OUR FRAMEWORK
Asset-Based Community Development
Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) is an approach to sustainable community-driven change. It insists that building and strengthening communities requires utilizing the current and potential assets of that community, rather than focusing on the needs and deficits. ABCD challenges traditional thought that assumes communities need to be fixed by outsiders. Instead, the approach considers local assets to be the primary building blocks for developing strong, sustainable communities. Residents often have the abilities and power to drive change themselves.
Our Governance Structure
(adopted June 2025)
To remain decentralized and utilize this consent-based decision-making process, CEDP utilizes a CONSTELLATION Governance Framework
“The Constellation model is a complexity-inspired governance framework for multi- organizational collaboration. It is a way of organizing a group of interested parties to meet a need without having to create a new organization to ‘hold’ the issue. It is a tool to help us recognize and become conscious designers in a complex ecosystem of organizational collaboration. (Suman, 2006)”
Active Constellations (Workgroups):
Housing Workgroup
Economic Development Workgroup
Leadership Steering Committee
Constellations Being Considered:
Workforce Development
Policy
Decision-Making in CEDP
CEDP is governed by a decentralized system. After much discussion, the CEDP partners collectively decided to implement a consent decision-making process for all-partner decisions. This process allows for all partners to feel heard, be respected, and have their contributions considered.
Progression of Community Engagement
