Joe Erpenbeck

Consultant and ABCD Institute Faculty Member

Working Together

Projects and Impact

Stories

Want to learn more about ABCD?

Building A Web

Building A Web

Building a Web of Connections I have been hosting a Staying Connected During a Global Pandemic Zoom conversation with old and...

Creating A Space for Stories

Creating A Space for Stories

A Place for Stories I have been working with several groups including the Free Library of Philadelphia looking at the impact ...

We are Meant to be Together

We are Meant to be Together

This was that last large gathering I was part of before social distancing became the expectation. This was 3 days spent with ...

The Power of An Invitation

The Power of An Invitation

The Power of An Invitation This post comes from Ksenia Stepkina, a very talented community builder who I met at a monthly com...

Gifts and Passion on a Constant Roll

Gifts and Passion on a Constant Roll

Last week I found a community place I had not seen before. This skate park, Leeside Skate Park, is next to Hastings Park in a...

Entry to a Neighbourhood Anchor

Entry to a Neighbourhood Anchor

I was pretty excited to return to my library this week. For now only a few sections would be open, so I wasn’t sure wha...

30 Minute Ritual

30 Minute Ritual

During a recent interview with a group of community builders, one person commented that they always committed at least 30 min...

People Will Act

People Will Act

People will act, on what they care about. Last night I was reminded of this when I met with the cohort at City Shapers. City ...

“Joe has created a small team of people who are moving from providing service to building community. His work has radical implications for social service and he has the results to show it. Joe’s work is done with great compassion and courage. He directs a group that is applying the asset based principles of John McKnight in new ways. The results he is achieving are significant; his group is directly bringing those on the margin into community...Joe is creating a model for care and inclusion that sets the standard for what is possible.”

Peter Block

Peter Block

Noted Cincinnati Author & Consultant

"Joe Erpenbeck is in my opinion one of the very best, if not the best community connector in North America."

John McKnight

John McKnight

Co-Director The Asset-Based Community Development Institute

"Community development is a big idea, and a thing I’ve enjoyed so much about Joe’s work is that his approachable manner allows everyone to participate and see how they could have a role. I’ve been part of this conversation with groups who have been together for a long time, having the same old conversations, and its been a gift to watch Joe lead - not push - them into the potential of new ideas in an appreciative way. Like many, I did not enter those conversations easily, and, like many, I came to really appreciate his genius (I use this work carefully) for this work."

Aaron Johannes

Aaron Johannes

www.imagineacircle.com