Doing "By" Not "For" the Community: A Shift to Asset-Based Community Development
Communities are often seen as needing "help," "support," or "resources" from external organizations or government agencies. This traditional approach where interventions are designed for a community rather than by communities reinforces dependence and overlooks the strengths that already exist within.
But what if we flipped this perspective? What if communities were empowered to harness their own skills, talents, and networks to address challenges and create solutions from within?
The Power of Community First
As community development workers and enthusiasts, we often assume we know what our communities need. We design programs and interventions based on perceived gaps and challenges, believing we are helping. However, time and again, we are reminded that the people living in these communities are the true experts of their own experiences. They hold the knowledge, skills, and drive to create sustainable solutions when given the opportunity and support to do so.
This shift in perspective moves from a needs-based approach (focusing on deficiencies) to an asset-based approach (focusing on strengths). Instead of asking, "What does this community lack?" we begin asking, "What strengths already exist here, and how can we build on them?"
A Real-World Example: Lakeview Harbourside Case Study: Building a Neighbourhood Plan – Doing With, Not For
Written by Sherril Belille, Lisa Pitcher and Heather Keam
To illustrate this approach, let’s dive into a case study from Durham Region’s largest subsidized housing community: Lakeview Harbourside.
Background
Lakeview Harbourside aimed to go beyond simply providing housing; they wanted to foster a stronger sense of community. Housing Coordinators initially designed programming for residents, believing structured activities would encourage engagement. However, participation was low. The residents weren’t interested in the programs being offered.
Surprisingly, the most successful initiative came not from the coordinators but from the residents themselves; a crochet group. What started as a casual gathering quickly became a thriving community hub. Seeing this, the coordinators recognized that their role needed to shift from creating programs for residents to supporting them in leading their initiatives.
The Shift to Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD)
The Housing Coordinators embraced the ABCD approach, which focuses on recognizing and leveraging community strengths rather than solving problems from an outsider’s perspective. They worked with residents to:
Identify their own skills and assets
Recognize the community’s priorities
Develop a resident-driven neighborhood strategy
The Process
The process involved the following:
A 12-member leadership formation team was created, including 5 residents to guide the initiative.
Community Conversations where 80 residents participated in surveys and discussions to share their priorities.
Celebration and planning, the community came together to reflect on their strengths, prioritize needs, and co-create an action plan.
Key Outcomes
This led to the following:
Increased resident-led initiatives, where programming shifted to community-driven models, reducing staff time spent organizing events.
Stronger social connections leading to residents building deeper relationships, fostering a greater sense of safety and belonging.
Cost effective and sustainable solutions that led to programs becoming more aligned with residents' interests, leading to better engagement and long-term success.
Lessons Learned
✔ Trust is key: residents connect best with each other, not just with service providers.
✔ Community-driven programs thrive when people create solutions for themselves and lead to increase in participation and impact.
✔ A strengths-based approach fosters long-term empowerment by shifting from a "needs" focus to an "assets" focus, communities become more self-sufficient.
What Does This Mean for Your Work?
This case study challenges us to rethink how we approach community development. Instead of coming in with solutions, what if we started by asking:
What are the existing strengths in this community?
How can we create space for residents to take the lead?
What role can we play in connecting, organizing, and supporting, rather than directing?
Reflection: How can you integrate an asset-based approach into your work? What changes can you make to shift from “doing for” to “doing with and by” the community?
Conclusion
True community development happens By residents, not For them. Lakeview Harbourside’s experience shows us that sustainable, meaningful change starts from within. When we step back and trust communities to lead, we see a transformation not just in programs, but in the people who drive them.
Are you ready to make this shift in your work?
This case study is adapted from the City of Calgary’s ABCD Toolkit, created by the Tamarack Institute in 2021.