Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) in Practice 

We believe in, practice, and utilize the lens of asset-based community development where every Arkansan is valued for their contribution to their community’s local growth. We work alongside county agents, teaching and training ABCD as a lens in ways that strengthen local approaches to community development and strengthen agents’ work in the county. Explore the Extension Health Ambassadors program as an example of how ABCD is used in local AR communities.

A Cross-Unit Collaboration to Strengthen an Existing Model 

The Extension Health Ambassadors’ program is an example of how cross-departmental collaboration can strengthen impact in communities when we work together. The Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Health team developed and led a successful Health and Wellness Ambassadors program in the past, the team sought to strengthen the model focused on health best practices with a community development and engagement community. In 2022, the Community, Professional, and Economic Development (CPED) and FCS partnered to add an ABCD component to the Extension Health and Wellness program model.

ABCD is utilized to recruit volunteers and sustain a place-based, community-focused process that results in a culture of inclusivity built on a relationship-driven approach, realizing that each community responds in different ways and has different resources. In recruiting volunteers, we will build a systematic approach to identifying challenges, building upon opportunities in the community, building on relationships, and adopting solutions. In 2024, the team received the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) Southern Region Runner-Up Award for Cross-Team Collaboration.

Download Our ABCD Presentation

Empowering Communities Through Extension Health Ambassadors

By becoming an Extension Health Ambassador, volunteers play an essential part in championing public health initiatives, advocating for better health practices, and building trust within their communities.

Arkansas has 22 volunteer Extension Health Ambassadors across six counties (Clark, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Mississippi, Phillips, and Pope), implementing the vision of their communities to thrive even further!