Seeing the Glass Half Full: Asset-Based Community Development

Catalog description

This two-day workshop is designed to introduce students to theories and methods in asset-based community development (ABCD). ABCD is growing movement that considers local assets as the primary building blocks of sustainable community development. Building on the skills of local residents, the power of local associations, and the supportive functions of local institutions, asset-based community development draws upon existing community strengths to build stronger, more sustainable communities. In this two-day workshop, students will be introduced to ABCD and learn strategies for harnessing assets from citizens, local associations and institutions and bringing them together to address community concerns and challenges. Students will be introduced to the process of asset mapping and apply this process to a community to which they belong.