Exploring Asset-Based Community Development in Calgary: January 2021 Meet Up Recording
For our first Meet Up of 2021, we brought together an excellent panel of four different community groups who are at various stages of piloting Abundant Community Initiatives here in Calgary. They shared with us a lot of wisdom and reflections from their experiences to date. We were able to record the conversation, which has been shared below for those who missed it.
Before we get to that though, there are a few key pieces of information you should know!
What is Asset-Based Community Development?
Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) is an approach to building just, sustainable, and resilient communities. “ABCD looks for, and starts from people’s gifts and strengths (assets). These assets equip people to create local opportunities” (Tamarack Institute). ABCD typically focuses on the possibilities, as opposed to the needs or deficits of a community - and this shift in framing radically shifts the ways in which we engage and activate community (Ivis Garcia).
It recognizes that there is power in communities, and reframes how we engage in community to ensure that what emerges is for community, by community. As such, ABCD is “driven by the community—not external agencies. While professionals (or external catalysts) can play an important role, their focus should be on assisting communities to drive their own development” (Graeme Stuart, Sustaining Community).
What is Abundant Community?
Abundant Community is a book by John McKnight and Peter Block that explores this approach to building neighbourhoods, and “offers practical ways to discover” the “people with the gifts and talents needed to provide for our prosperity and peace of mind” in each neighbourhood (Abundant Community).
Abundant Community Edmonton is “a grassroots initiative fostering neighbour to neighbour relationships. The goal — to cultivate a culture of care and connection, increase the sense of belonging and inclusion, and ultimately create a more healthy and livable city - one block at a time” (Abundant Community Edmonton). This initiative was made possible due to the Neighbourhood Services Section of the City of Edmonton and the strengths and input of local citizens of Edmonton.
They have developed a process involving Neighbourhood Connectors and Block Connectors who help to build those foundational relationships in neighbourhoods, and identify and activate the strengths and assets of the people who live there. Their website (linked above) has many great resources, and their success has sparked several Abundant Community initiatives here in Calgary!
For instance, we have Abundant Community Copperfield Mahogany, a COVID-19 Block Connector Program supported by Highland Park Community Association, the Crescent Heights Neighbourhood Block Connector program, and the Creating Abundant Communities: Calgary Neighbourhood Block Program.
Recording of the January 28, 2021 Meet Up “Exploring Asset-Based Community Development in Calgary”
A huge thank you once again to Anne, Janelle, Jody, and Tyson for joining us!
We had some great conversation and resources sharing happening in the Zoom chat. We’ve harvested the resources and ideas and shared them here:
Erika shared that there is an active Facebook group that Peter Block occasionally pops into: www.facebook.com/AbundantCommunity
Anne shared that Highland Park intends to have a snowperson making event in the small community green spaces scattered around the community
Erika shared that Acadia uses www.Ruckify.com as a tool that allows you to rent things from neighbours nearby
Evan highly recommends the free resources from Edmonton https://www.edmonton.ca/programs_services/for_communities/abundant-community-edmonton.aspx
Tyson shared that Abundant Communities Edmonton provides monthly gatherings for ‘block connectors’ which he has joined a few times to learn and connect
There was a robust conversation in the chat about citizen engagement in connection to nature, and about connecting people to existing opportunities there
Meet the Panellists for the January 28, 2021 Meet Up
Janelle Kermode, with the Abundant Community Copperfield-Mahogany initiative, is a nurse, a mom, a wife, and a neighbour! She loves her street and wants her kids to have the joy that she did of playing on the street and being able to have the neighbours be an extension of your family. Since many of us do not have family around, they become those who help uplift you on your worst days and celebrate the best ones with you. Janelle has been running some creative connecting with neighbours through COVID.
Jodi Lammiman, coordinator of the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good’s Abundant Community Calgary Neighbourhood Block Project. This program supports individuals in building strong communities at a neighbourhood block level while contributing to a culture of care that also increases civic engagement, a sense of belonging, resiliency and safety. Jodi has a MA in Leadership and has worked for over 10 years as a community educator. She co-created Refugia Retreats, an initiative that creates experiences and spaces to explore the intersections between the environment, justice, and mental health and is excited to bring her experience to the work of building connections at the community block level.
Tyson Bankert, with Crescent Heights Community Association’s new Neighbourhood Block Connector program. Tyson has been working and volunteering in supporting neighbourhood life for as long as he can remember! His interest in community comes at the intersection of justice and community development, his work is based on equity, wellness and agency. His personal slogan is, Promote Justice, Edify Others and Befriend the Lonely.
Anne Naumann, Vice President of the Highland Park Community Association and supporter of their Block Connector program in response to COVID-19. Anne has been an active resident and member of the Highland Park Community Association for many years. She was involved in a community-wide asset mapping initiative a few years ago that sparked new connections and uncovered some of the history of the neighbourhood.