What is the core principle of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD)?

• A. Rely on external experts for change.
• B. Identify all problems before acting.
• C. Start with what's strong, not what's wrong.
• D. Focus on funding first.

Answer: (C)

Asset-Based Community Development centers on identifying and mobilizing the strengths already present in a community—people, associations, skills, networks, and local resources—and building from those assets outward. The best choice captures this idea: start with what’s strong, not what’s wrong. By focusing on existing capacities, communities can organize, sustain momentum, and create solutions that fit local realities, often with less reliance on outside experts and external funding.

This doesn’t mean problems are ignored; instead, solutions emerge from what people and groups can supply and sustain. Relying on external experts and focusing on deficits tends to lead to dependency and less local ownership, while prioritizing funding first can crowd out community-driven priorities. In ABCD, asset mapping, local leadership, and collaborative action come first, with resources mobilized to support those strengths.