ASSET BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

About the ABCD InstituteAbout the ABCD Institute

Est. 1995,

Northwestern

University, Illinois

- Presence on every continent throughout the world.

Tell us a story…..Tell us a story…..

‘Can you tell us a story about a time when you and your neighbours came together to make things better?’

Community is about identifying and contributing our assets

ABCD recognises our primary asset as being the capacity of individual to give of their gifts and talents…sometimes these are referred to as the:gifts of the hands which relates to things you can make; gifts of the heart which speaks to the things you are passionate about;gifts of the head pointing to the which you apply brain power or creativity to solve, resolve or create. A iron clad principle of ABCD is that everyone has gifts, without exception.

What are our communities Assets? What are our communities Assets?

• the skills of local residents • the power of local associations • the resources of public, private and non-profit

institutions • the physical and economic resources of local

places.• The stories of our lives and of evolving

community .

The glass is half fullThe glass is half full

Asset-based Community Development MethodologyAsset-based Community

Development Methodology

Discovering Strengths

Organizing & Mapping

Linking andMobilizing

Community Driven Initiatives

Sustaining the Process

Doing work the old wayDoing work the old way

A new policy anyone?A new policy anyone?Present Policy Why not also have a model that…

Focus on Deficiencies Focus on Assets

Problem Response Opportunity Identification

Charity Orientation Investment Orientation

Grants to Agencies Grants, Loans, Investments, Leverage

More Services Fewer Services

High Emphasis on Agencies Emphasis on Associations

Focus on Individuals Focus on communities/neighbourhoods

Maintenance Development

See People as Clients See People as Citizens and

Co-producers

‘Fix People’ Develop Potential

Programmes are the Answer People are the Answer

Processes with ownership Processes with ownership

The move is from services to clients

to

supports for citizens

Inclusion

‘You can’t know what you need, till you know what you have…’

Understanding motivation to actUnderstanding motivation to act

In every community there is work to be

done.

In every heart there is the power to do it.

People will support what they help to

create.

3 enablers3 enablers

• Dreams

• Concerns

• Gift giving opportunities

‘There is no greater power than a

community that has discovered what it

cares about.’ Margaret Wheatley

Community Building

Matters

The main protagonists:The main protagonists:

• Leader – someone that can bring people together to work on an issue

• Gift Giver – a person that is willing to contribute their asset to work on an issue.

• Invisible Person – a person that has not yet been “discovered” or been convinced to use their assets to help achieve their dreams or address their concerns in the neighborhood.

The unsung hero! The unsung hero!

• Connector – an individual that is good at discovering what people care about and where their assets can be used.– Gift centered– Well connected– Trusted– Believe they are welcome

Our conversationsOur conversations

• What do you care about enough to act upon?• What gifts, skills and knowledge can you bring

to address what you care about?• What would it take for you to work with others

who share your concern?• Do you know anybody outside the room whose

assets you can tap into?

Asset MappingAsset Mapping

IndividualsInstitutions Physical SpaceGardens

ParksPlaygroundsParking Lots

Walking PathsForests/Forest

PreservesPicnic AreasCampsites

Fishing Spots

Stories

Local Economy

Associations

Physical Space

Local Economy

StoriesInstitutions

Associations

Individuals

My Community

My Community

Our Community