Download - Intro to Asset Based Community Development
Asset Based Community Development
An Introduction to ABCD Principles and Techniques
What does ABCD mean to you?
ABCD Defined
ABCD is a methodology that considers local assets as the primary building blocks of sustainable community development; ABCD draws upon existing community strengths to build stronger, more sustainable communities
What Are Assets?
Six Types of Assets• Individuals – people we know, people we label• Economy – businesses, commerce• Associations – informal and formal groups• Physical – spaces and places• Stories – memories, experiences, histories• Institutions – formal organizations
ABCD ApproachABCD is all about…
• Identifying and mobilizing the assets of individuals, especially those who are “clients” of social services
• Building relationships among community members, especially those that are mutually supportive
• Giving community members more roles and power in local institutions; citizens lead efforts
• Believing that everyone has gifts and everyone must give gifts
In small groups, share
some ways your
organizations are
currently using ABCD
techniques or ways they
could begin implementing
ABCD techniques
Asset-Based vs.
Need-Based
Potential Community Needs:
gang members | school dropouts | mental illness
unemployment | child abuse | homeless
housing projects | poverty | teen parents
Illiteracy | truancy | uninsured | addiction
disease | bullying | intolerance | crime
delinquency | addiction | violence
businesses | youth | parks
hospitals | churches | elderly | culture groups
income | citizens associations
schools | natural resources | historical landmarks
neighborhoods | volunteers
community colleges | libraries | artists
nonprofits | sports teams | festivals
Potential Community Assets:
Needs Survey vs.
Gift Survey
Should we just forget about all the things our community really
needs??
Using Assets to Address Needs
Proponents of ABCD believe focusing on local assets will build stronger communities that are better able to respond to and repair deficiencies
In small groups, practice connecting community assets to groups or organizations that could use them to address needs.
Implementation• Inclusion– challenge everyone to be a leader• Collect Stories – draw out people’s experience
to uncover gifts, skills, talents an abilities of individuals in the community
• Asset Mapping – assess a community’s potential with an inventory of strengths
• Be Action-Oriented – seek to make immediate improvements
• Empower Others – inspire and coordinate bottom-up solutions
Tools for ABCD
• Gift Survey• Asset Mapping• Power Ladder• ABCs of ABCD
• …and many more!