Celebrating 20 Years of ABCD

How is it radical and what difference has it made?

Two Paths to Healthy Communities:

1. Agency services2. Community associations

AGENCY SERVICES

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS

Professionals/volunteers/clients

Citizens

Top-down Democratic

Focus on needs Focus on gifts

One way Reciprocal

Siloed Holistic

Depends on money Depends on relationships

How is ABCD Radical?

Radical (adjective): Very new and different from what is traditional or usual. -Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Labeling People as Clients is Radical• Homeless• Unemployed• Poor person• Non-English speaking• Single parent• Addict• Offender• Old person• At-risk youth• Disabled

Vashon, Washington

ABCD is about Inclusion

WE ALL BELONG: PROJECTSRestorative Justice Program

Amigos en VashonFerry Dock Welcoming Signs

Challenge Day at Vashon High SchoolCheckers in Town

Breakfast at Sally’sCross-Ability Friendship for Students

Keep DancingWelcome Wagon

Hire VashonTime Bank

HomesharingThe Wave CampaignStone Soup Gathering

Stone Soup Gathering

Turning Citizens into Customers is Radical

118th Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta

ABCD is about Restoring Democracy

Whatever the question,community is the answer. -Margaret Wheatley

POTENTIAL OF ABCD

Care for the Earth

Care for One Another

Promote Health

Prevent Crime

Respond to Disaster

Sustain Local Economy

Create Great Places

Too Much ABCD Practice is Pseudo

-Creating an asset map, especially when done by paid staff

-Using community volunteers to backfill for agency professionals

-Starting with the agency’s agenda rather than the community’s

-Focusing exclusively on the internal and not using the community’s knowledge and voice to hold outside agencies accountable

We Need to be Radical Practitioners of ABCD

www.neighborpower.org