Elgin Alive series to offer 'Community Development 101' program

Elgin Community Network's "Elgin Alive" series will feature "Asset Based Community Development 101" from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 10, in the Meadows Community Room at Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin.

The program will explore "Connecting Building Blocks to Create Thriving Communities."

What builds thriving communities? In the video, "ABCD 101," John McKnight of the Asset Building Community Development Institute reviews the five basic building blocks of asset-based community development. Rather than using a problem-based needs-assessment starting point, leading to an outside intervention model, ABCD identifies an asset-based starting point to identify what positive grassroots initiatives are already operational, from which community growth can develop.

The institute is at the center of a movement that considers local assets as the primary building blocks of sustainable community development. Building on the skills of local residents, the power of local associations, and the supportive functions of local institutions, asset-based community development draws upon existing community strengths to build stronger, more sustainable communities for the future. Discussion will follow the video.

The sponsors are the Elgin Community Network, Gail Borden Public Library and the City of Elgin.

Follow the Elgin Community Network on Facebook.