Community Organizer Training: a program anyone can use

A detailed description of  a neighborhood facilitator, or services coordinator. We can use these ideas to develop a community organizer training program as well as enrich the community gathering concept

http://www.mincava.umn.edu/documents/drugres/drugres.html

Some guidelines for The Potter House, a neighborhood intentional community

You can find out more about this community at www.thesimpleway.org If you are not a follower of Jesus, you can still get a lot out of this. Guidelines are made to be revised, any way. I have read Shane Claiborne’s book THE IRRESISTIBLE REVOLUTION twice, and am now on my third reading. He helped to found this community, which is inspiring many other people to do the same. My vision: that every neighborhood has at least one home such as the one outlined below where the residents have the intention to reach out and love their neighbors. People who are into the New Monasticism would like that idea, I am pretty sure. Now wouldn’t that be a lovely world and help to bring the kingdom of God on earth, one neighborhood at a time!

 

WELCOME TO THE POTTER STREET COMMUNITY!

Here’s a little packet we’ve been putting together to help new housemates settle in to life here on Potter Street. Glad you are here!

Things we do:

Daily

Morning prayer weekdays 9am

After School program – weekdays 3pm-6pm

Weekly – we pass a sign-up sheet around at points meetings which is then posted (at 3234) – sign up for weekly activities and other responsibilities such as shopping and cleaning

Points meetings – now Friday mornings – community-wide weekly checkin for announcements, updates, and logistics

Food bank (must have a training/orientation) – Tuesday mornings

Food Bags – Tuesdays 4:30pm

The Gathering Community Store (3234) – 1^st Saturday of each month 10-1pm, and store

prep is often on the Friday before

2 Weekly Dinners – sign up to cook/clean

House dinners, Guest dinners (and occasional dinner discussions)

Typically House dinners are Tuesdays and open/guest dinners are Thursdays

Public meetings (usually Sunday) –Worship in the neighborhood with local congregations/parishes

Sabbath – one day a week is for rest and rejuvenation we do not answer the phone or door or entertain guests (community-wide Sabbath is Sunday)

Monthly

Cooking/cleaning

Vnite – a gathering of women

Kingdom Night – happens occasionally to gather (men and women) to study Scripture, theology, or books

Hospitality

Nonprofit maintenance – we share the administrative work of PSC as a community, with no paid staff

Advocate time – scheduled during points meetings

Annually (or ongoing)

Retreats – one in the winter (January) and one in the summer (August)

Making stuff – buttons, t-shirts, candles, clothing, bread…

Sometimes for fun, sometimes as a micro-business/cottage industry

School supplies – Labor Day weekend each year we give away school supplies to hundreds of kids in the neighborhood (and prep for this happens in August)

Restoration of houses/lots – whenevs

Newsletters (quarterly) – March, June, September, December – all guests invited to give an intro, all longer term members invited to contribute articles

Christmas toys/party – end december we give away hundreds of toys to parents in the neighborhood and have our annual Holiday open house the day after

Gardening

Family reunion – February each year, dozens of friends and sister communities come into town, by invitation (though the Friday night is a Night of Celebration open to all)

USAntiheroes (whenever necessary) – Buy Nothing Day (day after Thanksgiving) and July 4^th are usually big USAntihero holidays

Yes! And… Theater camps

Nights of celebration (quarterly)

Circus fun and general nuttiness

A FEW MORE DETAILS ON STUFF…

Food Bags

* We give out food bags once a week (currently Tuesdays at 4:30p). Usually we distribute around 35 bags. There are more folks at the end of the month than the beginning, and weather is also a factor.

* We make sure everyone gets a bag who is in line when we begin distributing at 4:30p.

* We go shopping in the morning at the Philabundance Food Bank. Our agency number is 785, and you must take a signed check with you to purchase food. Primary shoppers need to attend an orientation and training at Philabundance.

* Folks will begin lining up about a half-hour beforehand, but we are not able to give them out early or hold bags for people.

* There are files in the upstairs file cabinet of all registered food bag recipients (required by the Food Bank, and they occasionally visit and will ask to see these).

* We do not give bags to kids (folks under 18). But kids are welcome to help prepare the bags.

* We are not able to give folks an extra bag for someone else. They must come get it, or if unable we deliver the bag to their home (if you are able).

The Store

• Our community thrift store is called “The Gathering” (many folks know it as that).
• It is currently open on the first Saturday of each month, from 10am-1pm.
• We do $1 for a bag. Families come and buy a brown grocery bag for $1 and take things as they need. Unlimited bags. If folks only want a few items, they can pay less (say .25 or .50). Money is held by a community member, recorded and placed in the blue envelope or given to a partner for deposit.
• Folks are also welcome to donate things for The Gathering by bringing them during store hours or working out another time to drop them off. We do not (generally) do pick-ups of donations (unless they live on the block).
• We usually sort clothes for the store the week before, trying to bring up in-season items. Make sure to remove all items from the store that are not for sale. And please be sure to clean-up afterwards.

After School Program

· Kids come to do collaborative arts/literacy at 3200 Potter every schoolday 3-6p

· All volunteers attend a training and background check.

· We prefer to have folks keep a regular schedule and with some longevity.

Gardens

· We have gardens on the 3234 roof, and on two lots on Potter Street – 3204 and 3230. And we like to drop seeds and plant stuff anywhere we can find a crack in the concrete.

Sister Communities (in the area)

· There are a number of communities in the Philadelphia area with whom we collaborate and conspire.

o Camdenhouses – across the river, mad gardening, close friends and a lot of fun – they have a cluster with several community houses and gardens. Sacred Heart has Mass at 10:30am.

o House of Grace runs a free medical clinic (also providing showers, medication, and dentistry).

o New Jerusalem is a recovery community. They have Bible study at 8am each weekday. They also host the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP), which is a 3 day workshop learning and practicing nonviolence, peacemaking, and creative conflict resolution.

o Kensington Welfare Rights Union is a coalition of poor and homeless families with whom we share a 10 year friendship and partnership. We often support their events to alleviate poverty and homelessness.

o Yes! And… Company of friends (many of whom are PSC founders) who run camps and after school programs doing collaborative arts – playing, imagining, creating together, good times.

o Circle of Hope has public meetings at 5pm and 7pm and cells that meet during the week.

o Cambria house – another house of friends down the street.

o Mission Year – a one-year program that places young adults in urban community houses to live and serve. Former PSC member Chris Lahr is the City Director here in Philly (one of the MY hubs), and we often have an intern or two here from Mission Year.

o Brandywine Peace Community is an organization in the area that mobilizes people in public actions and other events to raise awareness around war and peace. We often attend their demonstrations which happen periodically (as well as liturgically on MLK day, Easter, Christmas… outside Lockheed Martin).

o My Brothers Keeper is a community of very sweet, retired folks that make blankets and “hypothermia packs” for our homeless friends. We are able to get more by contacting Jim or Flo at 570 289 4335.

o The Alternative Seminary hosts bible studies throughout the year (sometimes 6-week studies, sometimes longer…). It is an “underground seminary” of sorts, committed to wrestling with the Word in a diverse group of folks seeking God and truth.

The Year at a Glance

January

New years vigil

Winter Retreat

Thank-you letters for the past year

February

Night of Celebration

Family Reunion weekend

March

PSC Mailing

Gardens

Lenten lunches

April

Seder/Passover dinner

Easter Family weekend

Egg dying and hunt, family visits/dinners

May

School for Conversion

June

PSC mailing

PAPA Festival/summer gathering… may happen again in some form

Night of Celebration

(harvest season)

July

Theatre camp

Fourth of July USAntiheroes

(harvest season)

August

Summer Retreat

Theater camp

(Harvest season)

September

PSC mailing

School Supplies – Labor Day

PSC financials due

(harvest season)

October

Vol Appreciation Banquet?

Night of Celebration

November

Thanksgiving Dinner and Day-after Potluck

USAntiheroes Buy Nothing Day

SOA/CCDA

Advent dinners

KWRU homes for holidays

December

PSC mailing

Christmas toys

Gingerbread party… again?

Christmas Open House

Expectations:

Visitors

Note: we distinguish between “personal visitors” (someone coming to visit someone living here but not particularly interested in PSC) and general “visitors” (folks interested in visiting and exploring the community here at PSC) – the notes below are for the latter (personal visitors are simply discussed at weekly points meetings)

• Visitors are folks who come for up to one week, sometimes less than a day. Visitors includes groups and personal friends, as well as folks who are coming for an initial visit with the thought of staying longer-term. We are always reimagining how we host and integrate new visitors and groups. Currently, most folks who contact us are invited to consider attending one of the Schools for Conversion.
• Suggested Donation for Visitors is $50-100 per week.
• Visitors are given a “Contact Person” who serves as a liason to them or their group and as a primary host when they arrive.
• Sometimes are given keys (with a $5 deposit)
• Often have a highly structured visit with a scheule
• Usually go on a reality tour

Guests

• Guests are folks who are living in the community for up to three months.
• Commit to our mission: “Love, God, Love People and Follow Jesus”. And commit to respect the Foundation/Functionality of PSC.
• Suggested donation for guests is $150-200 per month.
• Guests are given an “Advocate” that journeys with them into the community and helps to orient them to life here at PSC. Advocate meetings will often happen every week or two weeks to check in, discuss readings…
• Attend most house meetings and dinners
• Attend retreats or some portion of retreats
• Often go on reality tours, watch some films and do readings to learn about faith, social justice, and the history of PSC.
• Abstain from new dating relationships while a guest at PSC
• Enter into our common life of work, play, cleaning, prayer… as comfortable

Advocates of guests

• create customized spirtual formation and social consciousness resources – maybe reading some books, films, connecting with other communities and congregations…
• give guests a mailbox
• give keys to both houses
• share poverty outlaw film and new monasticism book
• do a reality tour

Nomad/Novitiate

• A Nomad is someone who has come as a Guest and now makes a commitment of 1-2 years, but is not interested in partnerhip here at PSC (plans on leaving PSC after this period, often to start another community). A Novice is someone who has come as a Guest and now makes a commitment of 1-2 years, with the possibility of partnering here at PSC. Both have periodic re-evaluations and processing (organized by their advocates).
• In addition to the mission, N/N commit to the live out the Foundations/Functionality of PSC
• Attend all meetings dinners, activities regularly
• Attend both annual retreats
• Share a suggested donation of $150-200 each month
• Work part time jobs or part time as students but not full-time
• If dating, live in separate houses
• Continue to have one of the partners as an Advocate to continue formation and begin taking on more responsibilities in the common life of PSC – spend time together regularly and are in dialogue with partners in decision-making and future plans
• Become an advocate for Guests
• Begin to lead some PSC activities, reality tours, hospitality, and meetings
• Attend and active in a local congregation
• Support the work of relationally-based social justice organization or group working for social transformation
• Cross-pollinate with other communities and groups with whom we collaborate, and make new connections and friendships
• When community is over 8 people: Sometimes (often when community is larger) we are in a “friendship wheel” rotation to spend scheduled time with other community members, or help lead small group checkins within PSC
• Are designated drivers and shoppers at the food bank – and are free to use the credit card for community expenditures
• Are invited to take personal retreats – especially as they discern their commitment within the community (sabbaticals are required before and after this layer of the onion)
• Are expected to continue doing spiritual and personal formation, sharing that journey with partners and other community members and to bring fresh ideas to community life
• Advocates for Nomad/Novitiates (In addition to all the responsibilities of Advocates for Guests)
  • Help the N/N become an insured PSC driver
  • Orient the N/N to PSC accounting (credit card, petty cash, shopping, food bank…)
  • Orient the N/N to PSC non-profit maintenance – thank you letters, mailings…
  • Help the N/N become an advocate for Guests
  • Do healthy spiritual and social formation
  • Introduce and connect N/N with sister communities and other affiliate groups
  • Connect N/N with opportunities for public witness, actions, rallys
  • Connect N/N with local congregations with which to support/covenant
  • Discern the journey, invitation to partnership, or decision to leave
  • Celebrate and advocate for N/N around important decisions, events, or crisis – plan birthday parties, graduation celebrations, etc
  • Organize rituals for partnering or leaving the community

Partners

• Partnership is not appointed or earned, but simply recognized. Being a partner means that one has arrived at the level of love and trust that creates the core of community, and is the leaven of life here at PSC.
• In addition to the vision, commitments, foundation/functionality… partners also commit to love, cherish and respect one another and other community members. This is a commitment not just to the vision of PSC but a vow to one another and transcends life here at PSC. Partners usually spend “a chunk of life” here at PSC. But even upon leaving, partners continue to support one another outside life on Potter Street.
• Share all the N/N expectations
• Create, with the community, healthy rituals, liturgies and celebrations for community life
• Share a suggested donation of least $150-200 per month. Partners often move towards a common pool sharing much more financially, including debt and outside resources.
• Lead. Partners help plan activities, facilitate events, organize retreats. They also often serve on the Board and are responsible both for the health of the community, integrity of the vision, and maintenance of the non-profit organization.
• Empower. Partners encourage other folks ideas and look for opportunities to share leadership and bring out the gifts of others.

• Dream and imagine new visions with neighbors, friends and other communities. Partners are often entrepreneurial in starting new activities, such as micro-business cottage industries.
• Partners help pass on the story and history of The Simple Way.
• Serve as Advocates for one another, and for other community members.
• Serve the community, and grow deep relationships with neighbors, kids, and homeless friends.
• Openly dialogue about conflict, pain, and practice the sacrament of confession when they have erred.
• Straight Talk – partners help create and nurture an environment of “straight talk” where folks who have been hurt or offended (or have hurt or offended) are invited to share directly with the other person(s) involved so relationships are nurtured and a healthy living environment is preserved.
• Emergencies – partners deal with emergencies or crises within the community, which can include bringing in an outside party or mediator when necessary
• Consensus minus one – a model of decision-making that has proved helpful to us… where everyone agrees that they will not single-handedly block a decision or discussion – essentially conceding that if what we feel or want is really in the best interest of the whole community, then at least one other person should agree and advocate with us. When two people are polarized on a decision, the community often listens and incorporates all perspectives into a creative resolution.

Random good things to know

Vehicles

• We share a community vehicle. Long-term community members are invited to become drivers. All drivers must be insured by providing license and good driving record.

Money

• All long-term community members are able to use the community credit card for house needs (“the simple card”). It is used as a credit card (not debit). All expenses other than grocery shopping need to be discussed at a points meeting or run by a partner. All purchases beyond $1000 need Board approval.

The Roof

• No children (no one under 18) allowed on the roof (even children of relatives or visitors, to be fair to neighborhood kids).
• During heavy storms, both roofs have a tendency to leak, largely due to the drains becoming clogged. It is a good idea to check the roofs periodically during heavy storms, and clear the drains, especially in the fall.

Smoking/Alcohol

• Smoking is permitted outside our houses and on the roofs, but never inside.
• Please do not leave cigarettes in common space, and dispose of your butts.
• Aware of the struggles that irresponsible consumption creates, especially in our neighborhood, we have chosen to create a space (in house) that is an alcohol-free environment, always open to folks who struggle with addictions of all sorts, and we are mindful of the vulnerability of friends and neighbors (even in the community) when at social events that could create unhealthy decisions.

The Door

• Folks often drop by the house. If you are alone or if no one else is present with the person, please ask them kindly to wait outside as you help. If they need clothing feel free to get it from the store or downstairs. If they need a blanket or bedroll, they are under the steps by the chapel (at 3234). Encourage folks needing food to come during the designated distribution of food bags, but if it is an emergency or their first time here by all mean help out. Toiletries and basic medications and first-aid are in the basement of 3234. If you invite someone in, please take responsibility to clean up and see them in and out or leave them in the hands of someone else who will.
• Children need parent’s permission to come inside. They are not to be left unsupervised. And generally children are not alone with community members, especially short-term community members.
• Bedrolls are made by our friends at My Brother’s Keeper. This is a group of elderly folks who make them for us by hand (with lots of love), so please encourage folks to try to preserve them and keep them dry. For this reason we are not able to give someone more than one bag.
• We are not able to let folks use the restroom (except children under supervision).
• Don’t feel like you always have to answer the door at all times. Make sure we are true to doing small things with great love (or don’t answer the door).

Children need to be outside–and so do adults!

Great article about children being outside

http://www.parentmap.com/content/view/526/110/

 

Jon Young on Mentoring-fantastic article

 

http://www.jonyoung.info/S08_Young_InvisibleSchool.pdf

 

Bird language-learning

http://www.unf.edu/recsports/nature/Language%20of%20the%20Birds.html

 

tom brown’s tacker school for kids

 

http://trackertrail.com/publications/truetracks/1999fall/tt1999fall.html

 

test for neighborhood awareness

http://www.earthwaynetwork.org/tourist_test/tourist_test.html

Using Myspace to find kindred spirits in your neighborhood and beyond

This is a very basic video on how to use myspace.com which is one of the most popular social networking sites–be careful and safe, please.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZcRkcZllX50

How to use the secret law of attraction on Myspace

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2KxWoeEE4Ys

Relocalization: An overview of an answer to peak oil crises

Relocalization

To reach the goal of Sustainability, we advocate for the process of Relocalization. RELOCALIZATION means becoming self-reliant (not self-sufficient) at the local level and rebuilding our communities based on the local production of food, energy, and goods as well as the relocalization of governance and culture. It moves one step further than the strategy of Localization (increasing the local production of goods and services in order to fight the detrimental effects of globalization) in that Relocalization also makes a firm commitment to reducing consumption and improving environmental and social conditions. In this way, communities begin to develop a greater degree of economic self-reliance and stronger sense of community.

The Goals of Relocalization:

* Increase community energy security
* Strengthen local economics
* Dramatically improve environmental conditions and social equity
* Operate well inside eco-system limits
* Address the fears of scarcity and redefining the concept of “needs” and “enough.”
* Implementation of the Earth Charter – a sustainable framework and progress measure

The Results of Relocalization:

* A self-reliant local economy run by local stakeholders.
* A healthy community for ALL.
* A healthy and intact ecosystem that can sustain us.
* An increase in local manufacturing and energy production.
* Living wage jobs that fulfill the desire for right livelihood, and opportunities to reclaim lost skills.
* Healthy food grown locally on family farms.
* An improved quality of life—meeting the basic needs of all.

In these times of uncertainty, are you interested in actively helping to create the systemic change necessary to ensure the continued quality of life we enjoy so much here in Whatcom County? Yes, this is a challenge. But, together, it’s one we can meet. We have more in common than our needs for clean air and water, and nourishing soil.

We can work locally to create a microcosm of sustainability than can serve as an example for all the people that are fleeing the areas they live in now because they’ve been destroyed. Together, we can build a society that is ecologically wise and socially just. Our grandchildren will thank us for it.

Join us–because it is going to take us all to create the change we want to see in the world.

Sustainable Bellingham is a member of the Post Carbon Institute’s Relocalization Network.
http://www.relocalize.net/groups/bellingham

For more, read Global Relocalization – A Call To Action, from the Post Carbon Institute.
http://www.postcarbon.org/informed/relocalization

And Relocalization: A Strategic Response to Climate Change and Peak Oil, by Jason Bradford of WELL.
http://www.theoildrum.com/node/2598

And Relocalization and Reconnection, by Dave Ewoldt.
http://sustainablebellingham.org/wiki/wikka.php?wakka=RelocalizationAndR…

Sarvodaya as a time-tested model for building community

Sarvodaya as a time-tested model for building community and decentralizing government

Brief Description of Sarvodaya:

True community requires nourishing the body and the spirit; the melding of a sense of mutual responsibility and self help that comes from living the truths of compassion, loving kindness, joy in the happiness of others and equanimity.

Rooted in Buddhism and other ancient Sri Lankan traditions, Sarvodaya celebrates the involvement of many of Sri Lanka’s bikkus (local monks) who play an active role in village life. But the movement is open to anyone. One can visit a participating village and see houses built by Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and Muslims next to one another. New homeowners eagerly tell of their close friendships despite different religious and cultural traditions – friendships that come from working together for common goals.

History and description of Sarvodaya:

This article is inspiring and offers practical tips on how to step by step build community. Christians may be concerned about the Buddhist principles involved, but to me, this is equally about the teachings of Christ in action. I think that people of all faiths and no faith can learn from this beautiful movement and outlook on life.

http://www.goodlife.org/glc_journal1_levien.html

Does Sarvodaya have a religious affiliation?

WHY, WHO, WHAT, WHERE …….. SARVODAYA?

Sarvodaya, Sri Lanka’s biggest charity, is dedicated to making a positive difference to the lives of rural Sri Lankans. Our grassroots movement now reaches 15,000 villages in 34 districts with 1,500 staff throughout Sri Lanka.

Founded by a Sri Lankan schoolteacher in 1958, our philosophy is based on Buddhist-Gandhian philosophy and we work across all ethnic and religious communities. We are dedicated to the sustainable empowerment of people through self-help and collective support, to non-violence and peace.

It is not as much what we do to alleviate rural poverty but the way in which we do it which makes us so effective and sustainable – through the active participation and engagement of the villagers themselves.

Our social and technological village development programmes continue unabated; in addition, in response to urgent needs in our country, we are continuing with our award-winning Tsunami recovery programme and conflict resolution activities towards building a lasting peace.

 

 

Sarvodaya is clearly rooted in Gandhian and Buddhist traditions, but actively engages people of all religions and ethnic backgrounds. Events at the village, district and national levels often begin with non-denominational meditation and invocations from the perspectives of all religions represented.

Sarvodaya builds houses side by side for Christians, Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus. Peace Secretariat teams are led by Muslim, Christian and Hindu Sarvodaya personnel. The Movement consciously directs its efforts to people of all religious persuasions. Its purpose is not to proselytise but to help participants see their common humanity.

Many people are rightfully concerned about the recipients of relief supplies. We want to assure you that every effort is made to serve Sri Lankans of all religions in all parts of Sri Lanka.

Great way to categorize the way we all need to be empowered on all levels.

http://www.sarvodaya.org/about/empowerment-programmes/

Strategic goals for Sarvodaya in Ceylon-this could apply to any country. These folks are amazing—they have thousands of villages that are working cooperatively and developing decentralized governments that are working!

http://www.sarvodaya.org/about/strategic-goals/

 

This lays out the whole vision of Sarvodaya. I think anyone could duplicate this if they studied it—it utilizes the best of all that I have studied about life in general.

http://www.sarvodaya.org/about/development-model/

A list of virtues which everyone can agree on, and which build conscious community

http://www.itstimere

Momentum: Igniting Social Change in a Connected Age

The following exerpt was taken from this Case Foundation website: an interview with Af Allison Fine’s author Momentum: Igniting Social Change in the Connected Age. My comments are in italics.,

Allison is a successful social entrepreneur and writer dedicated to helping grassroots organizations and activists implement and sustain social change efforts. She is a senior fellow at Demos, a network of action and ideas based in New York City. She is the founder of Innovation Network, Inc. (InnoNet), and the former CEO of the E-Volve Foundation. Currently she serves on the board of directors of Just Vision. She lives on the banks of the Hudson River with her husband, Scott, and three sons, Jack, Zack, and Max. Join her interactive conversation on social change in the digital age at http://afine.us

Allison: When I’m talking to people in an organization to see how they’re doing with social media, I don’t look just at the technology. More important to me is how they talk about the way that they work. For instance, are they having a two-way conversation with people outside the organization, or are they just broadcasting messages? Is their website a place for real, open, side-to-side conversations between people inside the organization and outside, or is it just brochureware? And even blogs, which allow for comments, can be just pretty words that are meant to tell the world how great and invincible the group is, not letting people inside help figure out strategy and even struggle with the hard questions all organizations face.

Patricia: I agree totally. We want to get as much input as possible in whatever we do.

Allison: Technology is not a panacea for the hard work of developing relationships face to face. Social media, interactive digital tools, are very inexpensive, and when used well are great ways to enhance, deepen, and strengthen those relationships. Imagine that a group meets locally to discuss a clean water strategy. They can then go online and create a wiki to share documents and lists together. They can also create a listserv and a blog to keep everyone informed of progress and discuss strategy. All of these tools are cheap and easy to use. Now think back to the pre-social media days when everything had to be done by snail mail. Which way do you think connects people more to one another and the cause? Some folks make an assumption that using social media is a zero-sum game, that it replaces face-to-face relationship building. That’s absolutely not true. But again, leaders have to want real, meaningful participation to involve people in solving problems regardless of whether it is happening mainly online or on land.

Patricia: This is so important! And the community gathering will provide the face to face contact—make it much easier than trying to make appointments with people with busy schedules. For example, since all community gatherings will be open to anyone—although they will be attended mostly by their own neighborhood—there could be one going on every night of the week, and even some during the day. People can more easily meet—using the gathering as a foundation. Also, if someone meets on line, then they have a safe place to meet. This is also going to be a great place for Meet Up groups or even folks who want to meet in person who are on myspace, facebook, zaadz, tribes, or other social networking.

Allison:“It is counterintuitive but true; the more decision making we push away from the center, the more powerful our social networks become. That’s the power-to-the-edges concept. We need to let go of the message and the messenger and encourage activists to participate in real, meaningful ways in shaping and implementing strategies.”

Patricia: If you study Open Space Technology, you will see that people are empowered to self-organize and follow their passion and inclinations. Strategies reveal themselves as small groups come together to plan their part of the puzzle, and communication takes place between groups.

Leveraging Social Networks:
Allison:”Social change happens through social networks. Social media provides the fuel to reach out and activate these networks at a scale and speed never seen before. We need to think about our ’stickiness’ within our ecosystems. Who are we connected to and how? How can we create stronger, more authentic, connections within our network?”

Patricia: Authentic is a key word here—that is why Non-violent Communication is going to be so important. This consciousness of honest, empathic communication will help people connect on a deeper level. We will also encourage in various ways a culture of trust building. People will learn the importance of, and being empowered to-be in integrity so that we have a culture of trust worthiness.

Also, we want to make it safe and easy for people who meet online. If someone meets on line to deepen the relationships and help build trust. This is also going to be a great place for Meet Up groups or even folks who want to meet in person who are on myspace, facebook, zaadz, tribes, or other social networking.

Trust builds stronger, more authentic relationships.

Allison: I use a cooking analogy in the book to say that social change using social media is cooking and not baking. By this I mean that success can’t be prescribed for activists — there are some core ingredients that need to come together, like a big gumbo, to make something delicious. Technology, both the gadgets and the know-how, is one key ingredient. But so are leadership, planning, and meaningful participation by a community of people. We need all of these things, but how they come together, in what order, and in what combination, are unique to every organization.

Patricia: The Community Gathering is designed so that leadership is mainly focused on helping people create a shared vision and carrying it out, as well as defining personal goals, and getting help to carry them out. I feel hopeful that this format can be easily applied to any organization in order to enrich their participation.

Allison: In order to be successful, activists need to move from a state of powerlessness, of doing what others want them to do, to a place of powerfulness or what I call “self-determining” in the book. The balance comes from creating plans for measuring that everyone agrees on that have short-term and long-term mileposts to tell us where we are and how we’re doing along the way.

Patricia: We will develop a strategic plan as small groups define their goals, and then communicate with other small groups. As momentum builds, and people become familiar with the Open Space approach, we will also schedule longer events, including 2 ½ day Neighborhood Visioning using techniques such as Open Space Technology or Future Search

A big part of the leadership comes from the Community Facilitator who has been trained by Livable Future Project trainers. Community Facilitators will learn to build a team of the diverse people in their neighborhood and community who can oversee the community gathering and help make it fulfill the mission. Livable Future Project will have a board of directors and advisory board which reflects and supports the mission. Our main purpose will be to develop participitative democracy—something along the lines of sociocracy. I am familiar with the sociocracy principles, but I have not studied it extensively—one of my next priorities is to establish if this is the “ocracy” will be appropriate

Allison: When I’m talking to people in an organization to see how they’re doing with social media, I don’t look just at the technology. More important to me is how they talk about the way that they work. For instance, are they having a two-way conversation with people outside the organization, or are they just broadcasting messages? Is their website a place for real, open, side-to-side conversations between people inside the organization and outside, or is it just brochureware? And even blogs, which allow for comments, can be just pretty words that are meant to tell the world how great and invincible the group is, not letting people inside help figure out strategy and even struggle with the hard questions all organizations face.

Patricia: We will be all about inclusiveness and getting input from people, helping them more easily decisions which affect them directly—as always, creating a shared vision as well as individual visions.

Allison: “Nonprofit organizations aren’t going to become extinct, but they do need to transform themselves. In order for change to happen in large-scale, meaningful, and sustainable ways, activist organizations must change the way they view themselves and their constituents; they must start to act as part of networks of activists not as soloists.”

Patricia: I am so glad to see this statement. I have long felt a sense of helplessness when I try to work with established organizations. It is so discouraging to try to present something to a board of directors, or try to get an individual to present something to a steering committee—to get permission or support. Boards are usually overwhelmed anyway, and new ideas are just time consuming. I gave up working with boards and groups—but then I felt isolated, and couldn’t figure out how to get involved and get others involved. When I learned about the concept of helping people get in touch with their passionate vision, and then support them in carrying it out—it was like a revelation. It seems that we are taught in school that we can’t follow our dreams-we have to fit in like a cog in a wheel to the socio-economic order that needs us to be robots. J

Even though we consciously believe differently, our upbringing/training often keeps us from believing that we could do what we love and we could thrive by doing that.

I hope and pray that people will develop an alternative economy in their neighborhoods based on alternative currencies, credit systems, barter, and Time Banking so that people can be encouraged to find their right livelihoods which could include paid (or traded for) services such as being a facilitator—making it easy for people to create community gardens, learning centers, coop child care sytems, building sustainable systems, and more. The sky is the limit!

Although the Livable Future Project is not officially a non-profit organization—we are still in the process of deciding if this is the step we will take—we want to do as Allison says is beneficial—“ start to act as part of networks of activists not as soloists.”

Ultimately it is my dream that the job of Community Facilitator will be a respected role in the neighborhood, and so valued that people will contribute a monthly fee in order for a Community Facilitator to devote their full time to this work. CF’s will live simply and sustainably, and perhaps people will share freely food, reduced rent, rides, etc. If only 150 people paid $20 a month, a CF could have $3000 a month.

There is so much more that can be done besides the Community Gathering. The CG alone is a huge job but more could be done to help people, such encouraging people to become Community Weavers or a Family Advocate Volunteers so that even more can happen in between community gatherings.

When every neighborhood in a city has a Community Facilitator, and a Community Gathering, there will much more sharing, collaboration, and interweaving among neighborhoods. Community Facilitators will meet and share notes, and facilitate larger gatherings where delegates from the various neighborhoods can come together to create a shared vision for the city—and include scale methods where thousands and even millions can give input to help create a shared vision for a city, state, country, and even the world. Using a method. According to the Forum Foundation website, “the essence of over 25 years research in social science for us is the realization that big meetings at often remote distances are the Achilles’ Heel of the democratic process which undergirds our society, public and private.” Dick Spady and

Other than those ten dynamics, the essence of over 25 years research in social science for us is the realization that big meetings at often remote distances are the Achiilles heal of the democratic process which undergirds our society, public and private. P People today do not have time to go to big meetings, especially at remote distances. They are too busy earning a living. Besides they remember the last time they went; the sheer logistics are such that only a few people can speak, most can only listen. People today are often accused of being apathetic in their responsibilities as citizens in their communities, their schools, and their churches. Our research indicates that people are not apathetic; it is just that they have concluded that such big meetings at often remote distances are not worth their time and effort, and they drop out. The Forum Foundation has concluded that in order to get at the organizational and societal problems in society better, leaders must enable their members or constituents to meet in small groups, normally 8 to 12 persons, at times and places convenient to themselves during a one or two month window period in interaction with their leaders using audio or video cassettes and “Opinionnaires®.” But what is gained through interpersonal communication by being in small groups is simultaneously lost among the participants as a whole which is something greater than the mere sum of the parts. To restore this “lost sense of touch,” we have developed the Fast Forum® technique. It is a part of “Many-to-Many Communications” and exists at a degree of complexity below the Delphi Technique and below typical random sample polling but above letter writing, telephoning, or big meetings yet makes the same contribution to system solutions as they do but does it more systematically and economically. Furthermore, since all data generated is objective showing percentages of responses to various survey-type questions by demographics of gender, age, geographic, ethnic family etc., the reports generated never get bigger they just get better as more people participate. We can easily compare the opinions of groups of 200 with 2,000, or 20,000–thus there is no information overload for officials, planners, teachers, students, and parents involved. Communication and understanding are enhanced. In addition the process is never dependent on the media which can be involved as much or as little as it wishes.

Paltalk.com : A great way to get organized

I am always looking for great ways for folks to connect on line so that they can more easily connect off line. This www.paltalk.com looks to be a great way to connect and get organized better. I have some ideas on how that might happen with a neighborhood organizing training–but for now, I want to present ideas from the Ron Paul folks. I’m not trying to push Ron Paul (although I am totally supportive of him and his values!) but rather wanting to introduce some ideas on how we might get organized. I want to start thinking along the lines of networks and coalitions of neighborhoods to the point where neighborhoods are powerfully taking control of their own destinies!

My name is John Vidurek and I am the organizer for Ron Paul Dutchess County Meet- up 695. We are planning a Nation wide meet-up on the internet on Friday 3-14-08 at 7:30 PM. We respectfully request that you and or as many members of your meet-up group [or any Ron Paul supporter] that would like to join us to please come. We have set up a “free” meeting room for up to 200 people with -

* High Quality digital audio [stereo]

* High Quality digital video

* Visual [list] of names of all the people in the room

* Common room text chat area available during the conference

* Raise hand button to get in line to speak

* One speaker at a time

* Private text, video or audio private messaging between members with ability to bring in up to 10 members

* Administrators have complete control of the room, they can remove mic from anyone who is disruptive, even remove them or ban them from the room.

* Pal-talk is far superior then any other on line meeting place or telephone conference set-up available

* Pal-talk has created a comfortable environment for video and audio conferencing

* The Pal-talk experience is like having an extended living-room across cyber space.

* We can have superior and productive meetings without leaving our homes

* We can show films and power-point programs

* We can show charts and pictures

* We can pass out unlimited written or image materials to everyone with the click of a mouse

* We can play music (stereo) or speeches

* We can make audio recordings of our meetings and post them on line for download so that our other group members can hear the meeting on their own time.

* We can stream the meeting off a web site like a radio station

* No more missing meetings because you don’t feel up to traveling to some place across the county

* No more missing meetings because you came home late from work and wanted to eat dinner (eat while you listen and participate.

* You and your spouse can both attend the meetings and you don’t need a baby sitter

* You can catch up on other work as you listen in at your computer

* We can take votes by the raising of hands

* Much, much more …

These rooms are easy to set up and best of all are free. You can set up a room for your local meet-up and meet every week conveniently in your own home and maybe have a physical meet-up once a month. If this catches on to other meet-ups we can cross visit without leaving our homes.

Here is our vision:

1) To create a room for every state and have a state meeting once a month

2) To create a national room and have a national meeting once a month

3) To create a room for every Ron Paul Meet-up group and meet as often as you would want

The benefits:

1) Communications [quick accurate information flow]

2) Organization by the grass roots [there are no leader’s just organizers]

3) Consistency [when a great idea works it can be duplicated by others quickly]

4) Action [if action by the all is required we can act quickly]

5) Record your meetings and post them on your meet-up page

6) Growth – because the pal-talk community is in the millions people will enter our rooms for curiosity and we will develop new membership and we can direct them to a local meet-up group

6) Much, much more

Logical locations of the rooms:

* [category] Social Issues & Politics

* [sub-category] Government & Politics

* [rooms] New York for Ron Paul

New Jersey for Ron Paul

Pennsylvania for Ron Paul

Montana for Ron Paul

California for Ron Paul

– etc -

Ron Paul Meet up 695

Ron Paul Meet up 696

Ron Paul Meet up 697

Ron Paul Meet up 698

– etc -

We the People [National Room]

Information is power and the opportunity for growth here on pal-talk is phenomenal. I hope you see the potential of this program and join us. Because the rooms have a limit (200 people) we will reach a point where we will have to pay a reasonable monthly fee we will take up a collection maybe $1 per person per month to pay the fee. But until then it’s free.

CHOOSING A SCREEN NAME: – You can use your given name or a made up screen name but you should add your meet-up group number at the end of your screen name so we can appreciate where everyone is from

The [small] software to be downloaded to join us is un-intrusive and safe. I have been a member of the pal-talk community since January of 2001 and I can attest that it is safe.

You can download the small un-intrusive and safe software at www.paltalk.com

WHERE TO FIND US: > [category > Social Issues & Politics] [sub-category > Government & Politics] [room > We The People]

Anyone who plans on attending our meeting should download pal-talk now and familiarize your self with it in head of time, check out this amazing on-line community.

Thank you for your time and we hope to see you Friday 3-14-08 at 7:30 PM EST for our first meeting. We will be opening the room at 6:30 PM EST to show a one hour film called Hidden Agenda, an amazing interview of Congressmen Norman Dodd [who passed away in 1988] and his involvement on the Reese committee in the 1950’s where he uncovered a conspiracy within our “servant” government to bring in a new world order and destroy our constitutional government hosted by G. Edward Griffin. The film is about 55 min and reveals a very important piece of missing American history. Please feel free to share this communiqué with your neighboring meet-up groups regardless of their location.

John Vidurek

Ron Paul Dutchess County Meet-up 695 Organizer

Ron Paul Precinct Leader for Hyde Park NY

Ron Paul Delegate

www.Vote2008RonPaul.com

Livable Neighborhood Program: A handbook for neighborhood organizers

This book looks like a great handbook about how to create a livable neighborhood. Written by the same authors as the READY SET GO book about emergency preparedness for neighborhoods, they draw upon decades of experience in delivering citizen and neighborhood empowerment programs for cities throughout the U.S.

This statement about the book is very powerful:

“It is the premise of this program that livable neighborhoods come from we the people. The kind of neighborhood we all want to live in has an endless number of potential supporters and partners, because everyone benefits from them. But the primary responsibility for creating them rests with neighbors.”

I am also inspired by the following statement, because I have noticed that the main problem with getting people involved is inspiring them to prioritize the time to take action. If this book can help with that problem, that is 95% of the problem!

“The driver of the program is Empowerment Institute’s state-of-the-art knowledge of what it takes to motivate group action. The secret: clear incentive, immediate reward. This proven methodology incorporates a structured format linking grassroots effort with government services and civic and business leadership.”

Wow! Sounds almost too good to be true, yes? I am looking forward to ordering this book and being able to implement the ideas. At this point in time, though, all I have is this description which I think you will find to be helpful and insightful just in itself:

Program Overview Why A Livable Neighborhood Program? Much has been written about neighborhoods as the organizing principle in community development. This is where concerns about quality of life are tangible and a sense of pride is easily established. As a consequence, initiatives designed to work at the neighborhood level have great potential to capture peoples’ imagination and sustain participation. Neighborhood initiatives are also attractive because they awaken a sense of community. The Livable Neighborhood Program is designed to coalesce these different strands into an effective neighborhood empowerment tool to assist local government and non-profits in delivering services and improving the overall livability of the community. The program concept is simple and builds directly on Empowerment Institute’s two decades of experience in designing and delivering citizen and neighborhood empowerment programs for municipalities throughout the United States. About Making Life Better on the Street Where You Live… This program uses the mysterious power of numbers. If you think about it, community “social problems” are caused by a lot of little causes. These causes add up to big effects that are too large for us to manage alone. When we work together, however, things change. The greater our cooperation, the greater the impact of our efforts. This is a formula for taking the leverage away from problems and giving it to people, one neighborhood at a time. While the Livable Neighborhood Program will help communities fix what’s broken at the grassroots level, more than that it will help neighbors create their neighborhood into the kind of place they’d like it to be. Too often, neighborhoods wait for the appropriate government agency to show up and fix what ails them. Meanwhile, government at every level is being stressed because we the people demand that more be done with less. The backbone of the Livable Neighborhood Program is a detailed menu of actions that everyone can take in any neighborhood setting — urban, suburban or rural. Its purpose is to help citizens take the steps they can on their own while at the same time interacting with local government as efficiently as possible. It is designed so that any level of activity will produce benefits, but also so that success snowballs. Clearly, the ideal situation combines energetic grassroots initiative with strong partnerships with government, community service organizations and businesses. It is the premise of this program that livable neighborhoods come from we the people. The kind of neighborhood we all want to live in has an endless number of potential supporters and partners, because everyone benefits from them. But the primary responsibility for creating them rests with neighbors. The driver of the program is Empowerment Institute’s state-of-the-art knowledge of what it takes to motivate group action. The secret: clear incentive, immediate reward. This proven methodology incorporates a structured format linking grassroots effort with government services and civic and business leadership. It’s easy to implement. It’s enjoyable to take part in. Neighborhoods that follow the simple instructions will become: safer, healthier, quieter, prettier, friendlier, more entertaining, more economical, better places to raise kids and kinder to the environment. How The Program Works The Livable Neighborhood Program consists of four topic areas: health and safety, beautification and greening, resource sharing and neighborhood building. Each topic area has an assessment to gauge the livability of that aspect of the neighborhood and 8-10 carefully crafted actions. The program also includes an easy to use meeting format and planning guide for taking the actions. Neighbors form teams of 5-8 households and meet seven times over a 4 month period to carry out the actions they choose. When contracted by a city, EI will link the actions to local municipal, non-profit and business programs and services. Beneficiaries of the Program Along with neighborhood residents and various municipal and non-profit service delivery agencies, other beneficiaries include property owners, developers, realtors, businesses, chambers of commerce, economic development councils and places of worship. Cost and Implementation This depends on the scale in which a municipality or non-profit wishes to implement the program. It can be done intensively over a shorter period of time or gradually over a longer period of time. To assure maximum accountability for results, EI is able to manage the program with trained local field staff. Another way of working is to provide program materials, training and consultation to an organization’s staff. The program is designed to be of maximum flexibility based on budget and outreach goals. For more information about the Livable Neighborhood Program please contact: Empowerment Institute PO Box 428 Woodstock, New York 12498 Tel: (845) 246-6290 Fax: (845) 246-6291 E-mail: info@empowermentinstitute.net Livable Neighborhood Program full color, illustrated brochure: Click Here to download in PDF form. (requires Adobe®Acrobat® Reader)

Government and Community Leaders Speak About The Livable Neighborhood Program: “Through the Livable Neighborhood Program neighbors are taking specific actions to make their homes and their blocks better places to live. The City is re-inventing itself through my Neighborhood Transformation Initiative and the Livable Neighborhood Program fits perfectly. Transformation is not merely about building new houses and offices, because those structures will crumble and fall if not maintained, transformation is not just getting the City to clean vacant lots, for lots can be filled all over again with trash if the City and its citizens cannot work with one another. The Livable Neighborhood Program serves to enlighten citizens on how to better maintain their homes and neighborhood blocks to improve the quality of life. Simply said: Livable Neighborhood Program is a winner.” John Street, Mayor, City of Philadelphia “I have been personally struck by the remarkable effectiveness of Livable Neighborhood Program’s ability to engage neighbors and empower them to take and sustain action on a block level. Through our work with the Livable Neighborhood Program, I have become absolutely convinced that the program’s state-of-the-art “social technology” has immense potential here in Philadelphia, throughout the Commonwealth, and across the country to transform individual behavior and neighborhoods.” Christopher Patusky, Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, Fels School of Government, University of Pennsylvania “The Livable Neighborhood program serves to empower people by providing them tools to successfully improve their neighborhoods. The program creates accountability between the city and its citizens, creating a win-win civic compact. In today’s world it is so hopeful to find a program like this… a great service to our communities.” Kathleen A. McGinty, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection “The Livable Neighborhood Program is a cutting edge tool for municipal officials and neighborhood organizers. It is comprehensive, easy to use, and provides a common sense approach to building stronger and more livable neighborhoods. The hands-on exercises will help neighbors translate their needs and visions into practical and tangible results.” Elton Gatewood, President, Neighborhood, USA (NUSA), Coordinator, Neighborhood Council Office, City of Tacoma, WA “I reviewed the Livable Neighborhood Program with community organizers in Madison. They were unanimously enthusiastic about it’s action-oriented grassroots approach. They saw it as a low cost and effective blueprint for neighborhood empowerment. We used an almost identical blueprint to develop and grow Empowerment Institute’s very successful EcoTeam movement in the Madison area. Everyone who reviewed the Livable Neighborhood Program is eager to get it started in our community. They really liked it!” Mark Miller State Representative State of Wisconsin “The Livable Neighborhood Program is an excellent tool for local municipalities. It empowers neighbors and puts them in control of creating their neighborhood into a connected and safe community. There are activities in the program that fit the needs of almost any type of neighborhood and that is really appealing to us as a city!” John Stufflebean, Director Kansas City Department of Environmental Management Kansas City, MO “I like it…I like the fact that you have set down in one place many of the things that a neighborhood can do together that can have so many benefits.” Karl Bren Non-Profit Affairs Director Virginia Housing Development Authority, State of Virginia “I like the topic groupings, the format and the writing style. Collectively the actions in each section fit together as a whole. Overall it is a very strong and effective program.” Dana Warner Health Education Program Planner Columbus Health Department Columbus, Ohio “I see the Livable Neighborhood Program as a blueprint to bring measurable improvement to households, neighborhoods and our environment – city wide. What is great about the program is that everyone, neighbor-to-neighbor is working together and taking responsibility to keep the environment not only beautiful but clean and safe for each new generation.” State Senator Shirley Kitchen, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania “The Livable Neighborhood Program empowers citizens to take personal responsibility for the communities in which they live. It makes a real difference in the lives of many. I am pleased that the program is serving as a model for other cities and proud EPA is part of such an important and worthy program.” Donald S. Welsh, Regional Administrator, US EPA Region III

Livable Neighborhood Workbook Introduction A Kind of Magic This program uses the mysterious power of numbers. It’s a power that could reverse the leverage of most of society’s challenges. By harnessing this power we can make our lives better. No matter where we live. No matter what our circumstances. If you think about it, community “social problems” are caused by a lot of little causes. These causes add up to big effects that are too large for us to manage alone. After all, what can we do about giant issues like air pollution, illegal drugs, earthquakes and hurricanes, the welfare of children, the general health of the environment? By ourselves, not much. When we work together, however, things change. The greater our cooperation, the greater the impact of our efforts. This is a formula for taking the leverage away from problems and giving it to people, one neighborhood at a time. A Tale of Two Neighborhoods Pretend for a moment that you’ve been house hunting. After much searching you’ve narrowed your choices to two different houses in two different neighborhoods. Let’s say the houses are so similar you can’t choose between them based on the usual considerations—size, condition, yard, location, etc. Six of one, half-dozen of the other. Also assume that the neighborhoods would be identical, except for one thing. One of the neighborhoods—let’s call it “Neighborhood A”—has a certain appeal you can’t quite put your finger on. It’s just a little neater, somehow gives off a “cared-for” feeling. And those times you drove through it… was it just your imagination, or did there seem to be an unusual amount of visiting going on among neighbors? Let’s say your curiosity got the better of you. What if, in your attempt to understand the elusive difference between these two neighborhoods, you introduced yourself to a few of the residents of both places. And what if you learned from the residents of “Neighborhood A” that they participated in a program which makes theirs an unusually nice place to live? Just a really pleasant and secure setting. And not for material reasons, either. What if you discovered that the secret of “Neighborhood A” was a sort of invisible infrastructure, a web of rich and helpful relationships? All other things being equal, which neighborhood do you suppose you’ll choose? What Is The Livable Neighborhood Program? This program is based on a state-of-the-art understanding of what it takes to change individual and group behavior. The secret: clear incentive, immediate reward. The process uses a proven methodology that incorporates a highly structured format linking grassroots effort with government services and business and civic leadership. It’s easy to implement. It’s enjoyable to take part in. Neighborhoods that follow the simple instructions will make themselves: Safer Healthier Quieter Prettier Friendlier More entertaining More economical Better places to raise kids Kinder to the environment Benefits and Beneficiaries: Partners, Partners Everywhere It’s hard to imagine a more classic example of win/win possibilities than the Livable Neighborhood Program. Ask yourself, “Who doesn’t benefit from livable neighborhoods?” and it’s hard to come up with an answer. Ask, “Who does?” and the answer looks like this: Residents of all ages, of course Property owners Developers (livable neighborhoods are easier to market) Realtors (homes in livable neighborhoods are easier to sell) Businesses (livable neighborhoods house secure customers and happy workers) Chambers of commerce and economic development councils (companies like to locate in livable areas) Schools (livable neighborhoods make for happier students) Places of worship (livable neighborhoods inspire devotion) Police (livable neighborhoods have less crime) Government (livable neighborhoods are easier to serve) Posterity (livable neighborhoods pass on priceless gifts) Where Livable Neighborhoods Come From, Really… It is the premise of this program that livable neighborhoods come from… well, from we the people. The kind of neighborhood we all want to live in has an endless number of potential supporters and partners, because everyone benefits from them. But the primary responsibility for creating them rests with neighbors. It’s important to understand this, because these days those on the front lines of neighborhood development stress that one of the biggest obstacles is epidemic “entitlement mentality.” We’ve become a society that expects government to take care of everything. When it comes to building strong neighborhoods, that’s a little like expecting government to exercise for us, or eat healthy food for us. Too often, neighborhoods wait for the appropriate government agency to show up and fix what ails them. Meanwhile, government at every level is being stressed because we the people demand that more be done with less. The backbone of the Livable Neighborhood Program is a detailed menu of actions that everyone can take in any neighborhood setting—urban, suburban or rural. Its purpose is to help citizens take the steps they can on their own while at the same time interacting with local government as efficiently as possible. It is designed so that any level of activity will produce benefits, but also so that success snowballs. Clearly, the ideal situation combines energetic grassroots initiative with strong partnerships with government, businesses and community service organizations. The program is also designed to take advantage of the natural process of social change. Research shows that breakthrough ideas at first tend to be picked up by only about 15 percent of the population. These “early adopters” blaze a trail that is soon recognized as beneficial by the next 35 percent of the public. Sociologists call this second group the “early majority.” Once these two leadership groups show the way, the “late majority,” another 35 percent of the population, follows. For a variety of reasons, sometimes as much as 15 percent of the public never goes along with useful change, but that’s okay. As long as what most of society is doing makes sense, the majority carries the day. And Who Needs Livable Neighborhoods, Anyway? The problem is, many traits of modern neighborhoods don’t make sense anymore. It’s not just that there are too many problems. It’s that too many opportunities are being missed. While the Livable Neighborhood Program is intended to help communities fix what’s broken at the grassroots level, more than that it’s meant to help neighbors create and act on their own visions of how they can transform their neighborhood into the kind of place they’d like it to be. A generation ago, only impoverished neighborhoods in the grip of urban decay — the “Hell’s Kitchens” of the world — were considered troubled. These days it is understood that no geographic or socioeconomic setting is immune from challenges. Sociologists tell us that modern lifestyles carry burdens of isolation that cost us dearly. The loss of “social capital” — which basically translates into networks of helpful relationships and good will with those around us — can be more than unfortunate. It can be toxic. Nowhere is this more true than in the neighborhoods we call home. In the aftermath of the April 1999 shooting that left 15 students dead at Littleton, Colorado’s Columbine High School, New York writer Lakis Polycarpou laid part of the blame for the tragedy on the emotionally barren life in Littleton. Polycarpou graduated from Columbine High in the early ‘90s, and in a May 10, 1999 Washington Post opinion piece he faulted the media for failing to probe the social roots of such terrible violence. He wrote: “We are unlikely to hear much of that kind of analysis, because it would indict something much deeper than action movies or the gun culture. It would blame suburban society and the inherent alienation in places like Littleton, where culture and community are either a function of monotonous consumption or dispensable altogether… “I always pictured community as something that happened anywhere but in a place like the Littleton area. We never knew our neighbors, except in passing; we certainly never had a social connection to them. Children rarely played outside on the street… As far as I know, no one in my family ever joined a ‘neighborhood community’ anything in the area. There was no pool, no ice rink, no town square in the area around Columbine. Neighbors moved into homes and then moved out, and it was often some time before you realized the people next door were new… “My neighborhood was the apotheosis of a bedroom community, where shiny new automobiles slipped quietly in and out of their automatic-door garages and there was never any need to step past your mailbox.” Clearly, that is not the description of a livable neighborhood. As you’ll see, the step-by-step recommendations set forth in this program will not only create specific tangible results of a kind most people would prefer, they will make such profound disconnection with neighbors impossible. How the Program Works 1. The program is divided into 4 topics: neighborhood health and safety, neighborhood greening and beautification, neighborhood resource sharing, and neighborhood building. 2. Neighbors form a team and meet 7 times over a 4-month period taking actions to improve the livability of the neighborhood. Some actions will be done in this timeframe, others will extend into the future. 3. In each topic area the team chooses the actions it wishes to pursue, divides up responsibilities, creates a plan and takes action. 4. Each topic area has an assessment to gauge the livability of that aspect of the neighborhood and carefully crafted actions to maximize the team’s effectiveness. 5. The program includes an easy-to-use meeting format and planning guide for taking the actions. Have fun as you make life better on the street where you live!

Neighbor Week: Sign up now to join a world wide movement of neighborhood enrichment

Click here to view video clips from Frank Capra’s Film Meet John Doe

I am so excited about this! I plan on joining with these folks in their efforts to transform neighborhoods in to thriving, self-reliant communities. I hope you will too! Here is an excerpt from their website: http://www.itstimereno.org/neighbor.asp

What started in Northen Nevada has become a national event with activities now happening in other states.
Neighbor Day 2007 has grown to more than 65 gatherings with over 2,000 people involved. Doing a gathering is really only a kick off to long-term, daily efforts to be a light to others by building community right where you live and being of service.

We hope to release a chain reaction of love that can shift each of our communities (and eventually the
world) to a new level of cooperation and peace. Click Here to Read, World Peace Begins With Your Neighbor

We are going global in 2008 with the last week of June being Neighbor week. Imagine gatherings in every city around the planet – as part of a long-term practical effort to renew our society starting from the bottom up. You can be apart of this exciting transformation – sign up below!

Register Your 2008 Event		Neighbor Day Pointers	Media Stories
Audio & Video Clips		37 Ways to Build Community
New John Doe Club