One of our heroes and mentors has died. John L. McKnight was one of the pioneers of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD). His premise was that communities change when they have agency (a sense of control), not when they are handed things and dictated what to do with them. For too long we have focused on giving 'stuff' to people who live in poverty, never asking them if it is helpful or beneficial. Never recognizing that our willingness to help might actually hinder people from moving forward.

John McKnight traveled the country and engaged with people on the margins of society and started asking simple questions: What do you love about your community? What are your gifts, dreams and passions? What do you want to see changed in your neighborhood? And how do you want to make that happen?

Do you see the difference? He did not come in with 'stuff', did not hand out things that people never asked for. He did not come in with answers, but asked good questions and helped community members see their own strength. He was able to engage people, and developed a framework that is now used to change the world: looking for what is good and strong in a community and then helping people to find their agency again.

It is a difficult and yet beautiful concept. When used in the Southern Hemisphere, this has been an incredibly successful approach. People don't want a 'foreigner' to come in and bring stuff; they want to be able to do things on their own, but might just need a little bit of training and advocacy. In the USA it is more difficult; we have received hand-outs forever and have become dependent on them, and maybe even lost the drive to move forward. Poverty is hard work!

John's work has forever shaped me and the way I think. We are using ABCD concepts in our work at LifeLine, looking for the good in people, helping them find their voice, providing a platform where they can dream about a better future. It starts out with seeing people differently: seeing the strength, the resilience, the giftedness (even if they don't see it yet), and providing a platform for people to grow, take ownership of their lives, and create connections for change.

This holiday season, maybe we all can look at people as gifted with dreams and thoughts and ideas. Maybe we can make helping without hurting as easy as ABCD. Fairwell John McKnight, my mentor and hero.