Shifting Perspectives

In the Spring semester, the Methods of Community Development class led by Prof. Maura Shea developed a series of projects that utilize the principles of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) to explore various aspects of food systems and their potential assets in the Illinois Tech and Bronzeville community. This project asks, what is the role of an institution in a community? Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community’s Assets (1993) states, “Healthy schools and healthy communities reinforce each other. A strong alliance must be based solidly on the recognition by school officials and community development leaders that they share important values and interests and must form an alliance.” What happens if we shift the perspective of Illinois Tech’s strategic committees to take an asset-based approach to operational decision-making + community engagement? By using core principles of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), trust, hospitality, and listening, this project aims to shift the perspective of Illinois Tech’s strategic committees and administrators to begin to build a bridge between Illinois Tech and the greater Bronzeville Community.