CR#6 What’s Important to You?

The key characteristics of the ABCD model include constructing shared meaning, creating the potential of associations, recognizing and developing economic capacity, and learning about the distribution of power. Its focus is in social assets such as the talents of individuals and the social capital “that fuel local associations and informal networks” (p. 474). The appeal in this approach is that “people in communities can organise to drive the development process themselves” by identifying and utilizing their social capital and in turn creating the potential for economic opportunity (p. 474). In comparison, CED “[relies] more on the theoretical contributions of community development than on those of economics” which ultimately eliminates the concept of community (p. 481). Because this model “demands the free mobility of both labour and capital,” community is less emphasized as a result to allow “free flow” (p. 481). Unlike ABCD, CED focuses on developing or improving economic systems and infrastructure, developing the economic capacities of individuals, and developing the economic capacities of groups to undertake community economic development. CED is simply economic development at the community level.

AAAM’s social capital assets include other non-profit organizations located in the Canal serving underprivileged communities. Social capital “links the community to the external environment” and is ultimately “crucial for sustained economic development and prosperity (p. 480). It “provides leverage in relationships beyond the confines of one’s own affinity group, or even beyond the local community” (p. 479). AAAM works with partners such as Canal Alliance to benefit both of their communities. In a recent meeting with Vinh, the man who organizes and runs most of MAAP, he had mentioned partnering with Canal Alliance in order to be a more competitive bid for a grant. They also recruit those who have some type of connection to the community to run the groups. The majority of the people I have met who run groups in the community have been bilingual Vietnamese women from a variety of generations. Their ability to communicate with those in the community and provide the them with the support they need is a real asset for them. AAAM also partners with facilities such as the Pickleweed Center or Marin Community Clinics for space to run their groups. All these assets fall under social capital and serve the community in progressing both economically and socially.

The person I work most closely with is currently Leiu, a lady who runs the senior group in the Pickleweed Center. Her group consists of the seniors sitting together around a table and talking about whatever they please and then later exercising through dancing. She is a Vietnamese-Chinese woman who often translates for the seniors when there are speakers that come in to speak to the community. I plan on asking her what the community has as far as resources, what resources she wishes would be available to the seniors or what would be useful to them, how this community is different from other communities she has interacted with, and what she believes is the perspective of the community concerning mental health.