Libraries Leading Community
By Laura Fulton
Libraries are getting more and more creative in coming up with ways to build communities around them. Here are six innovative strategies, from "community closets" to skill- and tool-sharing initiatives, that take libraries beyond the book business and might work in your neighborhood.
Gambling on Community in Las Vegas, NV
By Richard C. Harwood
Isn’t it beyond time that a chance is taken on changing community through our own actions? What people in Las Vegas are doing is not a mere roll of the dice to rebound from this tough economic and social time, but intentional actions to create real change and community.
Inspirations for 2012 Community
By Jan Bennett
Dafna Michaelson quit her job, cashed in her 401(k), and set out on a year-long mission: To visit one state each week and interview people changing their communities, and then share their stories to inspire others.
The First Wednesday Conversation in Olympia, WA
by Steve Byers
Since July 2007 Steve Byers has hosted a monthly conversation in his community where people have a chance to explore something new or share their perspective in a welcoming environment. One reason it works? He always shows up.…
Welcoming Schools: ABCD in Action
by Jim Welling
A veteran educator shows how a simple shift in thinking from deficiencies to gifts can produce big results.…
Sweet Potatoes Newest Star of Lawns 2 Lettuce 4 Lunch
Sweet potato soup, salad and dessert are the latest lesson in growing and eating healthy foods and developing new relationships between Ashlawn Elementary School and its neighbors,…
Bring & Fix
Philippe Granger of Lewisham in the Greater London area came up with a simple and brilliant idea for building community that anyone anywhere can put into action. It’s called Bring & Fix, and it’s like a “gifts fair” where people share their knowledge and skills with their neighbors.…
Elementz: A Place for Hip Hop and Respect
Elementz is "a place for hip hop and respect" where Cincinnati teens learn creativity by telling their stories in the various forms provided by hip hop culture: audio, music, poetry/rap, dance and graffiti/visual art. Take a look at their Fall 2011 digital newsletter to learn how it's working.…
Small Steps to Creating Community
Two examples of small steps people can make to create community where they live, encouraging interaction and building trust.…
Leadership Is a Process of Community
by Dave Soleil
When we deconstruct leadership, we will not find a hero at the heart of leadership. We will find community.…
Resolving to Rediscover Entertainment in the New Year
Instead of continuing to be consumers of commercial entertainment, why not have our New Year's resolutions include creating an enjoyable neighborhood and becoming real neighbors celebrating life together?…
About Time
by Clare Goff
More than 30 years after he first created the concept, Edgar Cahn believes that in midst of economic crisis the world is finally waking up to the possibilities offered by timebanking.…
How to Teach Children to Lose by Winning
When we admit that most of us don’t really know our neighbors, we are revealing that the primary site for genuine cooperation is absent from our lives.…
More Health, Less Management, Please
by Peter Block
Industry solutions to a health care system that already suffers from over–management suggest we provide even more management. True health care reform will occur when we acknowledge that 85% of our health is in the hands of the individual and the community.…
Peter's latest interview on restoring humanity in our communities and institutions.
In his Creating Change through Consent and Connectedness online seminar Peter explores what results when we shift our thinking from reforming what is to focusing upon the alternative we want to create.
Download or listen to the December 6th Conversation on Health Care Reform with John and Peter.
Peter chats on blogtalkradio with Robert Thompson and Mike Neiss of Thought Grenades about small things with big results for empowering neighborhoods and building community.
Don't miss . . .
John's four-part ABCD 101 video covers the five basic building blocks of asset based community development, how to do neighborhood asset mapping, and other principles and practices that set ABCD apart from needs-based approaches.
Recommended links to online food resources and more in John's post on food, culture and community.
Read John and Peter's latest blog for The Huffington Post.
