ABCD Innovation Center

Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Innovation Center is a non-profit organization which works with an approach that catalyzes change and development based on utilizing the existing gifts and capacities of people and their communities. The ABCD Innovation Center discourages development brought in from an outside source, but rather energizes change and development from within. For truly sustainable development, it’s important to focus on a community’s strengths versus solely its needs. The important factor is finding the area where local assets meet local needs. MAIN PRINCIPLES: • We recognize that communities have knowledge, skills, and practices that are effective and valuable. We are not about “fixing” communities. We unleash their potential and encourage full and active community engagement. • We strive to create a place at the table for communities, but this is only one way we seek equity. • The benefits to partnering with the ABCD Innovation Center are mutual and shared. With access to more resources and one another, youth, adults, organizations, and communities generate power to fuel their own social justice work, youth development, and youth civic engagement. • We channel new knowledge and innovations into community organizations; and through working with these organizations, we learn new ways to strengthen the field of community development.