I ran across this and thought it articulated well a starting place to work toward empowerment. I don't know who the author is. It seemed to me like a great tool for empowerment in that it suggests plans of action depending on where a community is in their response to an issue, be it social justice or environmental justice. I've added the numbers for easier referencing.
Stages of Issue Development
1) DON'T KNOW ------------------------------> EDUCATION (ISSUES)
2) KNOW, BUT DON'T CARE ---------------------> EDUCATION (ETHICS)
3) CARE, BUT DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO ------------------------------> ADVOCATE
*
4) KNOW WHAT TO DO, BUT
DON'T KNOW HOW --------------------------> TRAINING
*
5) KNOW HOW, BUT LACK
RESOURCES/SUPPORT ------------------------> BUILD ORGANIZATION
6) HAVE SUPPORT, BUT LACK
OF URGENCY -------------------------------> REFRAME
It seems to me that disempowerment is possible at each stage, but specifically in the two places that are indicated by stars. I would add two stages, the response to both being EMPOWER. The first stage is between #3 and #4.
This stage would be:
CARE, BUT DON'T THINK THEY
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE ---------------------> EMPOWER
The second stage would be between #4 and #5. This stage would be:
KNOW WHAT TO DO, BUT DON'T
FEEL THEY CAN DO IT ------------------------> EMPOWER
Just an interesting way to frame this whole conversation that I thought I'd share.
Peace and Blessings,
Mikaila
Sunday, May 27, 2007
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