Asset Alliance Development
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What is Asset Alliance Development?
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2001 Conference: From Seeds to
Roots: Growing a Strong Community Asset Culture
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Contact Information for Asset Alliance
at Michigan State University
What is Asset Alliance Development?
The Search Institute, a national organization, has identified a
number of developmental assets which are positive experiences and
opportunities that children need in order to lead responsible and
productive lives. They are key factors young people need to grow
up healthy, caring and responsible. The Office of Minority Health
(OMH), with the assistance of Michigan State University, has initiated
an effort to identify assets within neighborhoods and plans to expand
this developmental asset program throughout the county. The expected
outcome of this effort is to strengthen neighborhoods and reduce
high-risk behaviors of its youth. In order to accomplish the expansion
of the asset building program the OMH intends to increase awareness
and participation in the program. It is funded by the Federal Office
of Minority Health, Public Health and Sciences, and U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services.
Asset Checklist
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I receive high levels of love and support from family members
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I can go to my parent(s)/guardian(s) for advice/support/have frequent
conversations with them.
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I know some nonparent adults I can go to for advice.
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My neighbors encourage and support me.
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My school provides a caring, encouraging environment.
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My parent(s) or guardian(s) help me succeed in school.
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I feel valued by adults in my community.
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I am given useful roles in my community.
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I serve in the community one hour or more each week.
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I feel safe at home, at school, and in the neighbor hood.
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My family sets standards for appropriate conduct and monitors my
whereabouts.
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My school has clear rules and consequences for behavior.
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Neighbors take responsibility for monitoring my behavior.
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Parent(s) and other adults model positive, responsible behavior.
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My best friends model responsible behavior.
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My parent(s), guardian(s) and teachers encourage me to do well.
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I spend three hours or more each week in lessons or practice in
music, theater, or other arts. •
I spend one hour or more each week in school or community sports,
clubs, or organization.
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I spend one hour or more each week in religious services or participating
in spiritual activities. •
I go out with friends “with nothing special to do” two
or fewer nights each week.
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I want to do well in school.
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I am actively engaged in learning.
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I do an hour or more of homework each school day.
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I care about my school.
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I read for pleasure three or more hours each week.
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I believe it is really important to help other people.
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I want to help promote equality and reduce world poverty and hunger.
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I can stand up for what I believe.
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I tell the truth even when it’s not easy.
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I can accept and take personal responsibility.
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I believe it is important not to be sexually active or to use alcohol
or other drugs.
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I am good at planning ahead and making decisions.
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I am good at making and keeping friends.
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I know and am comfortable with people of different cultural/racial/ethnic
backgrounds.
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I can resist negative peer pressure and dangerous situations.
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I try to resolve conflict nonviolently.
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I believe I have control over many things that happen to me.
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I feel good about myself.
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I believe my life has a purpose.
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I am optimistic about my future.
 2001
Asset Development Conference
MSU's University Outreach Partnerships held its third annual conference
on asset development in 2001. Entitled From Seeds to Roots: Growing
a Strong Community Asset Culture, the program was held in late
October. Over 30 sessions focused on sustaining asset-based initiatives
designed for positive change, strong youth development, and active
citizen participation.
"We can never size up the success of these gatherings until
we see what occurs in communities, until we witness cutting edge
information being applied ," said Annette Abrams, director
of University Outreach Partnerships.
"Why are participants calling it a success? Because of the
people—the interaction that takes place between participating
university faculty and staff, and community leadership from across
the state personify what the asset approach is really about—it's
about learning together and working together, with some fun mixed
in!"
Director Abrams said that, because of the long-term partnership
established between the university and communities, she and other
participants anticipate observing the success of the conference
unfold during the next year. She referred to the address of Provost
Lou Anna K. Simon, and her challenge to the audience to provide
measurable outcomes in their work for reasons of accountability,
and informing decision makers of their needs as critical in advancing
the work in communities.
Abrams said, "Asset work is not always tangible. Measurable
outcomes are a way of taking the abstract and placing it in a more
tangible format."
Provost Simon brought a key message of all keynote speakers together
with a second challenge: invite uncommon partners around the table
to participate in asset work.
 Keynote
Speakers
The Honorable Elizabeth Weaver, Michigan Supreme Court Justice,
encouraged the audience to challenge the courts with sound information,
not only measurable outcomes in the community, but statewide research-based
findings related to the asset approach to working with youth and
families.
Thomas Shapiro, Ph.D., Award-Winning Author (Black Wealth/White
Wealth), delivered harsh realities of discrepancies between races
in income, inter-generation transfer of income, and home ownership.
He stated that the growing Hispanic community has great stakes in
advocating the asset approach for policy change in these areas,
as they become a majority in the USA, and that the support of policymakers
will be needed to maintain the country's
economic status.
Rebecca Saito, Researcher and Consultant on Youth and Community
Development, stated that making people aware of the asset approach
is not enough. They must be asked to "roll up the sleeves and
get to work." Direct involvement with youth in identifying
what they want to do in the community, what they can do, what they
will do is critical. Ms. Saito identified
interaction between youth and the uncommon partner as key to recruiting
and maintaining wide community participation.
A youth panel addressed the audience with responses to
common adult questions such as: What is important to youth? What
concerns youth? What do teens enjoy? Is health an issue? Their presentation
gave insight into today's teen culture. Their message: Let's keep
talking to one another!
Three speakers from the Institute for Public Policy and Social
Research were also featured at the conference: Former IPPSR Director,
Carol S. Weissert, Ph.D., spoke on building elected official support
of asset-friendly policies and local initiatives; Director of Communications,
AnnMarie
Schneider, spoke on increasing public awareness and community
goal participation;
and, Roger
Hamlin, Ph.D. provided information on strength-based approach
to agency or organization transformation.
"These messages demonstrate a keen understanding of the diverse
audience we have attending this conference, diverse in community
support, asset development stages, and in the demographics,"
Abrams said. "Because this audience mirrors the diversity in
communities, University Outreach Partnerships will be reinforcing
these messages across the state."
For more Information
For more information about the University Outreach Partnerships
work in communities on Asset Development, visit the Outreach Partnerships
at Michigan State University Asset
Alliance @ MSU website or call (517) 432-2500. For more information
about building assets in your neighborhood, school, or workplace,
call your community health department.
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