✨Asset-Based Community Development Training and a Chance to Shape Our 2026 Focus
January 2026 Edition
💻Live Online Training
What if community engagement started with strengths instead of gaps?
Join us for a free, 90-minute interactive introduction to Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) designed for civic and municipal leaders who want to move beyond surface-level engagement and build meaningful, productive relationships with their communities.
This session will explore how shifting from a needs-based lens to an asset-based approach can transform how you partner with residents and support community-led change.
In this session, you’ll:
Learn how to shift from a needs-based lens to an asset-based lens
Identify the six assets present in every community
Gain ready-to-use, practical resources you can apply right away
Following the 60-minute webinar, participants are invited to stay for a 30-minute hands-on practice session, where you’ll work alongside peers to use a tool for identifying resident capacities and learn how to facilitate it in your own community.
Featured Speakers
Eric Smith, Executive Director of CommunityWorks, has been living his purpose to “build flourishing communities in which ALL people can thrive" for over two decades. His career has taken him to serve in villages in East Africa, rural towns in Central Appalachia, and urban neighborhoods in Rust Belt cities. Eric holds a Master’s in Community Development from North Dakota State University and several professional certifications, including Community Heart & Soul and Asset Based Community Development.
Megan Ginn, Director of Community Building Strategies at CommunityWorks, helps communities strengthen neighborhoods at the speed of relationships. With a background in Social Work and asset-based community development, Megan weaves together stories and learning from on-the-ground leaders to implement best practices in neighborhoods.
About CommunityWorks
CommunityWorks unlocks the human and economic potential of neighborhoods through asset-based, relationship-driven practices. Through training, coaching, and practical tools, they support residents and local leaders in driving change from the inside out. Learn more at comm-works.org.
If you’re looking to deepen trust, elevate resident leadership, and reimagine what meaningful engagement can look like, this session is for you.
👉 Register now to save your spot
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-asset-based-community-development-abcd-tickets-1980636335597?aff=oddtdtcreator
📝 Member Satisfaction Survey
We’d love your feedback! This short survey (3-5 minutes) will help us understand what’s working, what could be improved, and where we should focus this year. Your responses directly shape our programming.
👉 Take the Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqW8NfY2mXl2Up4wRzFHGe-Ff2sgZ1gCQk0SAnOUcgIQidlw/viewform
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💡 Insights
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https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/insights
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