Posted on March 23, 2016 at 11:21 AM by Communications Department
Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) is a powerful and inclusive citizen-driven approach to community development. It has often been said that as people take ownership of their neighborhoods, positive change can happen. Using the ABCD model, youth and adults work together to determine what changes can be made in their neighborhood in order to enhance the strengths that already exist and work together to build up those lesser strengths that they, as a group, have determined need to be changed.
ABCD training is one step in helping citizen ownership happen through youth and adult partnerships. Youth leaders work with residents to determine what is desired in their specific neighborhood.
To increase youth participation in the process, the Newport News Department of Human Services, in partnership with One Church, is promoting a youth leadership opportunity for training in the national ABCD concept. Youth from different neighborhoods in the city will be given the opportunity to survey their neighbors and determine what common interests and concerns are for their community. Young people will attend one half-day training on the Asset Based Community Development model and learn how to lead groups of residents in identifying their desires for their neighborhoods. Participants will be eligible to receive compensation after completing the program. Applications are available at South Morrison Family Education Center. Contact Shelley Matthews at 757-369-6834 or by e-mail at
smatthews@nnva.gov. The deadline for applying is March 25th.