Which is the correct sequence of steps in the ABCD process?

Which is the correct sequence of steps in the ABCD process?

• A. Map assets → Build relationships & leadership → Mobilize community → Develop shared vision → Leverage outside resources.
• B. Mobilize community → Map assets → Develop shared vision → Build relationships.
• C. Develop shared vision → Map assets → Mobilize resources → Evaluate impact.
• D. Plan programs → Fundraise → Hire staff → Evaluate outcomes.

Answer: (A)

In asset-based community development, you start by identifying what exists within the community—its assets, talents, organizations, and resources—so you know what you can build on. Mapping assets gives you a clear picture of strengths to mobilize rather than rushing to solutions. Next, you focus on building relationships and leadership around those assets. This creates the social fabric and local ownership needed for coordinated action, ensuring those involved feel empowered and connected to the work. With strong relationships and leadership in place, you mobilize the community to take action on shared priorities. This step turns awareness into collective effort and momentum, anchored in people and assets already present. After mobilizing, you develop a shared vision that reflects the community’s goals and aligns efforts across stakeholders. A common vision guides decisions, activities, and collaboration, keeping everyone rowing in the same direction. Finally, you leverage outside resources to support the work—funding, expertise, or partnerships—while keeping the community’s leadership and priorities at the center. This sequence—map assets, build relationships and leadership, mobilize community, develop shared vision, leverage outside resources—best fits the ABCD process. Other sequences skip asset mapping or place mobilizing actions before understanding local strengths, which can lead to misaligned efforts or dependence on external inputs rather than local leadership.

In asset-based community development, you start by identifying what exists within the community—its assets, talents, organizations, and resources—so you know what you can build on. Mapping assets gives you a clear picture of strengths to mobilize rather than rushing to solutions.

Next, you focus on building relationships and leadership around those assets. This creates the social fabric and local ownership needed for coordinated action, ensuring those involved feel empowered and connected to the work.

With strong relationships and leadership in place, you mobilize the community to take action on shared priorities. This step turns awareness into collective effort and momentum, anchored in people and assets already present.

After mobilizing, you develop a shared vision that reflects the community’s goals and aligns efforts across stakeholders. A common vision guides decisions, activities, and collaboration, keeping everyone rowing in the same direction.

Finally, you leverage outside resources to support the work—funding, expertise, or partnerships—while keeping the community’s leadership and priorities at the center.

This sequence—map assets, build relationships and leadership, mobilize community, develop shared vision, leverage outside resources—best fits the ABCD process. Other sequences skip asset mapping or place mobilizing actions before understanding local strengths, which can lead to misaligned efforts or dependence on external inputs rather than local leadership.