Community Development
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On this page you'll find
Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD)
Building from Strength
by John E.Walker
Northeast Assets Leadership Project
Too often when approaching community improvement, people focus on what is wrong and requires
fixing. Now there is a better way. Instead of occupying themselves with a community’s deficits, forward-
thinking organizations are identifying and building on local assets. After all, even the most troubled
community has strengths. Once people’s eyes are opened to community assets, a positive energy for
change takes over.
A growing community-organizing movement, asset-based community development
(ABCD), posits that the glass is half full rather than half empty. Rather than focus on community
deficits like crime, vandalism, unemployment, or drugs, ABCD aims to identify and mobilize the positive
attributes inherent in local government, businesses, nonprofits, voluntary associations, and
individuals.
Asset-based community development evolved from 1970s research and organizing in Chicago
communities. Working up from the block to the regional level, ABCD leveraged community assets to
address poverty, public health, human services, education, and criminal justice.
Building Communities From the Inside Out
ABCD IN ACTION: When People Care Enough to Act
Mapping Community Capacity
Asset-Based Community Development -- An Overview
Asset-Based Community Development Institute
Christian Community Development
- a listing of community organizations and neighborhood organizations,
- basic principles of Asset-Based Community Development
- basic principles of Christian Community Development,
- links to some of the community development initiatives in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area.
Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD)
Building from Strength
by John E.Walker
Northeast Assets Leadership Project
Too often when approaching community improvement, people focus on what is wrong and requires
fixing. Now there is a better way. Instead of occupying themselves with a community’s deficits, forward-
thinking organizations are identifying and building on local assets. After all, even the most troubled
community has strengths. Once people’s eyes are opened to community assets, a positive energy for
change takes over.
A growing community-organizing movement, asset-based community development
(ABCD), posits that the glass is half full rather than half empty. Rather than focus on community
deficits like crime, vandalism, unemployment, or drugs, ABCD aims to identify and mobilize the positive
attributes inherent in local government, businesses, nonprofits, voluntary associations, and
individuals.
Asset-based community development evolved from 1970s research and organizing in Chicago
communities. Working up from the block to the regional level, ABCD leveraged community assets to
address poverty, public health, human services, education, and criminal justice.
Building Communities From the Inside Out
ABCD IN ACTION: When People Care Enough to Act
Mapping Community Capacity
Asset-Based Community Development -- An Overview
Asset-Based Community Development Institute
Christian Community Development
- Community Development Organizations
- Neighborhood Associations
- (Google Map's list of GR Neighborhood Associations)
- Delta Strategy serves as a catalyst for social change by fostering community learning and
problem-solving. - Michigan Organizing Project (MOP) is a faith-based organization in Western Michigan working
for social and economic change in Muskegon, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. - Grand Rapids Area Center for Ecumenism (GRACE) is a religious, non-profit, directorship
corporation whose volunteers and staff provide educational, advocacy, and social justice
programs focusing on hunger, HIV/AIDS, racial justice, poverty, restorative justice, and
transportation
