This talk by John McKnight challenges us to move from consumers to citizens. He eloquently makes the point that every person has a gift – and our purpose in life is to give out gifts. Systems attempt to claim ownership of our capacities. John instructs us to reclaim our citizenship – because we care. No system can produce or manage care. Care is the giving from one heart to another. That is how democracy evolves. The secret is we must focus on each other’s gifts. Focusing on our deficiencies is the death knell of communities. Life is lived with other people. We are not, and never have been, individuals.
John was the founder of the Asset-Based Community Development movement. This video is included in the introduction to a DVD (now streamed) entitled ABCD in Action. I tis paired with a book, When People Care Enough to Act. Both the DVD and book feature the work of John and his partners Mike Green and Henrey Moore. If you are interested in ABCD – get them.