Asset Based Community Development

These notes come from training I had with The Scarman Trust back in July 2004 courtesy of John McKnight and Jody Kretzman.

I have always remembered this quote

‘If you’re looking for an organizer in a meeting, you won’t find them a the front of the room.  A good organizer will be right at the back of the room.  A great organizer won’t be in the room at all’.

I am not sure many of my bosses have believed in this.

The idea comes from a positive place.  You work with what the community has rather than what it hasn’t.  Finding, connecting and mobilising these community assets ideally set in motion an effective and sustainable development process.  It is an alternative to a situation where potentially low-income communities are economically supporting middle class professionals to help them.

‘Never go outside the experience of your people.  Never do for another what they can do for themselves’. Saul Alinsky

Find out from people in their community

• What are their gifts?  What is their main gift?
• What is their greatest concern?
• Who are they connected to?

The basic characteristics of an organizer are;

• Gift centered
• Well connected
• Trusted
• Believes the community is welcoming
• Is emotionally intelligent
• Able to prepare people for powerful action

The power to do comes from;

• relationships
• resources
• responsiveness / accountability
• Purpose