Save the date . . .
Conversation with John and Peter February 7th
Join in free online/dial-in Conversation on Fallibility with John and Peter at noon EST on Tuesday, February 7. Details at Events.
Fallibility: The Value of Imperfection
By John McKnight and Peter Block
Community is about accepting people’s fallibility, which is part of the human condition and therefore a reality of the relational world. When we view fallibility as a condition of being human, we see it is within the capacity of the family and neighborhood to deal with the condition and even see the gift in it.
From Backyard Lettuce to “Learning Garden” Sweet Potatoes
The neighbors surrounding Ashlawn Elementary School in Arlington, VA grew enough lettuce in their yards to feed 500 people. Harvesting sweet potatoes from a "learning garden" was Joan Horwitt's next idea for promoting healthy eating and community.
Libraries Leading Community
by Laura Fulton
Libraries are getting more and more creative in coming up with ways to build communities around them. Read about six innovative strategies that might work in your neighborhood.…
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.…
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.…
Small Steps to Creating Community
Two examples of small steps people can make to create community where they live, encouraging interaction and building trust.…
The Key to Disaster Survival? Friends and Neighbors
Political scientist Daniel Aldrich went halfway around the world to discover that the people who will help you survive a natural disaster are usually neighbors.…
Gambling on Community in Las Vegas, NV
It’s not a mere roll of the dice that’s bringing Vegas back, but intentional actions to create real change and community.…
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.…
Connecting4Community event with John, Peter and Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann to take place in Cincinnati May 3-4.
John's "Gift of Fallibility" video from Trinity University's "Our Abundant Communities" series with Peter and Walter Brueggemann.
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.
Don't miss . . .
Peter's latest blog for The Huffington Post.
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.
