Using Asset Based Community Development to Build Youth Programs

1. Using Asset Based Community Developmentto Build Youth Programs Beth B. Street, Extension Agent Chasity Rice, Program Assistant University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service Unicoi County

2. Objectives • To define community • To define asset based community development • To develop asset-based inventories • To identify ways of cataloging information • To explore community based curriculum

3. Background Information • Located in Northeast Tennessee • Population 17,713 (2000 U.S. Census) • Youth (<18 years) 20.5% • 1% Hispanic population • Median household income $29,863 Unicoi

4. Youth Attaining Knowledge (YAK) • NCP site Unicoi County • Youth education center • Computer lab • Character building • Peer groups • Substance abuse prevention • Abstinence education/teen pregnancy prevention

5. Common Terms • Community Neighborhood, town, city, county, regions, area, tribe, culture, ethnic or faith-based group of people as identified by its members

6. Common Terms • Assets The positive strengths, qualities, benefits, commodities and character

7. Common Terms • Skills The gift and individual has gained through experience, education and/or knowledge which is passed on to another individual(s)

8. Needs vs. Assets Source: Lionel J. (Bo.) Beaulieu Southern Rural Development Center Mississippi State University

9. Asset -based community development • The process of identifying and mobilizing communities’ unique local resources for creating positive change

10. Asset Inventory • The first step in identifying assets in a community • Collects data from individuals • Know what you are looking for before collecting data

11. Developing an Inventory • There are 4 major parts of an asset inventory: • Skills information • Community skills • Experience and enterprising • Personal information

12. Developing an Inventory • Remember to ask community members: • Skills that are learned at home or in the workplace • Skills they would like to teach others • Skills they do not have but would like to teach others

13. Example Asset InventoryUnicoi County • Part 1 • Skills you need or desire • Divide skills into areas that are easy to identify • Part 2 • List skills willing to teach to others • Part 3 • Personal contact information • Return information

14. Economic Associations Family Education Political Religious Locating Individuals

15. Locating Individuals • Create opportunities • Survey various neighborhoods and geographic locations

16. Assessing the Information • Organize for future use • Create a database • Maintain data

17. Challenges • Completion of asset inventory • Locating individuals • Maintaining database

18. Building Community • A process for youth and adults to chart assets and create change • Created by the Innovation Center for Community & Youth Development and National 4-H Council • http://www.theinnovationcenter.org

19. Planning for the Future • Youth Leadership Program • Youth & Adult Partnerships • Community Resource Guides • Community Service

20. Questions