See: Concept: The role of Institutions per the ABCD scholars and Established Institutions in the field of Community Building
Notes about the Asset Based Community Development Institute (via Google Bard):
The Asset-Based Community Development Institute (ABCD) is a non-profit organization located at the Steans Center for Community-Based Service Learning at DePaul University in Chicago, IL. The ABCD Institute is dedicated to building community capacity through asset-based community development (ABCD). ABCD is a methodology for sustainable community development that focuses on the strengths and potentials of a community, rather than its needs.
The ABCD Institute’s work is based on the following principles:
- Assets are the foundation of community development. Communities have many assets, including the skills and talents of residents, the resources of local organizations, and the connections between people and institutions.
- Community members are the experts on their own community. The ABCD Institute believes that community members are the best experts on their own community’s needs and assets.
- ABCD is a process, not a product. ABCD is a long-term process of building community capacity, not a quick fix for community problems.
- ABCD is inclusive. ABCD seeks to involve all members of a community in the development process, regardless of their race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or other factors.
The ABCD Institute offers a variety of resources to help communities implement ABCD, including training, technical assistance, and publications. The ABCD Institute also hosts an annual conference that brings together community leaders from around the world to share their experiences with ABCD.
The ABCD Institute is a leading organization in the field of asset-based community development. Its work has helped to strengthen communities around the world, and its resources have helped to make ABCD a more accessible and effective methodology for community development.
Here are some of the benefits of using the ABCD approach to community development:
- It builds stronger, more resilient communities.
- It empowers community members to take control of their own destiny.
- It helps to address complex community problems in a sustainable way.
- It is more cost-effective than traditional approaches to community development.
If you are interested in learning more about asset-based community development or the work of the ABCD Institute, please visit their website at https://resources.depaul.edu/abcd-institute/.
See also: List of Books by John McKnight, Community: The structure of belonging by Peter Block and Asset Based Community Development by Cormac Russell
[Author’s Note: The above text was AI-generated and may not be accurate. The overarching intent behind this blog post is to provide a starting point for discussions among aspiring community builders. Just as startup founders can benefit from startup oriented content (such as those provided by accelerators and incubators), community builders can benefit from community building oriented content. If you are an aspiring community builder, please contribute to the discussion by commenting on this post]