What is asset mapping? According to Vista Campus,
Asset Mapping is a tool that relies on a core belief of asset-based community development; namely, that good things exist in communities and that those things can be highlighted and encouraged — these are assets suited to advancing those communities.
Furthermore, Vista Campus informs us that, "Asset Mapping is a means, not an end."
The People's Justice Council is working with lead organization Southeast Climate & Energy Network (SCEN) to map environmental justice (EJ) assets throughout the Southeast. But we aren't stopping there. In partnership with other organizations such as the U.S. Climate Action Network (USCAN), we are mapping EJ assets nationwide. But just what are these assets?
Again, according to Vista Campus, assets include:
Physical Assets
Economic Assets
Stories
Local Residents
Local Associations
Local Institutions
Closely related to asset mapping is power mapping, "a visual tool used by social advocates to identify the best individuals to target to promote social change" (Wikipedia).
PJC Program and Policy Director Kyle Crider is serving as a technical advisor on this project. Crider is a long-time advocate of such tools as mind maps and geographic information systems (GIS), gives a brief overview and training session in this PJC video. If you would like to read more and experiment with some free asset mapping tools yourself, download this short tutorial presented by Crider at the recent SCEN Virtual Convening: