Georgia’s “Real Communities Initiative” Moves into Fourth Year of Strategic Plan

The Real Communities Initiative is a collaboration between people with and without disabilities that supports communities to “utilize the gifts of all community members, and creates reciprocity, interdependence and social change.” The Initiative’s approach is to use Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) principles.  “These principles make use of already-existing resources in the community in a different and newly successful manner so communities achieve real and lasting community-based change.”  According to ABCD principles, “When people discover what they have, they find power. When people join together in new connections and relationships, they build power. When people become more productive together, they exercise their power to address problems and realize dreams”.