COVID-19 has brought about a cultural shift towards how we spend our time: more energy is being spent learning new talents and working on projects. Stores are reporting shortages on craft supplies, baking ingredients and lumber because people are learning or re-learning new skills.
These skills are a key ingredient in Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD). ABCD looks for and starts from people’s gifts and strengths (assets). These assets equip people to create local opportunities and respond to challenges in their neighbourhoods. Life.School.House in Nova Scotia is an example of an initiative that has been using social capital as a way to address complex issues such as social isolation.