What does this Assets Mapping process look like? John McKnight and John Kretzmann, creators of the Assets-Based Community Development process, wrote a paper describing this Assets Mapping process and how it is different from traditional models of community development. To read the full 20-page paper including appendices, click here to download a PDF version.
Two Community Maps
“…there is another map, an old map of neighborhood deficiencies and problems. As we noted at the outset, it is a ‘needs-oriented’ neighborhood map created by ‘needs surveys.’ This is a powerful map, teaching people in low-income neighborhoods how to think about themselves and the place where they live.
“This map is initiated by groups with power and resources who ask neighborhood people to think of themselves in terms of deficiencies in order to access the resources controlled by these groups…Indeed, the institutions that produce this map not only teach people in low- income neighborhoods that their needs, problems, and deficiencies are valuable, they also teach people outside these neighborhoods that the most important thing about low-income people and their neighborhoods is their deficiencies, problems, and needs. In this way, low-income people, helping institutions, and the general public come to follow a map that shows that the most important part of low-income neighborhoods is the empty, deficient, needy part. An example of this Neighborhood Needs Map is on the following page:” [located below]
“It is true that this map of needs is accurate. But, it is also true that it is only half the truth. It is like a map of the United States that shows only that portion east of the Mississippi River. The United States is also the portion west of the Mississippi River, and a map omitting the west is obviously inadequate in the most fundamental ways.
“Similarly, every neighborhood has a map of riches, assets, and capacities. It is important to recognize that this is a map of the same territory as the neighborhood needs map. It is different because it shows a different part of the neighborhood. But the most significant difference about this capacity map is that it is the map a neighborhood must rely on if it is to find the power to regenerate itself. Communities have never been built upon their deficiencies. Building community has always depended upon mobilizing the capacities and assets of a people and a place. That is why a map of neighborhood assets is necessary if local people are to find the way toward empowerment and renewal. An example of a Neighborhood Assets Map is on the following page [located below]:”
From my (Eric’s) perspective, this map can be a bit complicated to read at first. Essentially, the map tracks which institutions are engaged in the community, what community associations are present, and the gifts and talents of individuals in the community. Tab’s finished map will probably look much different than this diagram – this map simplifies the assets mapping process to make it easier to follow. But, as you might be able to tell between the two diagrams, the approaches are very different.
There will be more information about this Assets Mapping process at the June 1st meeting.
Posted by tabministries 
