The Case for Asset Mapping
Asset mapping is an approach developed by John L. McKnight and John Kertzmann from the Center for Urban Affairs and Policy Research at Northwestern University. The concept is to develop partnerships, programs, and policies based on the capacities, skills, and assets of people and their local communities.
This capacity-based approach is based on three principles:
- Significant community development only occurs when local people are actively involved and are committing themselves and their resources to the effort.
- The community, rather than outside institutions, is best suited to help solve its citizens’ problems.
- It is futile to wait for significant, long-lasting assistance to arrive from outside the community.
Development and change must begin from within, building on the resources community members already control, while working to acquire those additional resources that are not yet available.
