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_According to McKnight, our system of communities goes far back into the beginnings - ..
of Christianity. At first'"strangers” were welcomed into the community,.and with them
they brought a "gift". The gift consisted of something of themselves, for example a story,
song, lesson or other expression. Eventually monasteries were built outside the commun-
ities, with rooms set aside for visitors. "Strangers" were then turned away from the. |
community and sent to the hospitality of the monasteries, which were actually the first
hostels. By no longer extending hospitality to strangers, the community no longer received

their gifts, and hospitality within the community started to die. _ |
McKnight says that to build strong communities we should get back to our original idea _
of community; that we. welcome strangers and every st

himself, that will enrich the community.

addicts; ex-convicts; young mothers and single mothers;

ranger has a gift, something of
According to McKnight. the “strangers” in modern communities are the people living |
on the fringe, most often seniors; people with disabilities; refugees; alcoholics and drug
newcomers to the community; and =~

eccentrics. He asserts that the only way communities can be strong and healthy again is

for the people of the community to
welcome these strangers into the
community and accept their gift,
whatever they can offer of. them-
selves, ce
McKnight says that the

_ weakest communities are those

with the most services, experts and
professionals, These ‘communities
meet the requirements of the

- people in need, but are also losing

the person whose needs are being
met, because they are taking away
their capacity. to give. ‘

_.. McKnight says that everybody .

‘has their capacities and gifts and
we need to:seé those, not the defi-

ciencies which may stand out more.
What makes communities strong is
finding the capacities of those who
are exiled and bringing them back
into the community to offer their
gifts.

-Instrong communities you will »
find people who will focus on and
identify the gifts and capacities of
people: and how to mobilize them,
rather than focusing on their
needs: McKnight calls these "capac-

-ity oriented" people connectors. He
says’ they can work to connect the outsiders and
strangers to people and groups within the community.

McKnight says strong communities are ‘places
where every citizen has a commitment to other citi-

zens, where hospitality is alive and where the people: |
at the fringes have been brought back in, their gifts -

received, and where the people of the community can

say “no strangers live here".

7 4 . |. ar

B,C. Healthy Communities Network is a provincial
organization located on the lower mainland with a
steering committee of about 12 people representing ©

.. Weak communities are

dependent on ‘experts’ and
‘professionals’, -

whereas strong communities
are places where |

the citizens act together

to solve problems.

Terrace Review — April 10, 1992