“Perception” is one of the four challenges identified by The Chung Report as being vitally important to the success of a city.
“Perception is all about creating an identity that instills city pride in locals and attracts outsiders.”
-The Chung Report, July 28, 2016
I recently spoke with Britten Kuckleman and Kali Babich about how they came up with the idea for #ICTNeighborGOOD and why they think it can help bring good vibes to ICT. Britten explained that there are two approaches to community development: Needs Based and Asset-Based. Needs-based recognizes needs in a community such as “I see a house that is dilapidated and needs repair.” An action
Asset-based community development, on the other hand, recognizes something that is working, a strength or skill possessed by members of a community, and citizens engage in the process of development using what they already possess, with or without the involvement of the incorporated city.
#ICTNeighborGOOD is a way in which citizens of Wichita can map the assets of their community, and help to bring about renewal and redevelopment. Here is how it works: Notice what you personally like about your ‘Neck of the Woods’. This could be a person with a particular skill or talent, a shop that offers a unique product or service, or a house that is particularly well kept. Anything really that you find to be positive.
The second step is to use the #ICTNeighborGOOD hashtag and let other Wichitans know about your treasure. This starts small conversations about what is good in the city, some shared by many and some known by only a few.
Overtime citizens create a vision of Wichita, derived from their likes, which in turn can lead to the development of a city envisioned by the citizens of that city. So get a Twitter account if you don’t already have one and start telling people what you love about where you are by using #ICTNeighborGOOD in your tweet!