The core mission of ASP is to strengthen collective action and contribute to the development of dynamic rural communities. This is achieved through a methodology that emphasizes collaboration between practitioners and academics, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and the implementation of innovative solutions to address challenges such as attracting new residents, ensuring organizational succession, and promoting socio-ecological transitions.
ASP's approach is grounded in values like trust, the acceptance of risk and uncertainty, benevolence, mutual aid, and attentiveness. These principles guide the organization of workshops and activities that encourage reflection and action among participants. Local facilitators play a crucial role in mobilizing community members and implementing action plans tailored to each community's unique context. A central coordination team oversees the overall vision, ensuring the dissemination of learnings across communities and to other interested parties.
Since its inception, ASP has undergone several phases of development:
- 2012-2014: Initiated in Saint-Camille in partnership with the Centre de recherche sur les innovations sociales (CRISES) and the Service aux collectivités (SAC) of UQAM, focusing on creating a learning community through collaborative projects addressing local issues.
- 2018-2020: Expanded to include the MRC de Bellechasse and Petit-Saguenay, fostering exchanges not only between researchers and practitioners but also among different communities.
- 2021: Engaged in dialogue with the Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon to prepare for the next phase.
- Since January 2022: Involves 15 rural communities and 15 researchers from 8 universities, organized into sub-groups for co-learning, with a transversal project on socio-ecological transition funded by the Ministry of Economy and Innovation (MÉIE).
Through these phases, ASP has initiated various projects, including inventories of community food initiatives, master's level internships, film screenings related to socio-ecological transition, and the publication of a book. By fostering close collaboration between rural communities and academic researchers, ASP continues to promote the sharing of knowledge and the development of innovative solutions to enhance the vitality and resilience of rural areas.