Crafting Dementia Friendly Communities

Presenter: Farhad Farhangdar, British Columbia, Canada

Unlock the power of participatory art and recreation to build dementia-friendly communities. This presentation highlighted proven strategies for reducing isolation, fostering inclusion, and empowering everyone involved, including those living with dementia and their care partners. Discover how asset based, grassroots, multi-generational collaboration restores residents' agency, sparks joy, and strengthens collective leadership and resilience, benefiting individuals and society alike.

• PDF of Presentation
• Handout summary
• Asset-Based Collective Recreational Learning and Therapy Diagram
  
  

Book Discussion: ABCD & Beyond

A Practical Guide for Local Government 

Dee Brooks, Lee Griffiths, and Fiona Miller from the Jeder Institute discuss their new book on local government. They are joined by Mike Green who wrote the forward. 

More information on the book

ABCD & Solidarity Economy

This discussion hosted by Asset-Based Community Development Institute, Native Roots Network, Shareable, Coop Dayton, and Next System Studies explores the intersection between these two practices/ frameworks.This discussion hosted by Asset-Based Community Development Institute, Native Roots Network, Shareable, Coop Dayton, and Next System Studies explores the intersection between these two practices/ frameworks.

• View the slides here
• Learn more about the hosts and organizers:
  • CO-OP Dayton
  • Native Roots Network
  • Next System Studies
  • Shareable
• Read the discussion from the Zoom chat
• Links to resources discussed
  • Resist and Build
  • Peter Block

The Greenlight Approach for Poverty Alleviation in South Africa

In this online discussion, Janine Ward from SPACE in South Africa shares the Greenlight approach. Greenlight is a data tool used to support organizations and families living in poverty by identifying the supports best suited for communities. 

Learn about ABCD assets, values, and practices around the globe on the Jeder website here, which Janine references in her talk. View the presentation slides here. 

Story Sharing Series: Trauma Informed Community Building

This online ‘Story Share’ session explores how Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) and Trauma-Informed Practice (TIP) can foster healing and resilience with facilitators Michelle Dunscombe and Richard Holmes. We examine the Self-Healing Communities Model and Trauma Informed Community Building approach, highlighting how local relationships and social networks support well-being beyond traditional services. Participants gain practical strategies to build trauma-informed, community-led solutions that strengthen social capital and collective recovery. This session is ideal for community practitioners, educators, and policymakers committed to compassionate, resilient communities.

Book Talk: Pulling Together

In February 2025, we hosted a conversation with Tom Mosgaller who co-wrote Pulling Together: A Handbook for Community Change. Tom has long been affiliated with the Institute and provide practical tips as well as stories that are included in the book. He was joined by Jeff Yost from the Nebraska Community Foundation who wrote the forward along with John McKnight before his passing.