Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community's Assets

by John P. Kretzmann, John L. McKnight

This guide summarizes lessons learned by studying successful community-building initiatives in hundreds of neighborhoods across the U.S. It outlines what local communities can do to start their own journies down the path of asset-based development.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Social Justice, Leadership, Government, Economics, Social Work

376 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Sarah Guldenbrein · Rating 3 out of 5]

My takeaway: start with asset inventories over needs/deficiencies inventories. It's a great concept, quite feminist (without ever being acknowledged as such) but the first edition copy I got from the library is horrendously outdated. It's a practical guide that was written more or less before the internet. I imagine it would be a pretty different book if rewritten today.

[Jolabrese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic and seminal work on asset based community development is know a fantastic resource I will refer to and recommend regularly.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I HIGHLY recommend this book to people who work at non-profits or in any sort of community setting. It will absolutely change the way you see things. I am certain my organizing and work is better because of the themes found in this book.

[CTEP]

A really interesting and surprisingly practical handbook for approaching community development and organizing, this book contains numerous really well prepared refigurings of popular thought about social order, urban economies, and human nature. Focusing on assets as opposed to deficits in communities and individuals that are traditionally considered deficient (low-income) is the central tenet of the book. Looking at individuals as having capacities beyond those enabled by deficit-centered systems and thought.



Specifically, a section on releasing individual capacities in welfare recipients makes some observations in support of some positions that challenge the dominant view of welfare and the provider/client relationship implied therein. Focusing on the strong social networks and personal relationships, dreams and aspirations, energy and enthusiasm.



Kretzman and McKnight contend that mobilizing welfare recipients and releasing individual capacities is a question of connecting the energies and interest of individuals with specific issues pertinent in their communities. They outline examples of strategic partnerships between traditionally ignored groups and influential public sector institutions, private sector firms, and others within their communities.



This book really connected with my service term by demonstrating in so may ways the potential that can easily be overlooked by thinking of people as being fundamentally deficient, whether of income, education or housing. I think that as true as the message rings with most people with experience working with the populations described in the book, its global/institutional approach may gloss over some of the culturally defined difficulties those not inclined to think differently may face while trying to see the point.

[Daphne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contains many helpful tools for identifying structural and relational assets of urban communities in the U.S. Would love for there to be more available for international or rural communities as well, but this is a great starting point.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prof. Jody was a great mentor and influencer to many. Even though my vocation is not specifically in community organizing, I take his teachings and examples sincerely in my endeavor for neighborhood-loving vocationally, personally, and spiritually. He will be missed!

[Clivemichael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Formulas and prescription researched and documented well. Repetitive but useful. Inner city focus. Has some great diagrams.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am currently leading a project to bring Assets-Based Community Development to our little patch of small-town/rural Vermont. We are using this book as a guide to make it happen. I deeply appreciate the practical, step-by-step approach to community development offered in this manual. I have yet to get our lower income citizens to fill out the eternally long assets assessment. that part of the book isn't particularly practical. I also would have appreciated more information on bringing people of different socio-economic levels together. There is just SO much mistrust here! Nonetheless, this book is extremely empowering and positive. Overall, the practicalities and wisdom the authors offer outweighs any shortcomings in this manual. There is also an awesome website community devoted to ABCD. Using the book in conjunction with the web community is proving invaluable.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so fortunate to meet John McKnight through the People First of Ontario movement and learn at his feet, so to speak, as he engaged in discussion about community with People First members.

This book is about community capacity building - and about inclusion.

Love it!

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book addresses new prospects for community building. It focus is on shifting the current paradigm. So far it has informed some of my projects...we'll see where it goes.

[Lis · Rating 5 out of 5]

My uncle wrote this one! It is an excellent workbook of ideas and local solutions.

[Amber]

1 copy available

[Carol]

Good reference book for those interested in community organizing a la Barack Obama's old day job.

[Jason]

A really good guidebook for people looking to build community through ABCD methods.

[Amira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Functional and practical. Great beginning of the road map to figuring out the strengths of communities and how to network within institutions, associations, generationally and socio-economically.

[Luke Pete · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hugely important paradigm shift and user manual for that shift.