So you want to help your community…? - ethniccommunities.org

So you want to help your community…? An exercise for ethniccommunity leadersPurpose: Increase understanding amongst new ethnic community leaders consideringorganizing of the various options open to them to help their communities, and the highlevel of commitment, skill, and knowledge involved in starting a nonprofit organization.Suggested preparation: needed per small group – 20 index cards of three colors (4first color, 8 second color, 8 third color), one large flip chart paper, tape. Using the guideon page 2, write the text shown in each box on an appropriately colored index card.Tape these to the flip chart paper as shown on page 2, and draw arrows. Pink and whitecards should be taped face up, while the green cards should be taped face down.Depending on how large your group, divide into small groups of at least 2 and maximum5. It is best if leaders with the same community are grouped together.Introduce the game: There are four key questions someone interested in helping theircommunity and potentially organizing should ask themselves, to see whether the bestapproach is being a good neighbor, or volunteering, or whether starting a neworganization is merited. These questions make you:• Define the need• Mind the gap• Self-reflectTo introduce these questions, we will divide into groups and play a short game. Each ofyou has a short board game on community involvement, asking you the four questionsyou should ask yourself before setting out towards organization. Start at question one.Think about the sub-questions. Consider the two answer choices, and choose the onethat most fits. Turn over the card underneath it for further instructions. See if you makeit all the way to the fourth question and end. In either case, when you are stopped, dogo back and turn over the other cards to see what the alternative would have been.Discuss. (Allow at least 10 minutes for the game.)De-brief: (Allow at least 5 minutes for discussion.)• How did it go? Did everyone make it all the way to the end without detour?• What do you think the main point of this exercise was?• Did anything surprise you?Potential concluding comments: Remember, many founders never get a salary. Theyvolunteer for years to build an organization; sometimes it can take years to raise fundsand hire staff. For them the joy is in the creation. If you have already moved forwardwith starting an organization, you and your colleagues may benefit from going backthrough this exercise to make sure you’ve chosen the right path.This exercise was created based on material from Choosing the Right Structure for aCommunity Organization: A Toolkit for Refugee Community Leaders developed by Mosaicaand the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center through Project ROSE. The Project ROSEtoolkit may be found on www.mosaica.org.

Arrow: Is this you? Or Is this true for you? Turn over this card.1. What is needed?(individuals and the community as awhole)closely linked to question 2 , not just‘what’s needed?’, but also, ‘whatexists?’2. What resources already exist? Are thereservice gaps that need to be filled?Do your homework! Researching and mapping allthe government and non-profit services is essential;you do not want to duplicate – it’s not needed, notthe best way to help, and funders don’t like it.I know whatsome peopleneed, but Ihave a hardtime sayingwhat exactlythe communityneeds as awhole, or howto help peopleI can clearly identifyone or more priorityneeds for mycommunity (andback up with data)and have someideas to helpMove to question2!1)Volunteer as a good neighbor or for alocal organization. or 2) discuss andoutline needs and solutions with othersand move to question 2!3. What do I want to do? How do Iwant to help my community?(Running an org is not for everyone.)I don’t have the interests, strengths, orwillingness to:• Organize and run meetings• Reach out to mainstream community• Fundraise• Do computer work• Deal with legal requirements,deadlines• Manage things, more than work withpeople one on one.• Learn the management &administrative sideFrom my research,services exist and (could)effectively serve mycommunityAdvocate for inclusion ofyour community in thoseservices, help withoutreach and referrals;volunteer with existingservices. (You may findyou can be more helpfulthis way)I have thesestrengthsand interestsmove toquestion 4!From my research,services don’t exist orare inadequateEither: 1) advocateto existing providersto better serve yourcommunity. or 2)move on toQuestion 3.4. What can I commit to doing?I have a full-timejob and/or can’tafford to volunteervery much time, ordo not see myselfcommitting to thisfor more than ayear or soI have time, or amwilling to do what ittakes to make time,and am willing tovolunteer my time;I’m willing to commitfor many years1) Volunteer as a good neighbor orfor a local organization. or 2) if youhave some strengths but not others,find people who do to help, and go toquestion 4!Volunteer as a goodneighbor or for a localorganizationDecide which structurewould work best for you,and organize!