Asset Based Community Development Institute

Asset-Based Community Development Institute (NorthwesternUniversity) — I recall in the mid 1990’s hosting a community meeting in the church gym.  Present at this meeting were St. Mary’s Hospital executives, an ABCD Institute representative and Cathedral District neighborhood stakeholders.  This was a turning point for the Warren Avenue Presbyterian church when told her greatest ASSET was in becoming an active/engaged mini-anchor in the neighborhood, along with the St. Mary’s hospital, in sharing its wonderful building with the community.  Next to her people, the church building remains one of the most valuable assets of the church.   Rent-free space has been offered numerous organizations for many years.  These organizations include the East Side Soup Kitchen; Hidden Harvest;  the MarkNeumeierYouth  Center and Women of Color’s currently in the building.  This sharing of church assets was made possible in because of this positive, asset-based approach in matching needs with assets.  Read more at  http://www.abcdinstitute.org/

Welcome to ABCD
“The Asset-Based Community Development Institute (ABCD) is at the center of a large and growing movement that considers local assets as the primary building blocks of sustainable community development. Building on the skills of local residents, the power of local associations, and the supportive functions of local institutions, asset-based community development draws upon existing community strengths to build stronger, more sustainable communities for the future.”

The Asset-Based Community Development Institute is located at the School of Education and Social Policy at NorthwesternUniversity. ABCD has a staff of three individuals, including the founders, John McKnight and Jody Kretzmann.