Identifying Overlooked Local Assets

Using the Asset Based Community Development Guide to Mobilizing Local Assets has really been a beneficial tool to assess the current standing of our map, helping me to identify the strengths and weaknesses as we approach turning the map over toward the users. On page 19, entitled “Connecting Organizational Assets to Community Assets,” there is a categorized listing of all different types of assets that might exist within an organization. The different categories include personnel, constituents, space and facilities, expertise, networks of connections, materials and equipment, and economic power. By analyzing these categories separately, we can think creatively about different ways to engage the community. For example, the “expertise” section is further broken down into “classes,” “educational workshops,” and “training courses.” Before reading the ABCD Guide, I had not thought about different community classes as a potential node on our map. However, an art class might be the ideal group to target for a social justice mural to be painted in the community, for example. Looking at the variety of different assets identified in this guide—expanding from just organizations, people, or ideas—can help us think creatively to ensure that this community map reaches its full potential.