Events - Event View

We live in times of significant and deepening authoritarianism, polarization and social isolation. The widening divides are in multiple areas – in ideology, race, class – to mention just a few.

This is a global crisis, one with existential consequences. If people are unable to come together and exercise their power, then it’s unlikely that existential challenges like climate change and wealth inequality can be adequately addressed.

However, that foundational first step – bringing people together – may be harder to do than ever. This situation challenges people from all walks of life, but poses a special challenge and responsibility for community organizers.

This discussion, hosted by the Asset-Based Community Development Institute, gathers some of their most experienced ABCD thinkers and community organizers from around the world to address this question: how do we bring people together in times of rising authoritarianism and polarization?

This discussion will explore the challenge and possible solutions using the Asset-based Community Development lens and approach, which develops people power and solutions based on the assets already available in communities.

Hosts and core discussants include:

-Dee Brooks, ABCDI board member and ABCD Asia Pacific Trainer (and more) at the Jeder Institute in Australia.

-Rituu B. Nanda, ABCDI member and the South Asian Participatory Program Advisor for the Global Fund for Children. Rituu is based in Delhi, India.

-Richard Holmes, ABCDI board member and Managing Director of Go Together, a UK-based consultancy that collaborates with organizations for relational work that builds community power.

-Miranda Eeles, ABCDI member and community development and community health executive that is currently on sabbatical, also based in the UK.