Asset-Based Community Development - ABCD
Do we think, plan or act on the side of the glass that is half full or half empty? It makes a big difference in how we see things (people, neighborhoods...communities). "What's wrong or missing", is the focus when you start with the half empty. "What's right and strong", when you start with the half full.
Note that the "half" reference is soberly grounded in the reality that, yes we have the positive and the negative in our communities. However, it's where you START that makes all the difference. Contexts of value, empowerment, skillful, passionate will draw people UP to common places of "Let's do this together!" These are the ASSETS that are applied to the dreams and hopes that form community plans and actions that make life better.
Asset-Based Community Development is intensely relational: people, their associations, their institutions, all engaged in meaningful conversations, jointly seeking and working the peace or shalom of their city.
ABCD says, "We who live here, can do it best ourselves! We know what's best. We have the assets. We can do it, when we do it together!" It's an Inside-Out thing.
ABCD is a tool that is key to and prioritized by our work at Imagine NW! Our Partnerships are built upon the persistent implementation and use of ABCD.
Thank you John McKnight and John Kretzmann!
ABCD
