ABCD & Beyond

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“The Jeder team brings years of experience from all over the world with a multitude of strengths-based tools and approaches which she weaves together into a practical workbook for people within local government who are willing to see citizens and their associations as equal partners.”

— Gord Cunningham and Alison Mathie, Former Director and Researchers, Coady International Institute, St. Francis Xavier University

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“A book that is a guide, that’s actually a workbook. Beautifully crafted, succinct in its wisdom and mantras of practice, but requiring the reader to work! (not just read folks, but practice). This is truly an invaluable resource for all community development workers, but particularly for local government workers wanting to think and practice through an asset’s lens. It’s also been put together by a fabulous team of practitioners that walk their talk and I am grateful the team has put some time aside to offer this to the world.”

— Dr Peter Westoby
– Director/Consultant: Community Praxis Co-operative & Three Rivers Initiative.
– Associate Professor of Community Development, Murdoch University, WA (P/T)
– Honorary Associate Professor, Deakin University, School of Humanities and Social Sciences
– Visiting Professor, Centre for Development Support, University of Free State.

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“Out beyond ideas of wrong and right, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.”

— Rumi

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“A heartfelt congratulations to Dee Brooks, Lee Griffiths, Fiona Miller and Michelle Dunscombe on the publication of your timely and significant new addition to the global ABCD canon. ABCD & Beyond: a Practical Guide for Local Government provides local government staff and their elected counterparts with a transformative framework and a practical set of tools for working with community members to unleash their collective strengths, talents, assets, leadership and potential. The bottom up, citizen driven approach outlined in this new book challenges the orthodoxy of the typical top down, expert driven approaches often used by local governments as they focus narrowly on service delivery.
ABCD and Beyond: a Practical Guide for Local Government, builds on other important publications in this field such as Building Communities From the Inside Out, by Jody Kretzmann and John McKnight of the ABCD Institute and From Clients to Citizens, edited by Alison Mathie and Gordon Cunningham of the Coady International Institute.
It has been rewarding collaborating with you over the years and I commend you for your sustained commitment to this important community work.”

— Senator Mary Coyle Former University Vice President and Director, Coady International Institute, St. Francis Xavier University. Officer

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“This is a gem of a book. Full of engaging stories, reflections and provocations, it is essential reading for people already practising community development and those who are new to the field and interested in understanding asset-based community development. ”

— Professor Emeritus Sue Kenny, Deakin University

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“ABCD and Beyond helps not only local government to look at how they can work, but also how can we, as community can work with Council. As a faith based ABCD practitioner, this helps to inform you in how council works, but also the need to transition to ABCD practices. For faith based practitioners, this highlights the need to work with ALL of community, and the vital work that councils do. Working together to use ABCD foundations to make impact in your community all while applying Mission to the work.”

— Captain Chris Ford, Manager – Philip Street Community and Families Precinct, The Salvation Army Australia – QLD Division

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“ABCD and Beyond details the results that can be delivered when you embed the values of Asset Based Community Development. It is a step by step guide written by practitioners that have worked in/alongside local government and the communities they serve. This practical guide features real examples and tips on how to achieve the best outcomes with communities”

— Matt Burnett, Mayor Gladstone Regional Council

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“As a mutual, working alongside our communities is what we do, and what we aspire to always invest and improve in. Our work with Jeder Institute has strengthened our learning, our capability and our approach helping us to start honest conversations which have led to deep, trusting relationships. This investment has proved so powerful and is slowly rippling across Merthyr – both inside and outside of our organisation.”

“As a housing organisation, a ‘home’ is a building block to leading a good life, and one pillar of our work is to ‘support people to thrive’. Our ABCD work recognises that ALL people have strengths, gifts and capabilities, and enables us to ensure they remain as the experts in their own lives, where opportunities can be created to magnify those strengths, taking what is strong and making it stronger again.”

“Jeder bring a knowledge which is unsurpassed, and a level of fun which is a key ingredient to bring communities around the table. We are as grateful for the help so far, as we are excited about what comes next.”

— Ross Williams, Tenant, Engagement Lead, Merthyr Valleys Homes