News Article

Cormac Russell

Inspiring Communities and ABCD Global is delighted to announce that Europe's leading Asset Based Community Development practitioner, Cormac Russell will be touring Australia and New Zealand in November 2010.

About Cormac
Cormac is Managing Director of Nurture Development and a faculty member of the Asset Based Community Development Institute at Northwestern University, Chicago. He has trained Communities, Agencies, NGOs and Governments in ABCD and other strengths based approaches in Kenya, S. Sudan, South Africa, UK, Ireland and Canada. Examples of his international work include facilitating all major sporting organisations in Canada to adopt a shared vision as to how sport can become an asset for Community Building throughout Canada.

In Southern Sudan in 2009, he facilitated local and central Government, NGOs and Elders in Lakes State to agree to a strengths based approach to drought mitigation using principles of ABCD and Appreciative Inquiry.

In Turkana and Pokot (in Rural Kenya), 2008, he facilitated the development of asset based frameworks which have lead to the brokering of a significant number of locally negotiated peace agreements, and the establishment of over 20 highly successful Pastoral Field Schools which are completely citizen led.

In the UK he has worked closely with I&Dea, to advise them on the development of an asset based approach to Health and in addressing health inequalities in low income communities throughout England.

In Ireland he is currently leading out a national program promoting a strength based approach to working with young people. This will involve hundred of youth practitioners and volunteers.

Cormac is presently working in partnership with the University of Limerick to infuse an ABCD approach across the entire city of Limerick.

To find out about what people say about his workshops follow the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0-HxfD-dR4

To hear Cormac talk about ABCD and inclusion follow the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwvUU-h1crY

While Cormac's calendar is filling up, he is still available to present or conduct workshops. Please contact
Please contact ted@inspiringcommunities.com

Topics that Cormac often presents or conducts workshops on include; regeneration, first nations, Social Inclusion, Probation, Organizational and Governmental Transformation and Economic Development.

For further information on Cormac please visit his website www.nurturedevelopment.ie