Care of People on the Margin

The demand to “defund the police” asks politicians to go beyond platitudes and actually end the violence of policing, shifting resources in ways that promote the redistribution of wealth. The phrase “defund the police” entered mainstream consciousness during the historic 2020...

"In your book, every famous name in Black America speaks out about co-ops. Why isn't this history better known?" asks Laura Flanders in her 2014 interview with researcher and author Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard. "Well that was my question, right?...

For years, Abundant Community Edmonton has been steadily cultivating a citywide culture and ecosystem of neighborhood connection, caring and belonging, block by block. The founder, Howard Lawrence, was inspired by John and Peter's book The Abundant Community to take...

More than ever, we have embraced mental health as a key component of a healthy, good life. But what are we missing when we follow the trail of causes for increasingly common conditions of anxiety and depression? In this...

In his recent article in the Cardozo School of Law Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peter Block illustrates the common themes threading through three powerful stories within the journal: hospitality, community-centeredness, and the power of building trust as a starting...

"We are the ones we've been waiting for." This Hopi Elders wisdom embodies the spirit of community members across Detroit, Michigan who are taking the initiative to support one another through collecting, sharing, and organizing around one of life's...

In this conversation, Craig Mattson and The Learning Tree co-founder De'Amon Harges explore the ways in which problem of theft looms on the edge of partnerships between various sectors and neighborhood organizations. Craig and De'Amon discuss ways to avoid this...

One explanation for the failings of our democracy is that government is not trusted. One aspect of the national dialogue on restoring trust in government suggests that a critical reform is government transparency. The proposition is that the work...

Author, minister, and liberation coach Courtney Napier illuminates below how the work of undoing racism and inequity is connected to the way in which we choose to conduct our conversations each day. She also invites us to explore three...

An urban neighborhood strengthens its community by asking unexpected questions The Learning Tree initiative takes a different route to enhancing community by focusing on talents and gifts — not poverty.   When faced with an inability to pay their rent, mortgage or...