As the Planning Associate for the Community Development Department, I aim to create an impactful asset-based community development (ABCD) plan for our community. ABCD is a transformative approach that centers on recognizing and harnessing our community’s inherent strengths and assets to cultivate sustainable growth and empowerment. This plan will lay out the fundamental directing standards of ABCD, showcase the differing resources accessible in our community, and illustrate how applying these principles can lead to a flourishing and interconnected society. Using asset-based community development (ABCD), principles allows our community to unleash its full potential by recognizing and leveraging its remarkable strengths, cultivating comprehensive collaboration, and establishing sustainable partnerships, leading to a strong, flourishing, and engaged community.
Guiding Principles of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD)
Envision transforming your community into a flourishing center of conceivable outcomes, where each individual’s strengths are recognized, and associations bloom to make a brighter future together. In this dynamic approach, we investigate and outline the different guiding principles inside our community, from a substantial foundation to the intangible social legacy that improves us. Some of these guiding principles include:
Resource Mapping: The primary principle of ABCD includes recognizing and mapping the resources present in our community. Assets can have tangible resources such as infrastructure, local businesses, parks, and educational institutions, as well as intangible resources like community skills, gifts, and cultural legacy (García, 2020). Conducting a comprehensive asset inventory will help us understand our community’s strengths and potential areas for development.
Community Engagement and Inclusion: Community engagement is a foundation of ABCD. It effectively involves all community individuals, including people, families, neighborhood organizations, and leaders, in decision-making (García, 2020). By cultivating an inclusive environment where everyone’s voice is heard and esteemed, we can collectively create sustainable solutions that meet the community’s needs and goals.
Strengths-Based Approach: ABCD emphasizes building on the existing strengths and capacities of the community rather than centering on shortages or needs (García, 2020). By recognizing and leveraging these strengths, we can make a positive and engaging environment that empowers inhabitants to take ownership of community ventures and activities.
Collaboration and Partnerships: Collaborating with different partners, including government organizations, non-profit organizations, businesses, and educational institutions, is crucial for effective ABCD execution (Russell, 2022). Organizations can improve the accessibility of assets, expertise, and support, leading to more impactful and sustainable community advancement activities.
Available Assets in Our Community
Our community is a dynamic embroidered artwork of diversity, bragging about a wealthy social legacy with inhabitants from different ethnic foundations and age groups. This difference is an essential resource we take pride in, grasping the opportunity to cultivate solidarity and social trade through community programs and events. A few of the available resources in our community include:
Diverse Population: Our community brags for a wealthy cultural diversity, with inhabitants from different ethnic backgrounds and ages (Russell, 2022). This difference represents a profitable asset that we can celebrate and integrate into community programs and occasions, cultivating a sense of solidarity and cultural exchange.
Thriving Local companies: Our community is home to a few successful local companies that have grown over time (TICC, 2019). These firms may play an essential role in supporting community activities such as event sponsorship, mentoring opportunities, and job chances for local citizens.
Community Organizations: A few well-established community organizations are effectively included in serving the needs of our residents (TICC, 2019). By collaborating with these organizations, we can tap into their expertise and resources to execute effective and targeted community advancement ventures.
Green Spaces and Parks: Our community is favored with abundant green spaces and parks, providing opportunities for outdoor entertainment, social gatherings, and potential venues for community occasions (Russell, 2022). These areas can be revitalized and enhanced to promote community engagement and a sense of belonging.
III. Applying ABCD Principles in Our Community
In this community development activity, we will apply the ABCD (Asset-Based Community Development) standards to tackle our community’s collective potential and assets. We aim to cultivate sustainable growth and strengthening by recognizing and building upon our inhabitants, businesses, and organizations’ existing qualities, resources, and accomplishments. The following approaches will be used.
Resource Mapping: To begin, we will conduct a resource mapping workout, engaging with residents, businesses, and organizations to recognize and document the existing resources in our community (Russell, 2022). This process will provide important insights into the assets we can use for future development activities.
Community Engagement and Inclusion: We will organize town lobby meetings, focus groups, and surveys to include community individuals in the planning and decision-making effectively (TICC, 2019). This comprehensive approach will guarantee that community needs and desires are at the cutting edge of our ABCD plan.
Strengths-Based Approach: By advancing community storytelling and recognizing individual and collective accomplishments, we can strengthen a culture of inspiration and self-belief inside our community. ABCD emphasizes focusing on strengths rather than exclusively on needs and lacks. By building upon the existing strengths of our community, we can cultivate a sense of agency and self-reliance among residents (Russell, 2022). From my professional practice, I have learned that this approach boosts community morale and increases the probability of successful projects. Our plan will prioritize activities that align with the recognized strengths of the community, advancing a positive and solution-oriented environment.
To sum up, by embracing the guiding principles of Asset-Based Community Development and recognizing the diverse assets within our community, we can cultivate a sense of solidarity, strengthening, and collective obligation. As a Planning Associate, I am committed to engaging with community individuals, understanding their needs and desires, and leveraging our accessible assets to create a sustainable and prosperous future. This ABCD plan will clear the way for positive change, enabling us to construct a resilient community that flourishes on its strengths and potential.
References
García, I. (2020). Asset-based community development (ABCD): Core principles., pp. 67-75 Research handbook on community development. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=yC3eDwAAQBAJ&lpg=PA67&ots=nfpfBjYFvt&dq=Asset-Based%20Community%20Development%20(ABCD)%20Plan&lr&pg=PA67#v=onepage&q=Asset-Based%20Community%20Development%20(ABCD)%20Plan&f=false
Russell, C. (2022). Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD): Looking Back to Look Forward. eBook Partnership. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=6BZkEAAAQBAJ&lpg=PT18&ots=Q43KhMd1hk&dq=Asset-Based%20Community%20Development%20(ABCD)%20Plan&lr&pg=PT20#v=onepage&q=Asset-Based%20Community%20Development%20(ABCD)%20Plan&f=false
TICC. (2019). ASSET-BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. https://transform-integratedcommunitycare.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ABCD-paper_v03C.pdf
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