BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

 

Asset-based community development 101: a people-centered approach

November 21, 2024 | 1:00 - 4:30 PM ET | Virtual Workshop

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Virtual Workshop Hours

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Coaching Call

build your community development toolkit

The complex challenges facing our communities today require us to think differently. We need to turn things upside down and shift our thinking to creating an Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) world. A world that empowers people to form the trust and connections necessary to create and sustain vibrant, inclusive neighbourhoods.

Back by popular demand, this workshops provides an introduction to Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) as a people-centered approach to program planning. The ABCD approach looks for and starts with people's gifts and strengths (assets), when these assets are connected they can then address the problems and challenges in their communities.  

Join Heather Keam and Wendy McCaig to work through the foundations and principles of ABCD, including new and improved processes, and how to center community in your programs and activities. This workshop is an introductory session for those who are new to ABCD or want a refresher as ABCD has changed a lot over the past 10 years.  

 

Workshop Pre-Learning

Prepare you for the content within the workshop


Complete a self-reflection exercise

3.5 Hour Virtual Workshop 

 
Gain a deeper understanding of what is ABCD, its foundational theory and practices
 
Learn how to center people within the community development process


1-Hour Coaching Session

Deepen your understanding of the workshop content

Receive personalized support from Heather to translate your knowledge into action

what will you learn?

Participants will work through the resources, methods, and 7 functions of ABCD. There will also be an opportunity to explore how an ABCD lens can be applied to your current work. Participants will learn about:  

  • ABCD as a people-centered approach: ABCD is a community-driven development (bottom-up) approach. It's about focusing on strengths and not deficits or needs to develop programs and plans.   

  • Resources in a community: ABCD is about uncovering the six assets or resources that communities have that are used to enhance local well-being.   

  • Methods to find assets: ABCD approaches are iterative and emergent. While there are no methods that we can prescribe, there are several practices that communities around the world have found helpful.  Asset Mapping is one way to uncover hidden community assets.  

  • The functions of a community: Seven functions are critical features of local natural community work. They are bottom-up, hyper-local, and citizen-led. 

resources on asset-based community development

The ABCD in Canada website is a space dedicated to illuminating and deepening ways to apply the principles and practices of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) and other strengths-based approaches to community change. 

meet the workshop facilitators

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Heather Keam

Heather is a passionate advocate for community-driven development, serving as the Director for Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) at the Tamarack Institute. She is a Stewart of the ABCD Institute and has worked with John Mcknight to build ABCD in Canada. With over 22 years of experience in community development, Heather has dedicated her career to empowering individuals and communities to thrive.  

In her role at the Tamarack Institute, Heather collaborates with all levels of governments especially municipalities and organizations to craft strategies that centers community and foster a sense of belonging. She specializes in implementing ABCD principles to place community at the heart of community plans and initiatives. Heather's expertise extends to coaching and training staff teams, facilitating discussions, and authoring publications on ABCD, engagement, social capital, and belonging.

Learn more about Heather

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Wendy McCaig

Wendy is the founder and Executive Director of Embrace Communities. She has been a practitioner of Asset-Based Community Development since 2005 and has been coaching and training organizations on how to strengthen communities from the inside out since 2012.

Wendy is the author of “From the Sanctuary to the Streets” (CASCADE books 2010) and “Power Shift: A Field Guide for Community Cultivators Everywhere.” Wendy is a steward of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute housed at DePaul University where she facilitates several work groups and communities of practice with ABCD practitioners from across the globe.  She holds a Master of Divinity degree from the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond and a degree in Accounting from Texas A&M University. Wendy’s training and coaching clients include leaders from the non-profit, faith, government, and education sectors. Wendy is married to her high school sweetheart, has three young adult children, and currently resides in Appomattox, Virginia.  

pricing & logistics

Registration for this session is now open and limited to 70 learners to ensure a dynamic learning experience. Participants will be sent a pre-workshop package, including log-in details for the virtual workshop. All participants will receive an email to register for a follow-up coaching session one month after the event. At this interactive session, small groups of workshop participants will be encouraged to share their emerging questions and receive further support in translating the workshop’s learning into action.

Registration includes pre-workshop learning and access to the workshop itself. It also includes membership in the Tamarack's Learning community.

Post-workshop, participants will be invited to register for a post-event coaching session. At this interactive session, small groups of workshop participants will be encouraged to share their emerging questions and receive further support in translating the workshop’s learning into action.

Can’t attend the workshop, but love the content? Get in touch with Stephanie to learn more about how you can bring a custom version of this workshop to your organization or collaborative.

 

single registration

$279

 

group registration

$239

 

tamarack member

$239

CEP, CBB, CCT, and CBYF members are eligible for the group rate.

The Paul Born Be A Light Scholarship Fund

We want everyone to learn how to improve their community! To ensure this, Tamarack supports low-income learners through the Paul Born Be a Light Fund.

Please fill out this form if you would like to apply for a scholarship. You can also learn how you can donate to the Paul Born Be A Light Fund and get a charitable receipt. Reach out to Stephanie if you have any questions or concerns. 

For questions about the event, please reach out to Stephanie

For questions about invoicing and paument, please react out to Maranatha.

© 2024 Tamarack Institute

For questions about any Tamarack event, please reach out to Stephanie.

For questions about invoicing and payments, please reach out to Jana.

Copyright © 2024 Tamarack Institute. All rights reserved.