This document provides an overview of asset-based community development (ABCD). It discusses how ABCD focuses on identifying community assets rather than deficiencies. It emphasizes that everyone has assets to contribute and residents should participate in addressing issues rather than just observing. The document also includes examples of asset mapping tools and exercises that can help identify individuals' skills, associations, institutions, and other resources within a community.

2. Capacity-Focused Framework
Snapshot of the Room
Asset Mapping Exercise

3. ABCD FUNDAMENTALS

5. Asset
Based
Community
Development

6. Asset-Based
Internally-Focused
Relationship-Driven

7. We all have assets and deficits.

8. ABCD
Needs Based
Focus on
deficiencies
People are
consumers of
services
Residents observe
as issues are being
addressed
Asset Based
Focus on
effectiveness
People are
producers
Residents
participate and
are empowered

9. Individuals
Everybody!
Associations
Social Assets
Institutions
Public, private, nonprofit
Physical Assets
Buildings, natural assets
Exchange
Financial transactions, etc.

10. Associations
1830 2000

11. Associations & Institutions
• Consensus • Control
• Care • Production
• Citizens • Consumers
• Capacities • Needs

13. Individual Skills/Assets Inventory
Inventory Tool 1A
Name_________________________ Phone________________________ Date__________________________
Health Construction & Repair Food
Caring for the Elderly Painting Catering
Caring for the Mentally Ill Plumbing Preparing for Many People
Caring for the Sick Electrical Serving to Many People
Caring for Disabled People Carpentry Operating Commercial Equipment
EMT or Emergency First Aid Brick and Masonry Baking
Nursing Experience Wall Papering Meat Cutting and Preparation
Nutrition Furniture Repairs Bartending
Exercise Locksmith or Lock Repairs
Building Garages Transportation
Office Dry-wall and Taping Driving a Car
Typing (WPM______) Cabinetmaking Driving a Van
Taking Phone Messages Welding and Soddering Driving a Bus
Writing Business Letters Concrete Work Driving a Tractor-Trailer
Receiving Phone Orders Heating and Cooling Systems Driving a Commercial Truck
Operation Switchboard Flooring and Carpeting Operating Farm Equipment
Bookkeeping Roofing Driving Emergency Vehicles
Computer Information Entry Other_________________________
Computer Word Processing Supervision
Other_______________________ Maintenance Writing Reports
Floor Cleaning/Refinishing Filling Out Forms
Child Care Carpet Cleaning Working with a Budget
Infant Care (0-1 yr) Household Cleaning Recording of Activities
Child Care (1-6 yrs) Lawn Mowing and Yard Work Writing Proposals or Grants
Adolescent Care (7-13) Gardening Planning Projects
Taking Kids on Field Trips Tree and Shrubbery Care Supervising Projects
Pre-school Care Other_________________________
Source: Vitalizing Communities, Community Guide , 1999, J. Allen, S. Cordes, and J. Hart, p. 28

14. OATH FOR COMPASSIONATE SERVICE
Robert Lupton
• Never do for the poor what they have (or could
have) the capacity to do for themselves.
• Limit one-way giving to emergency situations
(crisis situation=YES, chronic situation=NO).
• Strive to empower the poor through employment,
lending, and investing, using grants sparingly to
reinforce achievements.
• Subordinate self-interests to the needs of those
being served.
• Listen closely to those you seek to help, especially to
what is not being said – unspoken feelings may
contain essential clues to effective service.
• Above all, do no harm.

15. “What are you
good at?” (assets)
“What are you most concerned
or passionate about?” “We need you.”

17. COYOTE & BADGER

18. FOUR QUESTIONS ON THE PATH TO
ASSET-BASED ENGAGEMENT

19. Who decides
what will be done?

20. Who are
the producers
of results?

21. How will
the gifts of
individuals &
the community
be identified
and mobilized?

22. Whose capacity
is being built?

23. mncampuscompact.org/abcd

24. STARTING SMALL

25. Make it asset-based
from the earliest
planning stages.

26. We’re doing this for them; and
It makes us feel good to do it.

27. Don’t panic. You don’t have to map the
assets of the entire community.

28. What change
does your
community
seek to make?

29. 1. Who is currently working to create that change?
2. What strategies are they using?
3. What is your (current or proposed) role?

30. REMEMBER THESE?

31. ?

32. “The best way
to have a good
idea is to have
lots of ideas.”
- Linus Pauling

34. Handout

37. MY BROTHER’S COLLEGE
ROOMMATE IS NOW A MAJOR
LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER.
I BAKE GREAT
CHOCOLATE CHIP
COOKIES

39. Look over your group’s collective assets.
Form action ideas from these assets.
Brainstorm actions that connect these assets
to accomplish goals related to your issue.

40. PROJECTS,
EVENTS,
CAMPAIGNS,
PROTESTS,
CELEBRATIONS,
DEMONSTRATIONS,
MAKING, GROWING
OR FIXING THINGS

42. ASSET MAPPING OPTIONS

43. • No special training
• 1 to 1 conversations
• Simple surveys
• Asset inventories

44. • Define your
community.
• Who is available?
• How much time do
you have?
• Resources for info.
collection (printing
or online)

45. http://mncampuscompact.org/clio
Search for “asset mapping”

46. • Identify existing
relationships.
• Lists of information are
good, but stories are even
better because they can
reveal hidden social and
cultural assets.
• Don’t forget natural and
built assets (landmarks,
parks, buildings, etc.).
Many asset inventory examples at ABCD Institute
http://www.abcdinstitute.org/

47. John Hamerlinck
john@mncampuscompact.org
http://mncampuscompact.org/abcd/