Asset based community development presentation 2012
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Asset-based community development (ABCD) focuses on identifying and utilizing the strengths and resources within a community rather than addressing its deficiencies. ABCD encourages a paradigm shift in how communities are engaged, emphasizing the importance of the people and their capabilities. The document outlines a framework for mapping community assets across five key areas: individuals, associations, institutions, land, and exchange.
Asset based community development presentation 2012
- 1. ASSET BASEDASSET BASED COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT An Asset-BasedAn Asset-Based Approach:Approach: ““Communities haveCommunities have never been built uponnever been built upon their deficiencies. Buildingtheir deficiencies. Building communities has alwayscommunities has always depended upon mobilisingdepended upon mobilising the capacities and assetsthe capacities and assets of people and place”of people and place” Kretzman & McKnightKretzman & McKnight 19931993 ‘‘Building CommunitiesBuilding Communities from the inside out’from the inside out’
- 2. Asset Based Community Development (ABCD): looking for the positive things/strengths in a community and making the most of them. It’s not about making lists of what’s missing, identifying ‘problems’ and trying to fill the gaps; it’s about seeing what’s there, and using it.
- 3. What is an ‘Asset’ “Capacity, competence, capability, ‘know–how’, aptitude, talent, gift, propensity, faculty, endowment, force, authority, wisdom, enthusiasm, creativity, resourcefulness.” Harrison et al (2004) Assets for Health and Development European Programme: Developing a conceptual framework, Geneva: World Health Organisation. •
- 4. GLASS HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY • Asset based community development is not a tool you whip out of your, ‘tool bag’ whenAsset based community development is not a tool you whip out of your, ‘tool bag’ when you cannot seem to solve a problem with which you are faced. It is a complete shift in theyou cannot seem to solve a problem with which you are faced. It is a complete shift in the way you approach the work that you do, the people with whom you are working, and theway you approach the work that you do, the people with whom you are working, and the communities that you are trying to organise. At it’s most basic level, it is like the halfcommunities that you are trying to organise. At it’s most basic level, it is like the half full/half empty glass. When you look at a glass what do you see? The normal answerfull/half empty glass. When you look at a glass what do you see? The normal answer would be half full if you are a positive thinking person and half empty if you are a negativewould be half full if you are a positive thinking person and half empty if you are a negative thinking person.thinking person. • The real and true answer would be a bit of both. The glass is both half full and half empty.The real and true answer would be a bit of both. The glass is both half full and half empty. We all have a ‘full’ side: Our gifts, skills, passions and talents. But we also have our halfWe all have a ‘full’ side: Our gifts, skills, passions and talents. But we also have our half empty side: Our deficiencies, problems and bad habits.empty side: Our deficiencies, problems and bad habits. • Imagine you were asked to write down a note on a card displaying the one thing that youImagine you were asked to write down a note on a card displaying the one thing that you hate most about yourself, something that you couldn’t even tell your family members.hate most about yourself, something that you couldn’t even tell your family members. Then imagine if you were asked to walk around all day with that note strapped to yourThen imagine if you were asked to walk around all day with that note strapped to your chest!! Not interested? No because we all know that one thing is not what defines us!chest!! Not interested? No because we all know that one thing is not what defines us! There are many things that would probably define you as a ‘whole person’ yet how oftenThere are many things that would probably define you as a ‘whole person’ yet how often have you judged or been judged on just one aspect of self? Would you define someonehave you judged or been judged on just one aspect of self? Would you define someone who is blind…based on their inability to see, no I ‘m sure you wouldn’t!!who is blind…based on their inability to see, no I ‘m sure you wouldn’t!!
- 5. THE ASSET MAP • AN ASSET MAP IS BROKEN DOWN INTO 5 KEY AREAS. • 1. INDIVIDUALS • 2. ASSOCIATIONS. • 3. INSTITUTIONS. • 4. LAND. • 5. EXCHANGE.
- 6. INDIVIDUALSINDIVIDUALS • The centre of every community are the people who live there. They should be the focus of any work that is carried out within that community in order to bring the community together and address the stigma that may be evident within that area.
- 7. ASSOCIATIONSASSOCIATIONS • An association is any group of people that come together because of a shared interest or because of a common cause. What are some of the associations that are active within your community.
- 8. INSTITUTIONSINSTITUTIONS • These could be businesses, local government, large and small non-profit organizations, schools, hospitals, libraries, etc. All of which could have space, expertise, buying power, employment opportunities and many more things to offer your community.
Editor's Notes
- #2: In order to promote asset/strength-based ways of working. You must first believe everyone has strengths and abilities. We live in a ‘deficit’ world and this needs to be challenged. Sadly it is human nature to focus on the negative, this needs to be challenged at every available outlet.
- #3: How you perceive the neighbourhood that you live or work in is going toprofoundly influence the way that you act. Typically a neighbourhood isseen from the perspective of its largest deficits. “That is a dangerousneighbourhood”, “That neighbourhood looks trashy”, “There is a lot ofpoverty or drug use in that community.” How many times have you heard that as... a first description of a neighbourhood? We all know about the negativethings that are a part of our community, but, at the other side of everydeficit, is an asset begging for some attention.
- #4: The Recovery Community is an asset. And everyone who supports it in any way shape or form is an asset to it.
- #5: Our communities fall into this same category. In every community there are problems and issues. These tend to be the main issues promoted by the local media and ‘guiding lights’ within those communities. Crime, drugs, broken families, unemployment, etc…. BUT IS THAT IT, IS THAT WHAT DEFINES YOUR COMMUNITY.
- #6: Every neighbourhood has assets, the problem is that too many individuals within that community focus on the negatives and this adds to the stigma within that community. The idea behind ABCD is to promote the assets within the community and put relevant things in place to bring the assets together productively.
- #7: Everyone has gifts, skills and talents that can be used in the community. How can we find these out? We ask. Skills inventories. Get people to fill in an inventory sheet saying what they are good at.
- #8: What are some of the associations available within your community? List these in another inventory.
- #9: Again list all the institutions within your community that you feel might be assets.