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Making Community Connections

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A Good PaidLife

ServiceLife

CommunityLife

Moving from Service Life to Community Life

• People’s “Gifts” not systematically recognized • “Gifts” are contributed to

community members and people are connected through their interests and gifts

• “Gifts” may be recognized but not contributed to community members

© The Learning Community for Essential Lifestyle Planning, Inc. 2006

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www.rtc.umn.edu/friends

Relationship Map

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BuildingonCommunityMapping

• Notjustplaces,butPEOPLE

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Importanttodistinguishbetween:

PHYSICALintegration,and

SOCIAL integration*************

“COMMUNITYLIFE”meansPEOPLE“Community”isnotaPLACE

SHIFTOURTHINKING

From“Activities” to:

“Whoisthepersongoingtogettoknowthere?”

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FromCommunityMemberswhohavebefriendedpeoplewithdisabilities

• “Shetaughtmeadifferentkindoflove”

• “Ilookforwardtoalifetimeofbeingherfriend”

• “I’dmissspendingtimewithWayneifhedidn’tcometovisit”

• “Heliftsmeupandmakesmyday”

• “It’speoplelikeStevenwhomaketheworldabetterplace”

• “It’satrueblessingtogettoknowhim”

• “It’slife-givingforbothofus”

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Fromanagencyprogramdirector

“Witnessingotherpeoplegettingtoknowthepeoplewesupportandbefriendingthemisthebestthinginourprofession”

Fromafellowstudent

It’saprivilegetoknowsuchajoyful,talented,andextraordinarypersonasRyan...

…whohasthelargestsmileever

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Goals/Resultsin3areas:

1.individualrelationships/friendships

2.joiningcommunitygroups/clubs

3.newvaluedsocialroles

Opportunities for Relationships1. SAME PEOPLE

SAME PLACE

OVER TIME

2. SOME BASIS FOR CONNECTING & EXCHANGE

DO THINGS TOGETHER TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER

OPPORTUNITIES TO:

SHARE INTERESTS

CONTRIBUTE

BE CONTRIBUTED TO

Activity

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Interests …

-express the meaning in a person’s life

-identify: where are others who share these interests

-identify memberships and associations

-may not be easy to define- are discovered and developed in action, trying things out

-express the person’s life “calling”

BuildingonCoaches’Training

• ConnectingtoCommunityThroughSharedInterests

• LevelsofCommunityConnections:- Presence- Participation- Connected

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GIFTS...1.Whatdoesthepersondowell?

Whataretheirtalentsandabilities?

2.Whatdoothersreceivefromknowingthisperson?

• Identifyinggiftsthatcanbecontributedtoothers- leadstocommunityconnections

SEVEN APPROACHES TO CONNECTING

OVERALLQUESTION:WherearetheOpportunitiesforRelationships?WhoArethe

People?Whowilltheygettoknowthere?A.CONNECTINGTHROUGHGIFTSANDINTERESTS1. Wherearepeoplewhowouldappreciatereceivingthis

person’sgifts?2.Whereareallthecommunityplaceswherepeopleengagein

oneofthisperson’sinterests?Whoarethepeoplewhosharethisinterest?

B.CONNECTINGWITHINDIVIDUALCOMMUNITYMEMBERS3.Whoarethepeoplewhoarealreadyacquaintances,who

couldbeaskedtogettoknowthepersonbetter?4.Whomightbe/wherecouldwefindaninterestedperson

whocouldbeaskedtogettoknowthepersonbetter?

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SEVENAPPROACHESTOCONNECTING

• C.COMMUNITYMEMBERSHIP

5. Wherearetheassociations,clubs,andgroups?- formal- informal

6.Wherearetherecommunityplacesthatarehospitableandwelcoming?

7. Wherearetherecommunityplacesthepersoncanfitin,justthewaytheyare?

Approach 4: Finding an Interested Person

Where could we find others who might befriend/support thisperson?1. Who do people know who likes or would like this person?

2. Social ministry programs (e.g., Befrienders, etc.)

3. Formal volunteer programs, such as “Best Buddies” (i.e. college, corporate, high school)

4. Presentations – service learning, faith communities, etc.

5. Former staff

6. Former friends

7. Other family members or family of staff or others

8. Other places, other people?

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An Associational MapPrepared by John McKnightNorthwestern University

Center for Urban Affairs and Policy Research2040 Sheridan Road

Evanston, Illinois 60208

ArtisticOrganizations:choral,theatrical,writingBusinessOrganizations:ChamberofCommerce,

neighborhoodbusinessassociations,tradegroups

CharitableGroups&Drives:RedCross,CancerSociety,UnitedWay

ChurchGroups: service,prayer,maintenance,stewardship,acolytes,men’s,women’s,youth,seniors

CivicEvents:July4th,artfair,HalloweenCollectorsGroups:stampcollectors,flowerdryers,

antiquesCommunitySupportGroup:“friends”ofthelibrary,

nursinghome,hospitalElderlyGroups: SeniorCitizensEthnicAssociations:SonsofNorway,BlackHeritage

Club,HibemiansHealthandFitnessGroups: Bicycling,jogging,exerciseInterestClubs:poodleowners,antiquecarownersLocalGovernment:town,township,electoralunits,

firedepartment,emergencyunitsLocalMedia:radio,newspaper,localaccesscableTV

Men’sGroup: cultural,political,social,educational,vocational

MutualSupport(Self-Help)Groups: AlcoholicsAnonymous,EpilepsySelf-Help,LaLecheLeague

NeighborhoodandBlockClubs:crimewatch,beautification,Christmasdecorations

OutdoorGroups:gardenclubs,AudubonSociety,conservationsclubs

PoliticalOrganizations:Democrats,Republicans,caucuses

SchoolGroups:printingclub,PTA,childcareServiceClubs:Zonta,Kiwanis,Rotary,American

AssociationofUniversityWomenSocialCauseGroups:peace,rights,advocacy,serviceSportsLeagues: bowling,swimming,baseball,fishing,

volleyballStudyGroups:literaryclubs,biblestudygroupsVeteransGroups:AmericanLegion,Amvets,Veterans

ofForeignWars&AuxiliariesWomen’sGroups:cultural,political,social,

educational,vocationalYouthGroups: 4H,FutureFarmers,Scouts,YMCA

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What’sOurRole?

Whatparentsdiscoveredabout“Asking”

• “IASKED!!...Iwentoutofmycomfortzone…”

• Onedadaskedsomeotherdads:theysaidtheywere“humbledandhonored”thatheaskedthemtobesupportiveofhisson

• “Itwouldneverhavecomeaboutwithoutasking”

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Introducing/Asking/Inviting

• Whattypeofcommunitymembersareyoulookingfor?

• Whatwillbethebenefittothemingettingtoknowthisperson?

• Whatwilltheyneedtoknow?

• Howwillyouintroduce?

• Whatwillyouaskorinvitethemtodo?

WhereareALLthePlacesandPeople?

Beingawareofimpactonandopportunitiesforcommunitymembers

• Friendsmanual– p.65

• ActivityWorksheets-- Activity25

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Wefound...

Itisnoteasytoworkon“Friends”

apartfrommore

Person-Centeredvaluesoftheorganization

AND…

Socialinclusiontakes

goingbeyond

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FromEmersonetal.studyin4BritishCommunities

Evaluationofperson-centeredplanningefforts–showsincreaseinexperienceofchoice &

communityactivities

Butnotgettingajob orincreasinginclusivenessofpersonalsocialnetworks

- JohnO’Brien,“MovingPasttheLimitsinPerson-CenteredPlanning,”2006

Tips for Success “To-Do”s

1. See the person as their Interests and Gifts

2. Explore opportunities for relationships- who can the

person get to know there?

3. Introduce one-to-one

4. One person, one environment

5. Become an “asker”- “It never hurts to ask”

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Three Necessary Beliefs for Success

1. Your valuing and personal appreciation of the individual with disabilities

2. Your faith and trust in finding interested community members

3. Your belief in the importance of community building for everyone

OneDay“Friends”Training

• HostedbyRSI

• Thursday,April26th

9:00a.m.to3:30p.m.

ADDShrineTrainingCenter,5152MillerTrunkHighway

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Resources1.Friendsmanual:www.rtc.umn.edu/friends

2.ConnectingStudents:AGuidetoThoughtfulFriendshipFacilitationforEducators&Families,PeakParentCenter

3.FriendshipandCommunityConnectionsBetweenPeoplewithandwithoutDevelopmentalDisabilities,byAngelaNovakAmadowww.amazon.com

4.www.qualitymall.orgDepartments:FriendshipandSocialInclusion

EmpoweringCommunityMembersforInclusion

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Friendship and Community ConnectionsAngelaNovakAmado,Ph.D.

InstituteonCommunityIntegrationUniversityofMinnesota

651-698-5565amado003@umn.edu

Life is nothing without

friendship-Cicero