Day 1: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Day 2: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Day 3: 9:00am - 12:30pm
Victoria Park Pavilion
80 Schneider Ave
Asset-Based Community Development: For Healthy Neighbourhoods is a three-day opportunity to learn the fundamentals of Asset-Based Community Development with a focus on Neighbourhood Development and Community Health. Join us in Kitchener, Canada (a short distance from Toronto, Ontario) for a rare opportunity to learn from Cormac Russell and John McKnight, two of the world's top trainers in Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), for their first time together in Canada.
Register for Asset-Based Community Development for Healthy Neighbourhoods
In the spirit of ABCD this workshop is open to everyone. We will learn together, enjoy a sense of community and explore the gifts we each bring to community life. Professionals working in neighbourhood development, community building and community health will find this workshop indispensable. ABCD is considered a core practice and is recognized around the world as essential knowledge for anyone working to improve their communities.
Each participant that completes this workshop will receive a paper and electronic certificate from the Tamarack Institute.
The Fundamentals of ABCD
Asset-Based Community Development is an approach to the development of communities based on their strengths and potentials. It involves assessing the resources, skills, and experiences available in a community; organizing the community around issues that move its members into action; and then determining and taking appropriate action. In this workshop, you will learn the key fundamentals of ABCD and grow your skills and confidence to use these in your work. We will also connect you to the ground-breaking work that Tamarack is undertaking to deepening community in North America.
Neighbourhood Development
Whereas needs-based neighbourhood development emphasizes local deficits and looks to outside agencies for help, asset-based community development focuses on growing and leveraging existing strengths within a neighbourhood. Principles that guide ABCD include:
- Everyone has gifts: Each person in a neighbourhood has something to contribute
- Relationships build a community: People in neighbourhoods must be connected
- Citizens at the center: Citizens are participants in rather than merely recipients of service
- Leaders involve others: Healthy neighbourhood development involves everyone
- People care: We challenge perceived "apathy" by listening to people's interests
- Listen: Decisions come from conversations where people are heard
- Ask: When we ask people their ideas it is more sustainable than having people respond to our solutions
- Inside-out organization: Local community members are in control
- Institutions serve the community: Institutional leaders should create opportunities for neighbour-member involvement then "step back
Health
This workshop will bring together neighbourhood leaders and community health professionals to explore the unique relationship between engaged citizens and health. We will explore topics such as:
- Sustainable Communities
- Belonging and a sense of community
- Resilience and personal motivations for health
- The role of place and the importance of healthy communities
- Supporting neighbours to support neighbours in times of need
- The role of caring and care giving in communities
