What is Asset-Based Community Development?

How you view the neighborhood that you live or work in is going to largely influence the way that you act. A neighborhood is often seen from the perspective of its largest problems. “That is a dangerous neighborhood,” “That neighborhood looks trashy,” “There is a lot of poverty in that community.” How many times have you heard one or more of these as the first description of a neighborhood?

We all know about the negative things that are a part of our community, but, on the other side of every deficit is an asset begging for some attention. Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) is focused on identifying the positive, useful, or valuable things, people, or qualities in a community and celebrating what is an asset within that area.

The goal is not to tell you to “fix” neighborhood problems, but to demonstrate how to recognize the assets, and empower communities so that community members can build or rebuild their community and neighborhoods for themselves.

Register for CDFW’s Urban Design Talk: "What's GOOD in your Neighborhood", where we will dive deeper into this topic. Learn more at designfortworth.org/urban-design-talks.

Happy Earth Day!

Cities exist for a good reason. Unfortunately due to the growth of humanity and cities themselves puts nature at risk, endangering an equally vital part of human life. Besides being essential for life on Earth, just as humans need cities to stimulate business and social interaction, nature provides an escape from the pressures that accompany cities. Given the delicate balance, the responsibility falls upon city planners to evaluate and maintain the needs of both people and nature for the mutual well-being of each.

Between 70% and 80% of all people are expected to live in urban areas by 2050.

Smart city planning and urban development strategies are extremely important to make sure there is enough “natural capital” and to avoid excessive human demand that would erode it. Examples include energy-efficient buildings, integrated zoning, compact cities, and effective options for people-powered and public transportation.

Sources:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-22/how-the-first-earth-day-changed-how-we-view-cities

https://www.bu.edu/cityplanning/2018/05/15/planning-a-city-for-the-sake-of-the-world-bucpua-at-the-earth-day-festival/

https://www.overshootday.org/solutions/cities/

What are Food Deserts?

Food deserts are regions where people have limited access to healthy and affordable food. This may be due to having a low income or having to travel farther to find healthy food options because there are no choices in their neighborhoods. Food deserts are heavy on convenience stores that sell mostly processed foods, high in calories and low in nutrients.

Without access to healthy foods, people living in food deserts may be at higher risk of diet-related conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

The USDA identified around 6,500 food deserts between 2000 and 2006. Experts estimate that around 23.5 million people in the U.S. live in low-income areas that are farther than 1 mile to the nearest large grocery store.

The Hillside neighborhood — within Fort Worth’s 76104 ZIP code, has been identified by the USDA as a food desert. A study by UT Southwestern found that residents of the 76104 ZIP code have the lowest life expectancy in Texas at 66.7 years. Doctors and residents say the lack of affordable healthy food contributes to the area’s poor health.

Interested in learning more about this subject and more? Stay tuned for our upcoming Urban Design Talk topics.

Sources: https://www.star-telegram.com/article244139092.html

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/what-are-food-deserts