Sarasota Livin'

Thomas Tryon writes in Sunday's SHT a column about Asset Based Community Development. Quoting Rev. Damon Lynch speaking at the Manasota Regional Neighborhoods Summit and some John McKnight writings ...

"We are also convinced that nonprofit organizations are much more powerful community actors when they are not exclusively focused on needs, problems and deficiencies but are effectively connected to the resources, or assets, of the local community."

What's a key strategy for making effective connections?

"Strengthen the community by investing in the community's assets," the guide states.
....

Asset-based community development seems to embrace the idea that many politicians and ideologically driven think tanks refuse to recognize -- that individuals and communities have the assets that make them capable of improvement but that they rely upon other people and organizations and their assets.

After 25 years in journalism, I'm skeptical of programs, initiatives and schools of thought that require an acronym. But the concept underlying ABCD appeals to me -- and not because it allows people and communities to talk about touchy-feely assets while ignoring hard-edged problems.

Rev. Damon says that ABCD disciples see a half-empty glass as half-full.

A reflective community must see both halves, recognizing and investing in its assets in order to tackle the liabilities that prevent the glass -- and the quality of life of everyone -- from being full.