Mobilizing a Support Group Army in Cities

"We need consistent time, relationship, and shared-strength with people who can complete our sentences." - Jayne Schooler

Problem:

• People are suffering alone, without intimacy or strategy to heal from past wounds and navigate future struggles. Relational unhealth is the greatest barrier to societal health.

• Social Capital (bonding and bridging) are continually on the decline and we need an authentic, healing, consistent and joyful space to engage in increasing social capital.

  
  

Solution:

• Multiply support group catalyzation throughout the city with existing organizational assets of agencies, non-profits, and faith communities.

  • Agencies: 200 Agencies + 100 Buildings = 500-1,000 slots/week to host groups

  • Non-Profits: 1,000 Non -Profits + 500 Buildings = 500-1,000 slots/week to host groups

  • Churches: 200K followers + 1,000 buildings = 4,000 slots/week to host groups

    
    

Strategy:

• Map all existing support groups by demographic, location, and schedule

• Interconnect all and like-focused support group leaders. Assess strength and needs.

• Create a support group gap-analysis: demographic, place, and time

• Create goals around for each demographic based on population subsets and their needs

• Non-Profits:

  • Assess current longing to launch support groups based on population served

  • Connect with national organizations to access a train-the-trainer peer network so to help support group facilitators be equipped

  • Utilize existing tribe and volunteer force or recruit through agencies, churches, organizations, community, etc.

• Agencies:

  • Assess current longing to launch support groups based on population served

  • Connect with national organizations to access a train-the-trainer peer network so to help support group facilitators be equipped

  • Utilize existing staff, tribe and volunteer force or recruit through agencies, churches, organizations, community, etc.

• Church:

  • Assess latent congregational interest in leading/hosting support groups

  • Mobilize into roles: Organizers, facilitators, cooks, trainers, childcare workers, etc

• Continually assess and meet needs of support group leaders and facilitators

• Share support group map and metrics with anchor institutions and front-line workers; School Districts, Children's Services, Courts, Police, Addiction and Mental Health Boards, Hospitals, Community Mental Health Agencies, etc.

  
  

  

Mission:

• Catalyze a Support Group Army: (# in existence in Greater Dayton/Goal)

  • Single Moms (1/20)

    • Single Dads (0/5)

  • Domestic Abuse Survivors (1/10)

    • Domestic Abusers (1/4)

  • Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Families (1/10)

  • Grief (22/22)

  • Marriage (1/12)

    • Divorce(9/10)

    • Divorce for Kids (1/5)

  • Spiritual Leaders (0/15)

  • Poverty (Employment) (0/5)

  • Addiction Recovery (15/30)

  • Total Needed: 85 Groups; Mobilize 1,200 people

    • 170 leaders/organizers

    • 100-400 facilitators

    • 450 cooks

    • 450 childcare

In the United States, starting in the 1980's, we have had a sharp decline in "social capital". We lack bonding-capital (with those who are similar to us and bridging-capital (with those unlike us). We must restore the communal social fabric. We need spaces where we can foster both, thus the need for massive city-wide ecosystem of support groups.

(ideas adopted from The Connected Life: The Art and Science of Relational Spirituality and Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community)