Help Horizons Map Community Assets
Horizons takes an “asset-based” approach to alleviating poverty and creating a thriving community. Community development programs of the past started with needs and deficits. Horizons is different because it recognizes that a community’s strengths (assets) provide the best foundation upon which to grow a thriving community that meets the needs of the whole community.
Here is the beginning of a “community asset and leadership map.” Please comment. Which individuals, groups, institutions, and regional partners should be added to this list? Please click on the link below to view the map.
January 11th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Under “Businesses”, around a dozen are listed by name, thus slighting many others by listing them only generically, and in some cases adding a layer of confusion when the name does not actually indicate what the business does. I suggest omitting those listed by name, simply add them to the appropriate generic group, or add another generic group if necessary.
January 12th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Cindy,
You are right!
Two solutions suggest themselves: Eliminate the list or add to the list. Since we are identifying strengths it may make sense to add to the list. And yes, also i.d. the product or service.
Catherine Ratliff
January 15th, 2008 at 11:34 am
I think we should not attempt to list the specific businesses - a critical omission would appear as favoritism. It is likely virtually impossible to list all the businesses in our area: we have many micro-enterprises which should not be overlooked. Simply listing the product or service categories offered locally is the evidence needed here, i.e. listing our community assets.
January 15th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Under Cultural Organizations, I note the comment about a lack of western culture groups. However, we could take the position that 3 of the 7 listed are “western”: square dance, JedSmith Corral (this is an organization devoted to studying the history of the American West), and Rendezvous (isn’t this the group of re-enactors, so to speak, folks who enjoy learning the skills of the fur-trade era?).
The groups which annually produce several rodeos in our area are certainly cultural and western - from Little Britches all the way through the Last Roundup.