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Question: Good afternoon, I am writing from The Lancaster (PA) Chamber of Commerce & Industry. We are in the very early stages of planning for a county-wide Community Asset Mapping project. While our geographic scope is large (a large county with half a million people), our focus will be limited to formal non-profit and not-for-profit institutions that are community assets. Chapter 3 of your online Tool Box has been very helpful. I am looking for some real-world examples or case studies of a community that has actually done a similar sort of community asset mapping. Are you aware of any such examples? I am happy to speak directly with people who have been involved in such a project, or to read documentation--whichever you might be able to provide. Thank you for your help. If this information is easier to communicate through a conversation, I'm happy to call you if you have the time.
Answer: Thanks for contacting Ask an Advisor. It is great that you are considering an Asset-based approach to this planning process. First off, the Kretzman & McKnight's Asset-based Community Development Institute is an incredible resource. As far as examples, here are two worth reviewing: In Edmonton, Alberta in 1994 an arm of the Capital Health Authority known as the Community Development Office (CDO) was part of a new movement toward community-centered health and in search of a community eager to actively participate in shared responsibility and local action for their own health and well-being. Following the principles of Kretzmann and McKnight?s (1993) ABCD, the team of community members and practitioners worked toward learning new ways to make Glenwood a more active and energized community. They set out to map the community assets by asking the question: ?what supports for health do you have, and would you be willing to share with the citizens of your community?? Dedrick, A., Mitchell, G., Miyagawa, M., & Roberts, S. (1997). From model to reality ? Community capacity building and asset mapping. Spruce Grove, Alberta: MAGJS Publishing. Another major ABCD project, known as ?Beyond Welfare? started in a small county of 74,000 people in central Iowa. It was, and is currently, designed to eliminate poverty in Story County by 2020 and to accomplish this goal, ?Beyond Welfare is building relationships across divisions of class, ethnicity, and race, which exist between marginalized groups with insufficient income and groups with sufficient income to achieve their purposes in life? Aigner, S.M., Raymond, V.J., & Smidt, L.J. (2002). ?Whole community organizing? for the 21st century. Journal of the Community Development Society, 33, 86-106. Best of luck! ~Scot
Question Date: Thu, 05/29/2008