--- title: Cormac Russell Tells the Story of John McKnight and ABCD description: "A summary of the book Asset Based Community Development: Looking Back to Look Forward - In conversation with John McKnight, by Cormac Russell" image: https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/binoculars-1209011_1920-826161-edited.jpg --- [![20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Administration/Tamarack%20Logos/20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png?width=200&height=47&name=20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png "20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) # Cormac Russell Tells the Story of John McKnight and ABCD Posted on February 15, 2018 [By Paul Born](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/paul-born) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![looking back to forward.jpg](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Photos/Image%20Library/looking%20back%20to%20forward.jpg?width=203&height=305&name=looking%20back%20to%20forward.jpg)*Asset Based Community Development (ABCD): Looking Back to Look Forward - In conversation with John McKnight about the intellectual and practical heritage of ABCD and its place in the world today,* by Cormac Russell, tells the story behind ABCD. When I say "behind", I mean it provides us an intimate reflection on the people that most influenced John and the ground-breaking ideas that formed his thinking. This book is an intimate conversation between two of the people who are most influential in today's ABCD thinking and practice. In Cormac’s own description of the book, he writes that the purpose is to: “...provide a detailed background to Asset Based Community Development (ABCD), with a particular emphasis on the contributions of the people, such as Illich, Alinsky, Mendelsohn, Miller, Snow, Block and others, who have been most influential in shaping the conceptual framework and practice of this approach. It also provides a deep insight into Professor John McKnight's (one of the originators, and the most central figure in ABCD alongside Professor Jody Kretzmann) thinking on society and community. It offers a wealth of commentary on the challenges facing society and community, what needs to change, and how we might go about it. This publication is therefore a must read for anybody interested in social policy and community development. It will be of particular interest to those seeking to gain a deep, well informed and rounded understanding of Asset Based Community Development from its beginning to the current day.” For all those attending the first national gathering of ABCD in Canada (April 16-18 in Kitchener, Ontario), you will each receive a copy of this book with your conference registration. To learn more, visit the [ABCD for Healthy Neighbourhoods](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/abcd?hsLang=en-us) website or the [ABCD Neighbourhood wellness](https://www.deepeningcommunity.org/abcd-canada-home?hsLang=en-us) site. Topics: [Paul Born](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/paul-born), [ABCD](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/abcd), [Cities Deepening Community](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/cities-deepening-community) ![Paul Born](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/file-2609142926-jpg/Headshots/Team_Headshots/Paul_Born02.jpg) ### By [Paul Born](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/paul-born) Paul is a large-scale community change facilitator. He is the author of four books including, Deepening Community and Community Conversations, two Canadian best sellers. He is the Co-founder of Tamarack and for 20 years was the CEO/Co-CEO. Paul continues at Tamarack as a coach and trainer providing coaching and training to communities interested in achieving population level change. On Sabbatical until October 2022. ## Related Posts [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/ABCD-2.png)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/three-benefits-of-asset-based-community-development-abcd-for-communities-and-governments?hsLang=en-us) #### [Three Benefits of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) for Communities (and Governments)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/three-benefits-of-asset-based-community-development-abcd-for-communities-and-governments?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/pexels-lina-kivaka-1740897.jpg)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/a-year-in-review-with-deepening-communities?hsLang=en-us) #### [The Holiday Season Brings out the Best in Our Communities](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/a-year-in-review-with-deepening-communities?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hub/316071/file-2370002999.jpg)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/update-tamarack-founder-paul-born?hsLang=en-us) #### [Update From Tamarack Co-Founder Paul Born](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/update-tamarack-founder-paul-born?hsLang=en-us) [![BACK TO THE LATEST](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/e6ffa9bb-4467-4833-8ecc-eb340b11d829.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/e6ffa9bb-4467-4833-8ecc-eb340b11d829) [![20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Administration/Tamarack%20Logos/20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png?width=3401&name=20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png "20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) ### Tamarack [Home](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) [Latest](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest) [Events](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/eventlisting?hsLang=en-us) [Donate](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/donate?hsLang=en-us) [About](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/whoweare?hsLang=en-us) ### Follow Us [** ** ](https://www.facebook.com/TamarackInstitute) [** ** ](https://twitter.com/Tamarack_Inst) [** ** ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tamarack-institute-for-community-engagement)   In the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and truth we honour and acknowledge that our work occurs across Turtle Island (North America), which has been home since time immemorial to the ancestors of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples. ### Subscribe Be in the know. 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