EMCN community development practitioners value social resources as a means for achieving the economic and political leverage that a community uses to meet their needs.
EMCN has found that often, the social resources within the community are found to be adequate to meet the needs of the community if assets are identified and mobilized through an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach.
ABCD
The ABCD approach is one that encourages self-mobilization and organizing for change. It is an appreciative inquiry that uncovers assets within a community (rather than the traditional deficit model) to draw on as a spring-board for action.
Our community development practitioners aim to stimulate change within the various ethno-cultural communities that we serve, without creating a relationship of dependency.
The community development practitioners at EMCN are involved in organizing meetings and conducting searches within a variety of ethno-cultural communities in order to:
- identify assets,
- locate resources,
- analyse local power structures,
- assess human needs,
- and investigate other concerns that comprise the community's makeup.
EMCN specifically helps groups and associations with:
- asset-mapping and mobilization
- community animation
- association development
- planning projects
- implementing programs: help finding space, people and resource
- advocating for systemic change
EMCN provides community groups with:
- individual guidance and support
- group facilitation, mentoring
- help with proposals
- workshops on various topics of interest
- implementing projects- tutoring, homework, recreation and sports, women's, children's, and fundraising, among others
For more information, please call 780-424-7709 or e-mail info@emcn.ab.ca
For more information about Community Economic Development, please click here.