How do you think about your community? Do you first see your community in terms of its capacities and strengths? Or do you see it in terms of its needs? In Building Communities from the Inside Out, the message is clear. John Kretzmann and John McKnight, both experienced community developers, begin with the premise that the community development process starts from a community's capacities and potential, not its needs.What Kretzmann and McKnight call an "asset-based community development" process builds on the special skills, resources, and strengths that communities-their members, local associations, businesses, churches, government agencies, and more have to contribute to their own development.

Deficiencies or Strengths?
The authors believe that how we perceive our communities-by their deficiencies and needs or their strengths and capacities-determines how we take care of problems in our communities. Deficiency-oriented policies and programs can end up creating "client neighborhoods" that deepen dependence on external assistance. The community development process, instead, should start from the "inside out" as an "internally focused" process. Community members and organizations that successfully engage in locally-driven development are more likely to see themselves as being capable problem-solvers and are stronger and less willing to become dependent on outside resources and assistance. Starting the community development process with an internal focus will also help communities at a later stage to more effectively leverage and use external resources and define their own agendas for change. Integral to this process of asset- based community development are the relationships developed between individuals, associations, and institutions that become the impetus for change.

Taking Inventory
The book focuses on ways in which the key assets and resources of community residents, special interest groups, citizens' associations and nonprofits, publicly funded institutions, and the private sector can be identified and mobilized, beginning with a "capacity inventory" and the mapping of the community assets identified in these inventories. For example, the capacity inventory for individuals details the skills that people have learned in their personal and public lives that can be connected with other associations and contribute to the community development process. Particular attention is paid to the gifts and talents of groups normally labeled, such as welfare recipients or the elderly, in society. The last two chapters of the book focuses on rebuilding communities' economies and examples of policies and guidelines that support asset- based community development.

Building Communities from the Inside Out was written for people who are looking for ways to strengthen their communities and foster the growth of effective community building partnerships. Its audience would include community leaders, community planners, and organizations interested in developing or regenerating partnerships in their communities.

The book was written to be used as a resource or guide, not to be read from beginning to end. Readers are encouraged to review the sections that are most relevant to their own context.

Whether or not you follow the process that they suggest, the many ideas and examples found in this book can broaden your way of thinking about community members and organizations' assets and the possibilities and potential in the community development process. Additional information on capacity-building community development can be found in the Asset-Based Community Development Institute Web site at www.nwu.edu/IPR/abcd.html

Building Communities from the Inside Out can be ordered from ACTA Publications, 4848 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60640, or by telephone at 800-397-2282.

Lisa Deyo works as a community planning resource person at SABES West. She can be reached by e-mail at: lisa_deyo @yahoo.com