Asset-Based Community Development: Building on Communities' Assets for Collective Action, Slides of Human Development

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Vitalizing Communities:

Building on Assets and Mobilizing

for Collective Action

Asset Based Community Development: The

Theoretical Support

“The impetus for action within a community evolves from the

relationships between individuals within a geographic

setting ”

(Kauffman, Harold, “Toward an Interactional Conception of Community.” Social Forces, 1959 )

When the field of interaction is strengthened & focused within

the community setting, public good functions develop & the

community is in a position to better manage their resources.

“Social Capital (includes) those features of social

organization which facilitate cooperation for mutual

benefit enhancing a community’s ability to benefit from

investments and physical and human capital”

(Putnam, Robert, Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Modern Italy.” 1993, pp. 35-36).

The concept of Social Capital links to shared visions and

mobilization.

Asset Based Community

Development: The Theoretical Support

Figure 1: Relationship Between Individual Interest, Social Fields,

Community Fields & the Development of Social Capital

Locality-based Locality-based Collective Action Collective Action

Networks, Norms, Trust, Reciprocity

Community Field

Density of Acquaintanceship

Social Field

Social Field Social Field

Individual Self Interest

Social Capital

Before Personally

After

Personally

Before Professionally

After

Professionally

Personal density and perception of

benefits--polynomial regression

0

5

10

15

0 5 10 15

Individual Collective

Perceived increase

in density

Projects Funded…..continued

• Network Cliques Time
• Network Cliques Time
• Clearing houses for excess Alfalfa $500. 1999 Amount
• Dairy Coalition $5,000.
• Hay Coop $45,000.
• U.S. Ag Alliance $300.
• Town A Library $1,000.
• Farmers Day Golf $100.
• Prairie Rhythms Project $1,500. 2000 Amount
• Community Garden $3,000.
• Women’s Marketing $2,500.
• PolyPay Sheep Alliance $20,000.

Presumed Relationship Between Networks & Decision

Making

Individual Collective

Density of Relationships

Action

Asset-Based Community

Development

• Asset-based community development (ABCD) is a concept

pioneered by John P. Kretzman & John L. McKnight.

• ABCD - very different philosophical base from more

“traditional” approach to community development.

• Foundation for the “traditional” approach is identifying a

community’s needs, deficiencies & problems.

• Foundation for ABCD is an exciting journey of discovering a

community’s capacities & assets.

• There are other differences between the traditional & the

ABCD approach.

Asset-Based Community Development

Alternative Path 2

Assets Building Communities Gifts & Dreams Relationships Producer, Owner

Assets based on community “Treasures”

Youth, elderly, artists, churches, schools, businesses, parks, libraries, cultural groups, community colleges, clubs, hospitals, farms, ranches, etc.

Traditional Path 1

Basis: Needs Goal: Institutional Change Conversation: Problems & Concerns Change Agent: Power View of Individual: Consumer, Client

Needs based on community “Problems”

Unemployment, gangs, truancy, broken families, housing shortage, crime, child abuse, illiteracy, welfare, lead poisoning, dropouts, etc.

Asset-Based Community Development

• Asset mobilization IS an action step. Mobilizing assets for

collective action requires organizing and harnessing the

relationships that exist within the community.

• There are at least six important categories of assets within any

community: the assets of individuals, the assets of

associations, the assets of institutions, economic linkages and

business assets, the natural resources and previous processes

and plans for community and economic development.

• A holistic ABCD approach is inclusive and includes all five

categories of assets. This is ideal; however, in some cases, the

community may not be able or willing to undertake such a

comprehensive approach.

Examples:

A + C = D

Assets + Community =Development Initiatives

• Greene County, Tennessee
  • Livestock Cooperative
• Trinity County, California
  • Trinity Kids First Collaboration
  • Hyampom University
• Arthur, Nebraska
  • Wolf Den Grocery Store