Asset Mapping – Part I Identifying the Resources in Your Community

Bo BeaulieuPurdue University

2013 Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) Conference, Washington, DC – August 21, 2013

What This Session Is All About• Introduce asset-based community

development (ABCD)

• Discuss the four areas that are part of the ABCD process.

• Link the ABCD process to the seven community capitals

• Identify community assets & barriers

Four Arenas for Uncovering Assets

People

Local Formal Institutions

VoluntaryAssociations

Physical Resources

Source: Kretzmann & McKnight (1993)

Let’s Start with People

People

Assets of People The Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD ) Approach:

Uncovers hidden talents and skills of people in your community.

Identifies people in key positions with access to important resources.

Taps the skills/talents of citizens who can help.

Tools to Uncover Hidden Assets of Individuals

• Capacity Inventory of Individuals

• Community Participation and Leadership Inventory

Summary of “People” Tools

Specific Tool What It Does Why It’s Important

Capacity Inventory of Individuals

Zeroes in on the skills people have developed

Finds people with the skills needed to get projects and programs implemented

Community Participation and Leadership Inventory

Finds emerging leaders and uncovers the leadership potential in the community

Expands leadership and broadens the number of people working on local goals & projects.

People

The Next Asset Mapping Area

VoluntaryAssociations

Voluntary Associations

• Rely on regular or occasional volunteers• Have few, if any, paid staff• Have autonomy from the state• Are self-governed by a board of unpaid

individuals (usually)• Tend to be not-for-profit organizations• Provide a benefit or service to non-

members

Voluntary Associations

Source: BusinessDictionary.com

The Third Arena of Assets

Local Formal Institutions

Local Institutions

Formal organizations that:• Provide programs, facilities and services to

meet needs of residents.

• Carrying out functions vital to long-term community sustainability.

• Influence the vitality of a community by their presence and strength

Source: Etzen and Baca-Zinn, 2001; Sparknotes.com, 2006

Local Formal

Institutions

Uncovering Assets of VoluntaryAssociations & Local Formal Institutions

Challenge: How to identify the relevant assets and resources of voluntary groups and community institutions?

Solution: Inventory of Voluntary Associations and Local Formal Institutions

Information Collected

• Mission or purpose• Physical location• Number of members and/or

employees• Current & planned activities

or programs• Partnering organizations

• Current resources:• Buildings• Equipment• Expertise• Grants, donations• External resources

UNCOVERING YOUR ORGANIZATIONAL

ASSETS

The Fourth Area of Assets

PhysicalResources

Physical ResourcesNatural & Human-Made

Water and land-related amenities Vacant and underutilized buildings Historical & cultural sites; museums Recreational facilities; parks Educational centers; health-related

structures Roads & transportation systems

THE COMMUNITY CAPITALS FRAMEWORK

Sources: Flora & Flora (2008); Jacobs (2007)

The Seven Community Capitals

NaturalCultural

Human

SocialPolitical

Financial

BuiltA Vibrant Community

Defining the CapitalsCapitals Definition

Natural Quality & quantity of natural & environmental resources.

Cultural Values, norms, beliefs & traditions; includes historic material goods

Human Education & skills of residents; learning opportunities, programs to build local leadership.

Social Connections among people & organizations; links inside & outside of the community.

Political Ability to influence & enforce rules and regulations. Access to influential people in government positions; level of citizen engagement.

Financial Financial resources available for development efforts.

Built The infrastructure of the community – facilities, services, physical structures.

Linking Asset Mapping & Community

Capitals

A Comprehensive Approach to

Discovering the Assets to Support Community Goals

The Asset Mapping Arenas

The Community

Capitals

Exploring Possible Barriers:The Other Dimension to Consider

Are there forces at play that might impede your efforts to achieve your community goals? Factors within the

community? Factors outside the

community?

How can we identify these possible barriers?

Adding Barriers to the Template

Adding a column to

identify barriers

Let’s Try the Template• Select a potential goal

• Develop a list of assets across the seven capitals related to the potential goal

• Identify existing or potential barriers across the seven capitals related to the potential goal

Possible Goals• Recruit and engage a diverse mix of

volunteers to support our local or regional cultural arts organization.

• Expand local support and investment in the cultural arts.

• Develop innovative strategies for supporting the inclusion of people with disabilities in local cultural events

Final Reflections

• What are the insights you’ve gained from this session? Anything still confusing?

• Other issues to clarify or discuss?

For More Information . . .

Bo Beaulieu, PhD

Director, Purdue Center for Regional Development

Mann Hall, Suite 266

Purdue University

765-494-7273

ljb@purdue.edu