• Blogs

    Capacities and Capacity


    By John Hamerlinck, 2023-05-22
    ABCD is rooted in the belief that the capacities of community residents, leveraged with their collective relationships, can be organized to improve the quality of life of the community. Most...
    Read More
    ABCD Institute Steward Jennifer Hirsch and Director of Serve-Learn-Sustain at Georgia Institute of Technology would love to see someone with and ABCD orientation fill this position . In...
    Read More

    Our Brother Has Passed On


    By John L. McKnight, 2023-01-03
    I first met Jody as we were active together in the civil rights movement of the 1960's. Prior to that I think he had a job writing for Time Magazine. We came together at Northwestern University...
    Read More

    Digital assets - a "new" ABCD asset?


    By Deb Wisniewski, 2022-12-06
    I'd like to start with a story about digital assets in my small rural community during the start of COVID. Our community relies on tourism for much of our economy here. We are a busy place during...
    Read More
    Call for Papers for Themed Volume of Gateways: International Journal of Community Research and Engagement Asset-based Community Development and Community-based Research: Compatible agents in...
    Read More

    The future is Now, Today not Tomorrow 


    By Bikeke Saimon, 2022-11-12
    Listening from communities on their priority needs is essential. However, most people in leadership has not considered this as a tool for inclusive decision making in development and actions....
    Read More

    Evaluating Rural ABCD Efforts


    By John Hamerlinck, 2022-10-27
    During the recent Unconference, I participated in a session on evaluating and measuring the success of some seemingly unmeasurable ABCD efforts. In our small group discussion, I mentioned that...
    Read More

    Register for the Unconference!


    By Allison Lourash, 2022-09-11
    Sessions have been scheduled and registration is open for the 2022 ABCD Unconference. This is a free event that last 48 hours over Zoom (you do not need to attend all 48 hours). Connect with...
    Read More

    The Connected Community: Homecoming


    By John L. McKnight, 2022-09-08
    Enjoy this excerpt from our new book, The Connected Community , by John McKnight and Cormac Russell CHAPTER 1 - Homecoming Rediscovering the Value of Community From...
    Read More

    Update


    By Alan Pakaln, 2022-08-19
    Two projects I have been working on, evolving over the past several years. One Big Problem addresses global warming - it came about just out of my personal recent awakening....
    Read More

    ABCD in South Africa


    By Janine Ward, 2022-08-11
    Hello to everyone and a special shout-out to my fellow ABCD colleagues in Mzansi (South Africa)! I just want to invite you all to join our Mzansi ABCD Magic WhatsApp group, where we share success...
    Read More
    One argument for diversity is that is ensures participation and creates the power of being heard. It is expressed by the popular maxim, “Nothing about us without us.” Implicit in this idea is...
    Read More
    The New Pluralists funder collaborative just launched Healing Starts Here, a new project that commits $10 million to support organizations and initiatives in local communities with grants ranging...
    Read More

    Submissions Are Open For The 2022 ABCD Unconference


    By Michelle Dunscombe, 2022-05-16
    Hi Everyone, On behalf of the Unconference global organising team, we are thrilled to announce submissions to present at this years ABCD Unconference in October 2022. This year you...
    Read More

    Losing by Playing the Blame Game


    By John L. McKnight, 2022-05-12
    If you attend the meetings of many neighborhood organizations, their focus is mainly on local issues. These often include unruly youth, dangerous alleys, graffiti, lack of jobs, dangerous police,...
    Read More

    Transparency and Trust: From Looking in to Being in


    By John L. McKnight, 2022-04-07
    One explanation for the failings of our democracy is that government is not trusted. One aspect of the national dialogue on restoring trust in government suggests that a critical reform is...
    Read More
    The Dutch Association of Mayors invited me, as a representative of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute, to visit their 20 largest cities and share an asset-based approach with...
    Read More

    Creating Trust: The Unique Power of Associations


    By John L. McKnight, 2022-02-10
    It is not difficult to distinguish the functions of physical tools from each other. No one uses a saw to drive a nail into a piece of wood. Likewise, no one attempts to cut a piece of wood with a...
    Read More

    NEW free short course at Village In The City


    By Mark McKergow, 2022-02-08
    Hi everyone,  As people involved in ABCD work around the work, you might be keen to engage with Introduction to Village In The City , our new one-hour self-paced online course.  This is a...
    Read More
    2nd Rural Community of Practice Offering We are now offering a second option for Rural ABCD Practitioners to meet in a Community of Practice format. T his group will meet every other month on...
    Read More
     / 7