"Both academic and community members can fall into a conceptual trap: focusing exclusively on weaknesses and problems. For both groups, the trap exists because community needs can be very apparent. Academic members may see a problem and view themselves as purveyors of the solution.
A successful community-academic partnership completely rejects and overturns deficit-based thinking and instead relies on its opposite: asset-based thinking and problem solving.
In a mature partnership, while members see community problems realistically, they are equally realistic about seeing community strengths. They recognize that both academic and community members bring assets that, when united, can not only resolve a specific issue, but can lay the groundwork for resolving future issues, and build resiliency and capacity."
From: Begin Your Partnership: The Process of Engagement, Jones et al, 2009, Ethnicity & Disease
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My high school senior. When she was born and breastfeeding every two hours, 24-7, and I couldn’t shower or read the Sunday paper anymor...
Enjoyed reading this. Great advice and insights and thanks for recommending asset-based thinking. Be well.
ReplyDeleteHank Wasiak
Thanks, Hank. Are you a teacher?
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