully no later than 2011. Such a trust fund would ensure the availability of resources for developers committed to building affordable housing and permanent supportive housing (PSH) for low-income residents of Dallas. Once established, at least 30% of the fund's earnings should be earmarked for PSH.
Great question.
My office sits on the 3rd floor of our newly redone building at 511 N. Akard on the Arts District side of Downtown Dallas. It is also going to be home to over 200 low-income persons. So, since they live here, it's hard to say that poor people aren't welcome in Downtown. We had help getting the development done, including help from the City of Dallas. We're grateful for the partnership.
That said, it is clear to me that many people don't believe low-income folks can contribute anything positive to the revitalization of the central core of our city. We've heard and received various expressions of concern and opposition to our City Walk project. While the city's housing department helped us with the development by providing funds and counsel, compared to city support provided developments of upscale projects, what we received reflects the city's priorities about workforce and permanent supportive housing in the Downtown area. Poor folks and their housing needs just aren't high on the city's list.
Consider: less than 1/10 of 1% of the general revenue operating budget for the City of Dallas goes to the Housing Department. Most of those funds pay salaries and support specialized programs. The city doesn't have a robust, adequately funded strategy for the development of affordable housing or permanent supportive housing. The bulk of the development funds flowing from the city to developers comes from the federal and state governments. Our local commitment to addressing the problem is anemic.
What to do?
One: begin a stairstep increase in the Housing Department's allocation from 1/10 of 1% to a full 1% over a 5 year period. This would allow the department to implement an effective plan over 60 months as funds rose gradually.
Two: craft, support and pass a bond issue to create a City of Dallas Housing Trust Fund of $50 million in the next bond election, hopefully no later than 2011. Such a trust fund would ensure the availability of resources for developers committed to building affordable housing and permanent supportive housing (PSH) for low-income residents of Dallas. Once established, at least 30% of the fund's earnings should be earmarked for PSH.
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