John McKnight & Cormac Russell: The Connected Community

The Common Good podcast is a conversation about the significance of place, eliminating economic isolation and the structure of belonging. For this episode, John McKnight & Cormac Russell discuss their new book, The Connected Community: Discovering the Health, Wealth & Power of Neighborhoods, as a part of the ABCD Book talk on January 19.The Asset-Based Community Development Institute (ABCD) is at the center of a large and growing movement that considers local assets as the primary building blocks of sustainable community development. Building on the skills of local residents, the power of local associations, and the supportive functions of local institutions, asset-based community development draws upon existing community strengths to build stronger, more sustainable communities for the future.Six Basic Building Blocks of CommunityThe contribution of residentsThe contributions and other resources of associationsThe community-building supports of local institutionsThe built or natural environments of local placesEconomic and other forms of exchangeStories, shared heritage, and cultural diversitySeven Functions of a Connected CommunityEnabling healthEnsuring securityStewarding ecologyShaping local economiesContributing to local food productionRaising our childrenCo-creating careThe recited poem was Dead Stars by Ada Limón.About the book: We may be living longer, but people are more socially isolated than ever before. As a result, we are hindered both mentally and physically, and many of us are looking for something concrete we can do to address problems like poverty, racism, and climate change. What if solutions could be found on your very doorstep or just two door knocks away?Cormac Russell is a veteran practitioner of asset-based community development (ABCD), which focuses on uncovering and leveraging the hidden resources, skills, and experience in our neighborhoods. He and John McKnight, the Co-Founder of the ABCD Institute, show how anyone can discover this untapped potential and connect with his or her neighbors to create healthier, safer, greener, more prosperous, and welcoming communities.This episode was produced by Joey Taylor and the music is from Jeff Gorman. You can find more information about the Common Good Collective and the reader here. Common Good Podcast is a production of Bespoken Live and Common Change - Eliminating Personal Economic Isolation.