Community Asset Mapping
Before you can defend what you have, you need to know what you have.
Pressure addressed: displacement, economic, cultural
Time: 2-4 weeks for initial map, ongoing updates
People: 3-10 people who know the community well
Resources: Time, basic mapping tools, community connections
About this tool
Displacement doesn't happen all at once. It starts with small losses, the corner shop closes, the community centre gets sold, the longtime residents move away. Each loss makes the next one easier.
How to do it
Define the area
What boundaries? Geographic, community of identity, or both?
Identify asset categories
Physical (buildings, spaces), human (skills, knowledge), institutional (organisations, networks), economic (businesses, employment).
Gather information
Walk the streets. Talk to longtime residents. Check records. Build the picture from multiple sources.
Create accessible documentation
Maps, databases, whatever format your community can use. Not just for organisers, for everyone.
Update regularly
Communities change. The map needs to stay current to stay useful.
Before you start
- Basic local knowledge
- Access to community members
Implementation guidance
Starting point
- Comprehensive inventory of physical, human, and institutional assets
- Community-led process (not extracted by outsiders)
- Map actively used for organising decisions
- Regular updates as community changes
- Accessible format for all community members
- Security considerations for sensitive assets
Building on it
- Basic inventory of key assets completed
- Community involvement in gathering information
- Map shared with organisers
Advanced practice
- Asset map created by outsiders for their own purposes
- List that sits in a drawer unused
- Sensitive information shared without security consideration
Asset mapping done by external researchers extracts community knowledge for academic careers while providing nothing back. Unsecured lists of community leaders and resources can become targeting data for opponents. Maps that aren't used waste the effort of everyone who contributed.
Examples
Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD)
Methodology developed by John McKnight and Jody Kretzmann
Framework used globally for community-led development starting from strengths
Source