The paper Should be 3 double-spaced, type written pages with 12 point font with 1” margin pages, MUST Include the following:-#Introduction: should have what the paper is going to say plus the clear

PA RT O NE

The F ab ric o f C om munit y

T he s o cia l f a bric

o f c o m munity i s f o rm ed f r o m a n e xp and in g s h are d s e nse o f b elo ngin g. I t i s

s h ap ed b y th e i d ea th at o nly w hen w e a re c o nnecte d a nd c are f o r th e w ell- b ein g o f th e w ho le

t h at a c iv il a nd d em ocra ti c s o cie ty i s c re ate d . I t i s l ik e th e B odhis a ttv a b elie f th at n o t o ne o f u s

c an e nte r N ir v ana u nti l a ll o th ers h av e g o ne b efo re u s.

What i s e xtr a o rd in ary a p pears to u s a s a h ab it, th e d aw n a d aily r o uti n e o f n atu re .

Abra ham J o sh ua H esc hel

What m akes c o m munity b uild in g s o c o m ple x i s th at i t o ccurs i n a n i n fin ite n um ber o f s m all

s te p s, s o m eti m es i n q uie t m om ents th at w e n o ti c e o ut o f th e c o rn er o f o ur e ye. I t c alls f o r u s to

t r e at a s i m porta nt m any th in gs th at w e th o ught w ere i n cid enta l. A n a fte rth o ught b eco m es th e

p oin t; a c o m ment m ad e i n p assin g d efin es w ho w e a re m ore th an a ll th at c am e b efo re . I f th e

a rti s t i s o ne w ho c ap tu re s th e n uance o f e xp erie nce, th en th is i s w ho m e ach o f u s m ust b eco m e.

T he n eed to s e e th ro ugh th e e yes o f th e a rti s t r e fle cts

th e i n ti m ate n atu re o f c o m munity , e v en i f

i t i s o ccurrin g a m ong l a rg e g ro up s o f p eo ple .

The k ey to c re ati n g o r tr a nsfo rm in g c o m munity , th en, i s to s e e th e p ow er i n th e s m all b ut

i m porta nt e le m ents o f b ein g w ith o th ers . T he s h ift w e s e ek n eed s to b e e m bodie d i n e ach

i n v ita ti o n w e m ake, e ach r e la ti o nsh ip w e e nco unte r, a nd e ach m eeti n g w e a tte nd . F or a t th e

m ost o pera ti o nal a nd p ra cti c al l e v el, a fte r a ll th e th in kin g a b out p olic y, s tr a te gy, m is sio n, a nd

m ile sto nes, i t g ets d ow n to th is : H ow a re w e g o in g to b e w hen w e g ath er to geth er?

What th is m eans i s th at th eo ry d ev olv es d ow n to th ese e v ery d ay q uesti o ns o ut o f w hic h

c o m munity i s a ctu ally l iv ed : W ho m d o I c ho ose to i n v ite i n to th e r o om ? W hat i s th e

c o nv ers a ti o n th at I b oth b eco m e a nd e ngage i n w ith th o se p eo ple ? A nd w hen th ere a re m ore

t h an tw o o f u s to geth er a t th e s a m e ti m e, h o w d o w e c re ate a c o m munal s tr u ctu re th at m oves th e

a cti o n f o rw ard ?

It i s i n th ese k in d s o f q uesti o ns th at a cco unta b ility i s c ho se n a nd c are f o r th e w ell- b ein g o f

t h e w ho le i s e m bodie d . I n d iv id ual tr a nsfo rm ati o n i s n o t th e p oin t; w eav in g a nd s tr e ngth enin g

t h e f a b ric o f c o m munity i s a c o lle cti v e e ffo rt a nd s ta rts f r o m a s h ift i n o ur m in d se t a b out o ur

c o nnecte d ness. Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

CH APT ER 1

In sig h ts in to T ra n sfo rm atio n

Socia l f a bric i s c re a te d

o ne r o om a t a t im e. I t i s f o rm ed f r o m s m all s te p s t h at a sk “ W ho

do w e w ant i n t h e r o om ?” a nd “ W hat i s t h e n ew c o nversa tio n t h at w e w ant t o o ccu r? ”

In c o m munity b uild in g, w e c h oose t h e p eo ple a nd t h e c o nversa tio n t h at w ill p ro duce t h e

acco unta bility t o b uild r e la te d ness, s tr u ctu re b elo ngin g, a nd m ove t h e a ctio n f o rw ard .

A s e rie s o f c o re i n sig hts i n fo rm s u s h ow t o a nsw er t h ese q uestio ns. T hese i n sig hts

in clu de i d ea s o n f o cu sin g o n g ifts , o n a sso cia tio nal l ife , a nd o n t h e w ay a ll

tr a nsfo rm atio n o ccu rs t h ro ugh l a nguage. A ls o c ritic a l a re i n sig hts a bout t h e c o nte xt

th at g overn s t h e c o nversa tio ns a nd t h e w illin gness t o s p ea k i n to t h e f u tu re .

Tw o a dditio nal s tr a nds i n t h e f a bric o f c o m munity e xp lo re d h ere a re t h e n eed f o r

ea ch s m all s te p t o c a ptu re a q uality o f a liv en ess a nd t h e n eed f o r i t t o e vo lv e i n a n

org anic w ay. T here i s a n e sta blis h ed m eth od f o r a cco m plis h in g t h is a liv en ess t h at v a lu es

all v o ic es i n t h e r o om , u se s t h e s m all g ro up e ven i n l a rg e g ath erin gs, a nd r e co gniz e s

th at a cco unta bility g ro w s o ut o f t h e a ct o f c o cre a tio n. T he e sse n ce o f c re a tin g a n

alte rn ativ e f u tu re c o m es f r o m c itiz e n -to -c itiz e n e n gagem en t t h at f o cu se s a t e a ch s te p o n

th e w ell- b ein g o f t h e w hole .

• • •

M ajo r i n flu ences o n th e b elie f s y ste m u nd erly in g th is m eth o dolo gy o f c o m munal tr a nsfo rm ati o n

c o m e f r o m s e v era l d is c ip lin es a nd p eo ple w ho se w ork h as b een r a d ic al i n m any w ays; th eir

i n sig hts a re f o und ati o nal f o r o ur p urp ose s. T here a re m any o th ers w ho i n fo rm u s a nd

are

m enti o ned i n th is b ook, b ut th ese f iv e to uch th e c o re : J o hn M cK nig ht, W ern er E rh ard , R obert

P utn am , C hris to pher A le xand er, a nd P ete rK oeste nb aum . T he s ix th c o lle cti o n o f i n sig hts i s f r o m

a g ro up o f w iz a rd s w ho h av e g iv en l ife to l a rg e g ro up m eth o dolo gie s— so m e o f w ho m a re

M arv in W eis b ord , K ath ie D annem ille r, D ic k a nd E m ily A xelr o d, C aro ly n L ukensm eyer,

B arb ara B unker, B illie A lb an, a nd J u anita B ro w n.

There a re tw o m ore p eo ple w ho se i n sig hts a re i m porta nt to u nd ers ta nd in g h o w th e w orld

c hanges. O ne i s D av id B orn ste in . H is b ook

How t o C hange t h e W orld

a naly ze s n in e s o cia l

e ntr e p re neurs w ho c re ate d l a rg e s o cia l m ovem ents a ro und th e g lo be. D av id ’s s u m mary o f w hy

t h ey w ere s u ccessfu l i s w orth o ur a tte nti o n. F in ally , I to o b rie fly i n clu d e th e th in kin g o f A lla n

C ohen. H e tr a nsla te s th e w orld o f e m erg ence a nd c o m ple x a d ap ti v e s y ste m s i n to l a nguage th at

o nce i n a w hile I b egin to th in k I u nd ers ta nd .

I c ho se a ll o f th ese p eo ple b ecause I p ers o nally k no w m ost o f th em a nd th ey a re th e o nes

w ho h av e s h aken m y o w n th in kin g; th eir i d eas h av e, f o r m e, e nd ure d th e te st o f ti m e a nd

e xp erie nce.

What f o llo w s i s a s u m mary o f th e a sp ects o f th ese p eo ple ’s w ork th at a re u se fu l to th is

e nte rp ris e . I ’ ll s u m mariz e th eir i n sig hts b rie fly a nd th en w eav e th em th ro ugho ut th e r e st o f th e

b ook. Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

The M cK nig ht I n sig hts : G if ts , A sso cia tio nal L if e , a nd P ow er

Jo hn M cK nig ht i s a l e ad in g l ig ht i n th e w orld o f u nd ers ta nd in g th e n atu re o f c o m munity a nd

what b uild s i t. T hre e o f h is i n sig hts h av e p erm anentl y c hanged m y th in kin g.

Focu s o n g if ts .

F ir s t a nd f o re m ost, h e a sse rts th at c o m munity i s b uilt b y f o cusin g o n

peo ple ’s g ifts r a th er th an th eir d efic ie ncie s. I n th e w orld o f c o m munity a nd v olu nte eris m ,

defic ie ncie s h av e n o m ark et v alu e; g ifts a re th e p oin t. C iti z e ns i n c o m munity w ant to k no w

what y o u c an d o, n o t w hat y o u c an’t d o.

In th e p ro fe ssio nal w orld o f s e rv ic e p ro vid ers , w ho le i n d ustr ie s h av e b een b uilt o n

peo ple ’s d efic ie ncie s. S ocia l s e rv ic e a nd m ost o f m ed ic in e,

th era p y, a nd p sy cho lo gy a re

org aniz e d a ro und w hat i s m is sin g o r b ro ken i n p eo ple .

McK nig ht p oin ts o ut th at i f y o u g o to a p ro fe ssio nal s e rv ic e p ro vid er a nd s a y y o u h av e n o

defic ie ncie s o r p ro ble m s, th at y o u j u st w ant to ta lk a b out y o ur g ifts a nd ta le nts , y o u w ill b e

sh o w n th e d oor a nd tr e ate d a s th o ugh y o u a re w asti n g th eir ti m e. G o to a n a sso cia ti o n, o r a

gro up o f n eig hb ors , a nd te ll th em w hat y o ur c ap ab iliti e s a re , a nd th ey g et q uite i n te re ste d .

This i n sig ht i s p ro fo und i f ta ken s e rio usly , f o r i t e lim in ate s m ost o f th e c o nv ers a ti o ns w e

no w h av e a b out p ro ble m d ia gno sis , g ap a naly sis ( if y o u d o n o t k no w w hat th is i s , b e g ra te fu l) ,

weaknesse s, a nd w hat’ s w ro ng w ith m e, y o u, a nd th e r e st o f th e w orld . I t a ls o u nd ers c o re s th e

lim ita ti o n o f l a b elin g p eo ple . M cK nig ht k no w s th at th e a ct o f l a b elin g, i ts e lf, i s w hat

dim in is h es th e c ap acity o f p eo ple to f u lfill th eir p ote nti a l. I f w e c are a b out tr a nsfo rm ati o n, th en

we w ill s ta y f o cuse d o n g ifts , to s u ch a n e xte nt th at o ur w ork b eco m es to s im ply b rin g th e g ifts

of th o se o n th e m arg in i n to th e c ente r.

Jo hn’s f o cus o n g ifts h as l e d to h is f o und in g a w orld w id e m ovem ent c alle d A sse t- B ase d

Com munity D ev elo pm ent. S im ply p ut, th is m ovem ent d ecla re s th at i f w e w ant to m ake

co m muniti e s s tr o nger, w e s h o uld s tu d y th eir a sse ts , r e so urc es, a nd ta le nts . I t i s i n th e a tte nti o n

to th ese th in gs th at s o m eth in g n ew c an o ccur.

Asso cia tio nal lif e .

T he s e co nd i n sig ht th at i s r e le v ant h ere i s a b out th e l im ita ti o ns o f

sy ste m s. J o hn s e es a s y ste m a s a n o rg aniz e d g ro up o f f u nd ed a nd w ell- re so urc ed p ro fe ssio nals

who o pera te i n th e d om ain o f c ase s, c lie nts , a nd s e rv ic es. A s s o on a s y o u p ro fe ssio naliz e c are ,

yo u h av e p ro duced a n o xym oro n. H e s a ys th at s y ste m s a re c ap ab le o f s e rv ic e b ut n o t c are . T alk

to a ny p oor p ers o n o r v uln era b le p ers o n a nd th ey c an g iv e y o u a l o ng l is t o f th e s e rv ic es th ey

hav e r e ceiv ed . T hey a re w ell s e rv ic ed , b ut y o u o fte n h av e to a sk w hat i n th eir l ife h as

fu nd am enta lly c hanged .

The a lte rn ati v e to a “ sy ste m ” i s w hat J o hn c alls “ asso cia ti o nal l ife ”: g ro up s o f p eo ple

volu nta rily c o m in g to geth er to d o s o m e g o od. I n th e d is a b iliti e s w orld , J o hn’s w ork h as b een

enth usia sti c ally r e ceiv ed . T his h as l e d to a w id esp re ad e ffo rt to ta ke p eo ple w ith v is ib le

dis a b iliti e s o ut o f i n sti tu ti o ns a nd s y ste m s a nd b rin g th em b ack i n to n eig hb orh o ods. S up port

gro up s a re c re ate d , s lo w ly , v olu nta rily , w ith a l o t o f p ho ne c alls a nd r e q uests , s o

th at o rd in ary

citi z e ns c o m e to geth er to s u p port th eir n ew n eig hb ors . T his s tr a te gy b rin gs g enero sity b ack i n to

a n eig hb orh o od, a nd i n th e d oin g, c iti z e ns w ho se d is a b iliti e s a re h id den ( a ll o f u s) e xp erie nce Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

a tr a nsfo rm ati o n i n th eir o w n l iv es.

Pow er in o ur h ands.

T he th ir d i n sig ht f o r c o m munity b uild in g i s J o hn’s f a ith i n c iti z e ns to

id enti fy a nd s o lv e p ro ble m s f o r th em se lv es. H e f in d s th at m ost s u sta in ab le i m pro vem ents i n

co m munity o ccur w hen c iti z e ns d is c o ver th eir o w n p ow er to a ct. W hate v er th e s y m pto m —

dru gs, d ete rio ra ti n g h o use s, p oor e co no m y, d is p la cem ent, v io le nce— it i s w hen c iti z e ns s to p

waiti n g f o r p ro fe ssio nals o r e le cte d l e ad ers h ip to d o s o m eth in g, a nd d ecid e th ey c an r e cla im

what th ey h av e d ele gate d to o th ers , th at th in gs r e ally h ap pen. T his a ct o f p ow er i s p re se nt i n

most s to rie s o f l a sti n g c o m munity i m pro vem ent a nd c hange.

To s u m mariz e th ese i n sig hts f r o m th e w ork o f J o hn M cK nig ht a nd h is p artn er, J o dy

Kre tz m ann: C om muniti e s a re b uilt f r o m th e a sse ts a nd g ifts o f th eir c iti z e ns, n o t f r o m th e

citi z e ns’ n eed s o r d efic ie ncie s. O rg aniz e d , p ro fe ssio naliz e d s y ste m s a re c ap ab le o f d eliv erin g

se rv ic es, b ut o nly a sso cia ti o nal l ife i s c ap ab le o f d eliv erin g c are . S usta in ab le tr a nsfo rm ati o n

is c o nstr u cte d i n th o se p la ces w here c iti z e ns c ho ose to c o m e to geth er to p ro duce a d esir e d

fu tu re .

The E rh ard I n sig hts : T he P ow er o f L anguage, C onte xt, a nd P ossib ilit y

For o ver 3 0 y ears , W ern er E rh ard h as c re ate d th in kin g a nd l e arn in g e xp erie nces th at h av e

affe cte d m illio ns o f p eo ple ’s l iv es. M any o f th e i d eas h e h as w ork ed w ith d eriv e f r o m th e

work o f o th ers , b ut W ern er h as n am ed a nd i n te gra te d th em i n to s o m eth in g m ore p ow erfu l th an

where th e th in kin g b egan. H is w ork l iv es th ro ugh th e L and m ark C orp ora ti o n a nd o th er

lic ense es. W hat I w ant to s e le ct f r o m h is w ork h ere i s a s m all p art o f h is l e gacy, b ut th ese a re

th e i d eas th at h av e c hanged m y p ra cti c e.

The p ow er o f la nguage.

W ern er u nd ers ta nd s th e p rim al c re ati v e n atu re o f l a nguage. M any

of u s h av e f o cuse d f o r y ears o n i m pro vin g c o nv ers a ti o ns.

We h av e k no w n th at d ia lo gue a nd

co m munic ati o n a re i m porta nt to ols f o r i m pro vem ent. W ern er ta kes i t to a w ho le n ew r e alm b y

asse rti n g th at a ll tr a nsfo rm ati o n i s l in guis ti c .

He b elie v es th at a s h ift i n s p eakin g a nd l is te nin g i s th e e sse nce o f tr a nsfo rm ati o n. I f w e h av e

any d esir e to c re ate a n a lte rn ati v e f u tu re , i t i s o nly g o in g to h ap pen th ro ugh a s h ift i n o ur

la nguage. I f w e w ant a c hange i n c ultu re , f o r e xam ple , th e w ork i s to c hange th e c o nv ers a ti o n—

or, m ore p re cis e ly , to h av e a c o nv ers a ti o n th at w e h av e n o t h ad b efo re , o ne th at h as th e p ow er

to c re ate s o m eth in g n ew i n th e w orld . T his i n sig ht f o rc es u s to q uesti o n th e v alu e o f o ur

sto rie s, th e p ositi o ns w e ta ke, o ur l o ve o f th e p ast, a nd o ur w ay o f b ein g i n th e w orld .

The p ow er o f c o nte xt.

A no th er i n sig ht i s i n th e s ta te m ent, “ T he c o nte xt i s d ecis iv e.” T his

means th at th e w ay w e f u ncti o n i s p ow erfu lly i m pacte d b y o ur w orld vie w , o r th e w ay, i n h is

la nguage, “ th e w orld s h o w s u p f o r u s.” N oth in g i n o ur d oin g o r th e w ay w e g o th ro ugh l ife w ill

sh ift u nti l w e c an q uesti o n, a nd th en c ho ose o nce a gain , th e b asic s e t o f b elie fs — so m e c all i t

menta l m odels ; w e’re c allin g i t c o nte xt h ere — th at l ie b ehin d o ur a cti o ns. Q uo ti n g W ern er,

“C onte xts a re c o nsti tu te d i n l a nguage, s o w e d o h av e s o m eth in g to s a y a b out th e c o nte xts th at

lim it a nd s h ap e o ur a cti o ns.” Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

Im plie d i n th is i n sig ht i s th at w e h av e a c ho ic e o ver th e c o nte xt w ith in w hic h w e l iv e. P lu s,

as a n a d ded b arg ain , w e c an c ho ose a c o nte xt th at b ette r s u its w ho w e a re n o w w ith o ut th e

usu al r e q uir e m ents o f y ears o f i n ner w ork , a l ife -th re ate nin g c ris is , f in d in g a n ew r e la ti o nsh ip ,

or g o in g b ack to s c ho ol ( th e m ost c o m mon tr a nsfo rm ati o nal te chno lo gie s o f c ho ic e).

The w ay th is h ap pens ( m ad e to o s im ple h ere ) i s b y c hangin g o ur r e la ti o nsh ip w ith o ur p ast.

We d o th is b y r e aliz in g, th ro ugh a p ro cess o f r e fle cti o n a nd r e th in kin g, h o w w e h av e n o t

co m ple te d o ur p ast a nd u nin te nti o nally k eep b rin gin g i t i n to th e f u tu re . T he s h ift h ap pens w hen

we p ay c lo se a tte nti o n to th e c o nstr a in ts o f o ur l is te nin g a nd a ccep t th e f a ct th at o ur s to rie s a re

our l im ita ti o n. T his u lti m ate ly c re ate s a n o penin g f o r a n ew f u tu re to o ccur.

The p ow er o f p ossib ilit y .

C hangin g o ur r e la ti o nsh ip s w ith o ur p ast l e ad s to a no th er a sp ect

of l a nguage th at W ern er h as c are fu lly d ev elo ped . T his i s a n u nd ers ta nd in g o f th e p ote nti a l i n

th e c o ncep t a nd u se o f

possib ility

. P ossib ility a s u se d h ere i s d is ti n guis h ed f r o m o th er w ord s

lik e

vis io n

goals

purp ose

, a nd

destin y

. E ach o f th o se h as i ts o w n p ro fo und m eanin g, b ut a ll

are d iffe re nt f r o m th e w ay W ern er u se s th e w ord

possib ility

. P ossib ility , h ere , i s a d ecla ra ti o n,

a d ecla ra ti o n o f w hat w e c re ate i n th e w orld e ach ti m e w e s h o w u p . I t i s a c o nd iti o n, o r v alu e,

th at w e w ant to o ccur i n th e w orld , s u ch a s p eace, i n clu sio n, r e la te d ness, r e co ncilia ti o n. A

possib ility i s b ro ught i n to b ein g i n th e a ct o f d ecla rin g i t.

For e xam ple , p eace m ay n o t r e ig n a t th is m om ent, b ut th e p ossib ility o f p eace d oes e nte r th e

ro om j u st b ecause w e h av e w alk ed i n th e d oor. P eace h ere i s a f u tu re n o t d ep end ent o n

achie v em ent; i t i s a p ossib ility . T he p ossib ility i s c re ate d b y o ur d ecla ra ti o n, a nd th en,

th ankfu lly , i t b egin s to w ork o n u s. T he b re akth ro ugh i s th at w e b eco m e th at p ossib ility , a nd

th is i s w hat i s tr a nsfo rm in g. T he c atc h i s th at p ossib ility c an w ork o n u s o nly w hen w e h av e

co m e to te rm s w ith o ur s to ry . W hate v er w e h o ld a s o ur s to ry , w hic h i s o ur v ers io n o f th e p ast,

and f r o m w hic h w e ta ke o ur i d enti ty , b eco m es th e l im ita ti o n to l iv in g i n to a n ew p ossib ility .

Wern er h as d esc rib ed th is w ith m ore p re cis io n i n r e cent p ers o nal c o rre sp ond ence:

I s u ggest th at y o u c o nsid er m akin g i t c le ar th at i t i s th e f u tu re th at o ne l iv es i n to th at s h ap es

one’s b ein g a nd a cti o n i n th e p re se nt. A nd , th e r e aso n th at i t a p pears th at i t i s th e p ast th at

sh ap es o ne’s b ein g a nd a cti o n i n th e p re se nt i s th at f o r m ost p eo ple th e p ast l iv es i n

(s h ap es) th eir v ie w o f th e f u tu re .

. . . i t’ s o nly b y c o m ple ti n g th e p ast ( b ein g c o m ple te w ith th e p ast) s u ch th at i t n o l o nger

sh ap es o ne’s b ein g a nd a cti o n i n th e p re se nt th at th ere i s r o om to c re ate a n ew f u tu re ( o ne

no t s h ap ed b y th e p ast— a f u tu re th at w asn ’t g o in g to h ap pen a nyho w ). F utu re s n o t s h ap ed

by th e p ast ( i.e ., a f u tu re th at w asn ’t g o in g to h ap pen a nyho w ) a re c o nsti tu te d i n l a nguage.

I n s u m mary , ( 1 ) o ne g ets c o m ple te w ith th e p ast, w hic h ta kes i t o ut o f th e f u tu re ( b ein g

co m ple te w ith th e p ast i s n o t to f o rg et th e p ast) ; ( 2 ) i n th e r o om th at i s n o w a v aila b le i n th e

fu tu re w hen o ne’s b ein g a nd a cti o n a re n o l o nger s h ap ed b y th e p ast, o ne c re ate s a f u tu re ( a

fu tu re th at m oves, to uches, a nd i n sp ir e s o ne); ( 3 ) th at f u tu re s ta rts to s h ap e o ne’s b ein g a nd

acti o ns i n th e p re se nt s o th at th ey a re c o nsis te nt w ith r e aliz in g th at f u tu re .

Wern er E rh ard ’s w ay o f th in kin g a b out l a nguage, c o nte xt, a nd p ossib ility a re k ey e le m ents

in a ny th in kin g a b out a uth enti c tr a nsfo rm ati o n. A s w ith th e o th er i n sig hts h ere , th ey a re a b out a Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

way o f b ein g i n th e w orld f ir s t, a nd th en th ey c an b e e m bodie d i n c o ncre te a cti o ns.

The P utn am I n sig hts : S ocia l C apit a l a nd t h e W ell- B ein g o f C om munit y

Robert P utn am w ro te

Bow lin g A lo ne

a nd a m plifie d th e c o nv ers a ti o n a b out th e r o le th at s o cia l

cap ita l p la ys i n b uild in g c o m munity . A s o ne p art o f h is e xte nsiv e r e se arc h, h e s tu d ie d a f a ir

num ber o f I ta lia n to w ns a nd tr ie d to u nd ers ta nd w hy s o m e w ere m ore d em ocra ti c , w ere m ore

eco no m ic ally s u ccessfu l, h ad b ette r h ealth , a nd e xp erie nced b ette r e d ucati o n a chie v em ent.

His f in d in gs w ere s ta rtl in g, f o r h e d is c o vere d th at th e o ne th in g th at d is ti n guis h ed th e m ore

su ccessfu l f r o m th e l e ss s u ccessfu l to w ns w as th e e xte nt o f s o cia l c ap ita l, o r w id esp re ad

re la te d ness th at e xis te d a m ong i ts c iti z e ns. S uccess a s a to w n w as n o t d ep end ent o n th e to w n’s

geo gra p hy, h is to ry , e co no m ic b ase , c ultu ra l i n herita nce, o r f in ancia l r e so urc es.

Putn am s h o w s h o w w e h av e b eco m e i n cre asin gly d is c o nnecte d f r o m f a m ily , f r ie nd s,

neig hb ors , a nd o ur d em ocra ti c s tr u ctu re s— and h o w w e m ay r e co nnect. H e w arn s th at o ur s to ck

of s o cia l c ap ita l— th e v ery f a b ric o f o ur c o nnecti o ns w ith e ach o th er— has p lu m mete d ,

im poveris h in g o ur l iv es a nd c o m muniti e s.

Geo gra p hy, h is to ry , g re at l e ad ers h ip , f in e p ro gra m s, e co no m ic a d vanta ge, a nd a ny o th er

fa cto rs th at w e tr a d iti o nally u se to e xp la in s u ccess m ad e a m arg in al d iffe re nce i n th e h ealth o f

a c o m munity . C om munity w ell- b ein g s im ply h ad to d o w ith th e q uality o f th e r e la ti o nsh ip s, th e

co hesio n th at e xis ts a m ong i ts c iti z e ns. H e c alls th is

so cia l c a pita l

In th e b ook

Bette r T o geth er,

P utn am a nd c o auth o r L ew is M . F eld ste in e xp la in th at “

so cia l

ca pita l

re fe rs to s o cia l n etw ork s, n o rm s o f r e cip ro city , m utu al a ssis ta nce, a nd tr u stw orth in ess.

The c entr a l i n sig ht o f th is a p pro ach i s th at s o cia l n etw ork s h av e r e al v alu e b oth f o r th e p eo ple

in th o se n etw ork s . . . a s w ell a s f o r b ysta nd ers . C rim in o lo gis ts , f o r i n sta nce, h av e s h o w n th at

th e c rim e r a te i n a n eig hb orh o od i s l o w ere d w hen n eig hb ors k no w o ne

ano th er w ell, b enefiti n g

ev en r e sid ents w ho a re n o t th em se lv es i n v olv ed i n n eig hb orh o od a cti v iti e s.”

They g o o n to d is ti n guis h b etw een “ b ond in g” a nd “ b rid gin g” s o cia l c ap ita l. B ond in g s o cia l

cap ita l a re n etw ork s th at a re i n w ard l o okin g, c o m pose d o f p eo ple o f l ik e m in d . O th er s o cia l

netw ork s “ enco m pass d iffe re nt ty p es o f p eo ple a nd te nd to b e o utw ard l o okin g— brid gin g

so cia l c ap ita l.” I t i s p rim arily th e b rid gin g s o cia l c ap ita l th at w e a re i n te re ste d i n h ere . A s

Putn am a nd F eld ste in p ut i t: “ [A ] s o cie ty th at h as

only

bond in g s o cia l c ap ita l w ill . . . [ b e]

se gre gate d i n to m utu ally h o sti le c am ps. S o a p lu ra lis ti c d em ocra cy r e q uir e s l o ts o f b rid gin g

so cia l c ap ita l, n o t j u st th e b ond in g v arie ty .”

The A le xander I n sig hts : A liv eness, W hole ness, a nd U nfo ld in g

Chris to pher A le xand er s p eaks f r o m th e w orld o f a rc hite ctu re , b ut h is th in kin g a p plie s

eq ually w ell to th e c re ati o n o f c o m munity . H e g rie v es o ver th e f r a gm ente d a nd m echanis ti c

way w e c urre ntl y o pera te . I n

The N atu re o f O rd er, B ook 1 : T he P hen om en on o f L ife

, h e

write s, Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

In d is c ussin g w hat to d o i n a p arti c ula r p art o f a to w n, o ne p ers o n th in ks p overty i s th e

most i m porta nt th in g. A no th er p ers o n th in ks e co lo gy i s th e m ost i m porta nt th in g. A no th er

pers o n ta kes tr a ffic a s h is p oin t o f d ep artu re . A no th er p ers o n v ie w s th e m axim iz a ti o n o f

pro fit f r o m d ev elo pm ent a s th e g uid in g f a cto r. A ll th ese p oin ts o f v ie w a re u nd ers to od to

be i n d iv id ual, l e giti m ate , a nd i n here ntl y i n c o nflic t. I t i s a ssu m ed th at th ere i s n o t a u nita ry

vie w th ro ugh w hic h th ese m any r e aliti e s c an b e c o m bin ed . T hey s im ply g et s lu gged o ut i n

th e m ark etp la ce, o r i n th e p ub lic f o ru m .

B ut i n ste ad o f l u cid i n sig ht, i n ste ad o f g ro w in g c o m munal a w are ness o f w hat s h o uld b e

done i n a b uild in g, o r i n a p ark , e v en o n a ti n y b ench— in s h o rt, o f w hat i s g o od— th e

situ ati o n r e m ain s o ne i n w hic h s e v era l d is sim ila r a nd i n co m pati b le p oin ts o f v ie w a re a t

war i n s o m e p oorly u nd ers to od b ala ncin g a ct. [ S ee R ole M odels a nd R eso urc es.]

Aliv eness a nd w hole ness.

T he a lte rn ati v e to th is f r a gm enta ti o n i s to c re ate s tr u ctu re s th at

are d efin ed b y w hat A le xand er c alls “ a q uality o f a liv eness.” T he a b se nce o r p re se nce o f th is

quality h as p ro fo und i m pact o n th e e xp erie nce o f b ein g i n th at s tr u ctu re . A ls o , th at q uality o f

aliv eness m ust b e p re se nt i n e ach s te p i n th e d esig n a nd c re ati o n o f th e s tr u ctu re , f o r i t to b e

pre se nt i n th e f in al p ro duct.

This a liv eness g ro w s o ut o f a s e nse o f w ho le ness. W ho le ness i s m ad e u p o f a c o lle cti o n o f

se p ara te c ente rs , w here e ach c ente r h as “ a c erta in l ife o r i n te nsity . . . . W e c an s e e th at th e l ife

of a ny o ne c ente r d ep end s o n th e l ife o f o th er c ente rs . T his l ife o r i n te nsity i s n o t i n here nt i n th e

cente r b y i ts e lf, b ut i s a f u ncti o n o f th e w ho le c o nfig ura ti o n i n w hic h th e c ente r o ccurs .”

To c o nnect th is to o ur d is c ussio n, w e m ust a sk w heth er e v ery s in gle s te p i n o ur w ork h o ld s

th is q uality o f l ife o r i n te nsity . W heth er w e’re ta lk in g a b out a s tr a te gy, p ro gra m , i n v ita ti o n,

dia lo gue, g ath erin g, o r b uild in g a m aste r p la n, th e h um an e xp erie nce o f a liv eness i n e ach

cho ic e o r s te p h as a s m uch s ig nific ance a s a ny te chnic al, e co no m ic , o r p ure ly p ra cti c al

co nsid era ti o n.

This a liv eness a ls o i s m ost o fte n f o und i n s u rp ris in g p la ces. O fte n i n i r re gula r s tr u ctu re s, a ll

with a sp ects o f i m perfe cti o n. A le xand er i d enti fie s 1 5 p ro perti e s th at c re ate th e w ho le ness a nd

aliv eness. I t w ould ta ke u s o ff tr a ck to l is t th em a ll h ere , b ut s o m e a re c le arly to th e p oin t.

Lis te n to th e l a nguage h e u se s a nd y o u g et a f e el f o r th e w orld h e i s n am in g: D eep I n te rlo ck a nd

Ambig uity , C ontr a st, R oughness, S im plic ity a nd I n ner C alm , N ot- S ep ara te ness.

It i s e asy to ta ke th ese w ord s, w hic h h e u se s to r e fle ct q ualiti e s i n n atu re a nd i n a r o om o r

build in g, a nd a p ply th em to th e w orld o f s o cia l c ap ita l, h um an r e la te d ness, a nd b elo ngin g th at

we a re c o ncern ed w ith h ere . M uch o f w hat f o llo w s i n th e b ook i s j u st th is : b rin gin g a liv eness

and w ho le ness to o ur n o ti o ns o f l e ad ers h ip , c iti z e nsh ip , s o cia l s tr u ctu re s, a nd c o nte xt, w hic h

are e sse nti a l i n c re ati n g th e c o m munity o f b elo ngin g a nd r e sto ra ti o n th at w e d esir e .

Tra nsfo rm atio n a s u nfo ld in g.

O ne m ore i n flu ence f r o m A le xand er i s h is b elie f th at

aliv eness a nd w ho le ness c an o ccur o nly th ro ugh a p ro cess o f “ unfo ld in g.” T ra nsfo rm ati o n

unfo ld s a nd i s g iv en s tr u ctu re b y a c o nsc io usn ess o f th e w ho le . T he ta sk o f tr a nsfo rm ati o n i s to

opera te s o th at w hat w e

cre ate g ro w s o rg anic ally , m ore c o ncern ed w ith th e “ q uality o f

aliv eness” th at g iv es u s th e e xp erie nce o f w ho le ness th an w ith a p re d ic ta b le d esti n ati o n a nd Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

th e s p eed w ith w hic h w e c an r e ach i t.

An u nfo ld in g s tr a te gy r e q uir e s g iv in g a n u nco m fo rta b le i m porta nce to e ach s m all s te p w e

ta ke. W e h av e to w orry a s m uch a b out th e a rra ngem ent o f a r o om a s w e d o a b out th e c o m munity

is su e th at c ause d u s to a sse m ble . I t l e ad s u s to v alu e th e d eta ils o f e ach s te p s o th at i t b eco m es

its o w n c ente r. F or e xam ple , e ach s te p o f a m aste r p la n h as to b e a s m all e xam ple o f th e

qualiti e s w e w ant i n th e f in al l a rg e th in g. T hro ugho ut th is b ook, y o u w ill s e e th e e ffo rt to v alu e

th e i m porta nce o f s m all th in gs; th is i n te nti o n i s a d ir e ct o utg ro w th o f A le xand er’s i n sig hts .

In s u m mary , C hris to pher A le xand er m oves u s to w ard a liv eness, e m bodie d i n th o se p la ces

and m om ents th at g iv e u s th e e xp erie nce o f b elo ngin g. I n th e a b se nce o f a liv eness, w e

unkno w in gly e xp erie nce a n i n ner c o nflic t, a f e elin g o f s o m eth in g u nre so lv ed .

The K oeste nbaum I n sig hts : P ara dox, F re edom , a nd A cco unta bilit y

For s e v era l d ecad es, P ete r K oeste nb aum h as b ro ught th e i n sig hts o f p hilo so phy to th e b usin ess

mark etp la ce. H is w ork o n th e L ead ers h ip D ia m ond i s a h o lis ti c a nd p ra cti c al l a nd sc ap e o f

what i s r e q uir e d o f l e ad ers to a chie v e g re atn ess i n th e w orld , b oth p ers o nally a nd f o r th eir

in sti tu ti o ns.

Appre cia tin g p ara dox.

O ne i n sig ht th at i n fo rm s o ur e xp lo ra ti o n o f c o m munal

tr a nsfo rm ati o n i s P ete r’s u nd ers ta nd in g o f h o w w e c an c o m e to te rm s w ith th e p ara d oxic al

natu re o f h um an a ffa ir s . H e v alu es a m big uity a nd a nxie ty a s th e n atu ra l c o nd iti o n o f b ein g

hum an. T he p ain fu l c ho ic es p eo ple m ake i n th eir l iv es a nd f o r th eir i n sti tu ti o ns a re a n a ffir m in g

asp ect o f th eir h um anity . T hese c ho ic es a re n o t th e s ig n o f a p ro ble m , o r w eakness, o r th e

world g o ne w ro ng. I t i s o ut o f th e s u b je cti v ity a nd c o m ple xity o f l ife th at tr a nsfo rm ati o n

em erg es. A s a p hilo so pher a nd c o nsu lta nt, P ete r h as a lw ays g iv en v oic e to h o w p ro fo und th e

rig ht q uesti o n c an b e.

It i s th e w illin gness to r e fr a m e, tu rn , a nd e v en i n v ert a q uesti o n th at c re ate s th e d ep th a nd

openin g f o r a uth enti c c hange. Q uesti o ns ta ke o n a n a lm ost

sa cre d d im ensio n w hen th ey a re

valu ed f o r th eir o w n s a ke. T his i s i n s ta rk c o ntr a st to th e c o m mon n eed f o r a nsw ers a nd q uic k

fo rm ula ic a cti o n.

Choosin g f r e edom a nd a cco unta bilit y .

A s e co nd th re ad th at c o urs e s th ro ugh th is b ook, a nd

als o th at h as g iv en c o here nce to a ll o f P ete r’s w ork , i s th e s e arc h f o r h um an f r e ed om — fr e ed om

bein g th e c ho ic e to b e a c re ato r o f o ur o w n e xp erie nce a nd a ccep t th e u nb eara b le

re sp onsib ility th at g o es w ith th at. O ut o f th is i n sig ht g ro w s th e i d ea th at p erh ap s th e r e al ta sk o f

le ad ers h ip i s to c o nfr o nt p eo ple w ith th eir f r e ed om . T his m ay b e th e u lti m ate a ct o f l o ve th at i s

calle d f o r f r o m th o se w ho h o ld p ow er o ver o th ers .

Cho osin g o ur f r e ed om i s a ls o th e s o urc e o f o ur w illin gness to c ho ose to b e a cco unta b le .

The i n sig ht i s th at f r e ed om i s w hat c re ate s a cco unta b ility . F re ed om i s n o t a n e sc ap e f r o m

acco unta b ility , a s th e p opula r c ultu re s o o fte n m is u nd ers ta nd s.

One m ore w ay th at P ete r’s w ork h as f o rm ed m y th in kin g a b out c o m munity i s th e i d ea th at Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

our w illin gness to c are f o r th e w ell- b ein g o f th e w ho le o ccurs w hen w e a re c o nfr o nte d w ith

our f r e ed om , a nd w hen w e c ho ose to a ccep t a nd a ct o n th at f r e ed om .

The I n sig hts o f L arg e G ro up M eth odolo gy: D esig nin g f o r t h e E xperie nce o f C om munit y

Over th e l a st 2 0 y ears , a r a th er s m all g ro up o f p eo ple h as b eco m e q uite s o phis ti c ate d i n

brin gin g l a rg e g ro up s o f p eo ple to geth er ( fr o m 5 0 to 5 ,0 00 a t a ti m e) to c re ate v is io ns, b uild

str a te gy, d efin e w ork p ro cesse s, a nd c re ate d ir e cti o n f o r i n sti tu ti o ns a nd c o m muniti e s. T his

body o f k no w le d ge h as m any n am es b ut i s g enera lly c alle d

la rg e g ro up m eth odolo gy

. W hile i t

is w ell e sta b lis h ed a m ong e xp ert p ra cti ti o ners , i t h as n o t f o und i ts w ay i n to th e m ain str e am o f

ho w m ost l e ad ers d o p la nnin g a nd b rin g p eo ple to geth er. T hese m eth o ds te nd to b e r e le gate d to

so m eth in g th at i s p ulle d o ut o n s p ecia l o ccasio ns f o r s p ecia l e v ents . W e tr e at th ese m eth o ds

lik e s te rlin g s ilv er a nd u se th e s ta in le ss e v ery d ay. T his i s a s h am e, f o r th e d iffe re nce b etw een

th is k in d o f p ra cti c e a nd th e c o nv enti o nal w ay w e b rin g p eo ple to geth er i s m ore l ik e th e

diffe re nce b etw een u sin g s te rlin g s ilv er a nd e ati n g w ith o ur h and s.

These l a rg e g ro up m eth o ds a re to o p ro fo und a nd to o i m porta nt to s ta y p rim arily i n th e h and s

of s p ecia liz e d e xp erts . T hey n eed to b e i n th e r e gula r p ra cti c e o f c o m munity a nd i n sti tu ti o nal

le ad ers . T hey a re m ore th an s im ply to ols ; th ey a re th e m eans o f c re ati n g th e e xp erie nce o f

dem ocra cy a nd h ig h e ngagem ent, w hic h w e s a y w e b elie v e i n b ut r a re ly e m body. A s th is

th in kin g a nd p ra cti c e g ro w , th ey h av e th e p ote nti a l to f u nd am enta lly c hange th e n atu re o f

le ad ers h ip , w hic h w ould b e a g o od th in g.

Four o f th e i n no vato rs w ho se w ork i s h ig hlig hte d h av e b een f r ie nd s a nd te achers o f m in e f o r

years . I r e fle ct th eir th in kin g h ere o nly b ecause I h av e b een i n m any r o om s w ith th em . T here

are m any o th ers w ho h av e a ls o c hanged th e w orld a nd o ur th in kin g a b out b rin gin g l a rg e g ro up s

of p eo ple to geth er: H arris o n O w en, B arb ara B unker, B illie A lb an, F re d a nd M arily n E m ory ,

and C aro ly n L ukensm eyer c o m e to m in d .

Futu re S earc h .

M arv in W eis b ord h as c re ate d F utu re S earc h w ith S and ra J a no ff. T his

str u ctu re b egin s w ith a s c an o f th e e nv ir o nm ent a nd b rin gs p eo ple i n to a c o nv ers a ti o n a b out th e

fu tu re th ey w ant to c re ate . M arv in a nd S and ra h av e l o ng u nd ers to od th e i m porta nce o f th e r ig ht

questi o n, th e w ay to b ala nce e xp ert i n p ut w ith c o m munal d ia lo gue, a nd h o w to s tr u ctu re th e

flo w o f s m all g ro up d is c ussio ns i n to a c o lle cti v e o utc o m e. T hey h av e a ls o c o difie d th e

dis ti n cti o n b etw een s o lv in g p ro ble m s a nd c re ati n g a f u tu re .

Confe re nce M odel.

D ic k a nd E m ily A xelr o d a re d esig n g eniu se s. T hey r e aliz e d e arly o n

th at i f w e c an c hange th e w ay w e m eet, w e c an c hange th e w ay w e l iv e to geth er. T hey k no w

th at l e arn in g b est o ccurs w hen w e s tr u ctu re m eeti n gs i n a w ay th at p uts p eo ple i n c o nta ct w ith

each o th er w here th ey e xp erie nce i n a c o nfe re nce th e s a m e d ile m mas th ey f a ce i n l ife . T hey

cre ate e xp erie nces th at s im ula te th e d em ocra ti c , s e lf- g o vern in g p rin cip le s th at, i f ta ken

se rio usly , c an c re ate l a rg e c o m muniti e s o f c o m mitte d a nd p ow erfu l p eo ple .

Whole -S ca le C hange.

T he l a te K ath ie D annem ille r w as a no th er i n no vato r i n th is Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

movem ent. “ O ne h eart— one m in d ” w as th e s p ir it th at s h e l iv ed , a nd h er g o al w as to b rin g th at

in to a n e v ent w here p eo ple a sse m ble d to c re ate a n ew f u tu re . S he h ad a f a ith i n th e c o lle cti v e

cap acity o f e m plo yees a nd c iti z e ns th at w ould p ut T ho m as J e ffe rs o n to s h am e.

Her g uid in g q uesti o n w as “ H ow w ill th e w orld b e d iffe re nt to m orro w a s a r e su lt o f o ur

meeti n g to day?” L ik e th e o th ers , s h e v alu ed th e q uesti o n a nd h eld d eep s k ep ti c is m a b out

answ ers . S he a ls o k new th at th e q uesti o ns w ith th e m ost p ow er w ere th e o nes th at to uched th e

heart a nd s p oke to w hat p eo ple w ere e xp erie ncin g. I f “ W hat d id y o u k no w a nd w hen d id y o u

kno w i t? ” d efin ed th e W ate rg ate h earin gs, th e q uesti o n “ W hat d id y o u h ear a nd h o w d id y o u

fe el a b out th at? ” w as a t th e c o re o f h er w ork .

Kath ie w ante d th e w ho le s y ste m i n th e r o om , a nd th en s h e c o nsta ntl y b ro ke i t i n to s m all

gro up s. S he a d vocate d th at th e s m all g ro up w ork ed b est w hen i t w as m axim ally d iv ers e —

meanin g th at e ach s m all g ro up w as a m ic ro co sm o f th e l a rg e s y ste m . T his c o m positi o n p lu s a

bro ad e no ugh q uesti o n r e su lts i n p eo ple m om enta rily p utti n g a sid e th eir o w n i n d iv id ual

in te re sts a nd b egin nin g to c are f o r th e w ell- b ein g o f th e w ho le .

The W orld C afé .

F in ally , I w ant to ta lk o f th e w ork o f J u anita B ro w n a nd h er p artn er,

Dav id I s a acs. T heir s tr u ctu re i s c alle d th e W orld C afé . I ts g ift i s i n i ts s o phis ti c ate d s im plic ity .

They b egin b y d efin in g a l a rg e q uesti o n th at g ets a t th e p urp ose o f th e g ath erin g. E ach s m all

gro up f o cuse s o n th e q uesti o n, b ut i n th e C afé m eth o d, th e g ro up s its a t a r o und c o ckta ils iz e d

ta b le .

On th at ta b le i s a f lip c hart s h eet o r b utc her p ap er a nd a m ark er f o r e ach p ers o n. A s p eo ple

ta lk , e ach w rite s o n th e p ap er i n l a rg e l e tte rs th e i d eas w orth r e ta in in g. A t c erta in i n te rv als , a s

in m usic al c hair s ( e xcep t th ere a re e no ugh s e ats f o r a ll) , o ne p ers o n s ta ys a s h o st a t th e ta b le

and th e o th ers g o to d iffe re nt ta b le s. T he h o st s u m mariz e s f o r th e n ew g ro up w hat i s o n th e

pap er, a nd th e d is c ussio n c o nti n ues. E ventu ally , th e i d eas f r o m th e ta b le s a re s h are d w ith th e

who le g ro up . I t i s a n e le gant m odel to c re ate c o nv erg ence f o r a l a rg e g ro up .

The K ey I n sig hts o f L arg e G ro up M eth odolo gie s

Now , th e i n te nt h ere i s n o t to d esc rib e th e f u ll p ro cess f o r a ny o f th ese l a rg e g ro up i n no vati v e

meth o ds— I k no w th at I d o e ach a g re at i n ju sti c e i n m y m in im alis t d esc rip ti o ns a nd

ackno w le d gm ent. T he i n te nt i s to d efin e s o m e o f th e e sse nti a l e le m ents th at f o rm th e d esig n

basis f r o m th is l a rg e g ro up w ork th at i n fo rm s o ur th in kin g a b out c o m munity tr a nsfo rm ati o n.

Each e le m ent o f e ach l a rg e g ro up m eth o d h as p ro fo und i m plic ati o ns f o r h o w p eo ple m eet,

ho w th ey c re ate a n a lte rn ati v e f u tu re , a nd h o w c o m munity c an b e d ev elo ped i n a s u sta in ab le

way. W hat w e m ay o nce h av e r e le gate d a s u se fu l b ut i n cid enta l l ittl e “ tr a in in g e xerc is e s” n o w

hav e a p ow er b eyo nd o ur i m agin ati o n. T hey f o rm a w ay o f th in kin g a nd o pera ti n g i n c o m munity

th at, w hen m atc hed w ith th e p hilo so phic al i n sig hts o f th e o th ers , g iv e u s th e s tr u ctu re o f

belo ngin g th at w e s e ek. H ere i s a b rie f s u m mary o f th e p ow er o f th eir th in kin g:

Acco unta bilit y a nd c o m mit m ent.

T he e sse nti a l i n sig ht i s th at p eo ple w ill b e

acco unta b le a nd c o m mitte d to w hat th ey h av e a h and i n c re ati n g. T his i n sig ht e xte nd s to th e Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

belie f th at w hate v er th e w orld d em and s o f u s, th e p eo ple m ost i n v olv ed h av e th e c o lle cti v e

wis d om to m eet th e r e q uir e m ents o f th at d em and . A nd i f w e c an g et th em to geth er i n th e

ro om , i n th e r ig ht c o nte xt a nd w ith a f e w s im ple g ro und r u le s, th e w is d om to c re ate a f u tu re

or s o lv e a p ro ble m i s a lm ost a lw ays i n th e r o om . A ll y o u n eed to e nsu re th is i s to m ake

su re th e p eo ple i n th e r o om a re a d iv ers e a nd te xtu re d s a m ple o f th e l a rg er w orld y o u w ant

to a ffe ct.

T his i n sig ht i s a n a rg um ent f o r c o lle cti v e i n te llig ence a nd a n a rg um ent a gain st e xp ensiv e

stu d ie s a nd s p ecia liz e d e xp erti s e . T hat i s w hy th is th in kin g f in d s a s k ep ti c al e ar f r o m th e

acad em y, m ost e xp ert c o nsu lta nts , a nd th e l e ad ers h ip th at e sp ouse s d em ocra cy b ut r e ally

only tr u sts p atr ia rc hy a nd c o sm eti c e m pow erm ent.

Learn in g f r o m o ne a noth er.

T he k ey to g ath erin g c iti z e ns, l e ad ers , a nd s ta keho ld ers i s to

cre ate i n th e r o om a l iv in g e xam ple o f h o w I w ant th e f u tu re to b e. T hen th ere i s n o th in g to

wait f o r, b ecause th e f u tu re b egin s to s h o w u p a s w e g ath er. O ne o f th e p rin cip le s i s th at a ll

voic es n eed to b e h eard , b ut n o t n ecessa rily a ll a t o ne ti m e o r b y e v ery b ody. W hat m akes

th is s u cceed i s th at m ost e v ery th in g i m porta nt h ap pens i n a s m all g ro up . W hic h e xp re sse s

ano th er p rin cip le , th at p eer-to -p eer i n te ra cti o n i s w here m ost l e arn in g ta kes p la ce; i t i s th e

fe rti le e arth o ut o f w hic h s o m eth in g n ew i s p ro duced . I n th is s m all g ro up y o u p la ce th e

maxim um m ix o f p eo ple ’s s to rie s, v alu es, a nd v ie w poin ts , a nd i n th is w ay e ach g ro up o f 6

to 1 2 b rin gs th e w ho le s y ste m i n to th at s p ace.

Bia s t o w ard t h e f u tu re .

T he i n sig hts f r o m l a rg e g ro up m eth o ds h av e a b ia s to w ard th e

fu tu re a nd d ev ote l ittl e o r n o ti m e to n ego ti a ti n g th e p ast o r e m phasiz in g th o se a re as w here

we w ill n ev er a gre e a nyw ay. T he m ost o rg aniz in g c o nv ers a ti o n s ta rte r i s “ W hat d o w e

want to c re ate to geth er? ” S o m uch f o r i n -d ep th d ia gno se s, m ore s tu d ie s, a rg um ent a nd

nego ti a ti o n, a nd w aiti n g f o r th e s p onso rs h ip o r tr a nsfo rm ati o n o f to p l e ad ers .

How w e e ngage m atte rs.

T he m ost i m porta nt c o ntr ib uti o n o f th o se w ho h av e d ev elo ped

th ese p rin cip le s a nd i n sig hts i s th e i d ea th at th e w ay w e b rin g p eo ple to geth er m atte rs m ore

th an o ur u su al c o ncern s a b out th e c o nte nt o f w hat w e p re se nt to p eo ple . H ow w e s tr u ctu re

th e g ath erin g i s a s w orth y o f a tte nti o n a s g ra sp in g th e n atu re o f a p ro ble m o r f o cusin g o n th e

so lu ti o ns th at w e s e ek.

The g ift to u s f r o m th ese m aste rs o f l a rg e g ro up w ork i s th e b elie f th at tr a nsfo rm ati o n h in ges

on c hangin g th e s tr u ctu re o f h o w w e e ngage e ach o th er. I t i s th e i n sig ht th at a uth enti c

tr a nsfo rm ati o n d oes n o t o ccur b y f o cusin g o n c hangin g i n d iv id uals o r b ein g s m art a b out

politi c al p ro cesse s, w hic h a re b ase d o n a d vocacy o f i n te re sts , h ard ball n ego ti a ti o n, o r f in d in g

where th e p ow er r e sid es a nd g etti n g th em o n y o ur s id e. T he i n sig hts o f th ese m aste rs a re a

dra m ati c s h ift f r o m m uch o f o ur c o nv enti o nal th in kin g, w hic h, b y th e w ay, i s n o t w ork in g th at

well.

The B orn ste in -C ohen I n sig hts : S ca le , S peed, a nd E m erg ent D esig nBlock, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

Dav id B orn ste in i s a j o urn alis t w ho h as w ritte n a b out th e G ra m een B ank i n B angla d esh a nd

oth er s o cia l i n no vati o ns th at h av e b eco m e l a rg e m ovem ents . W ith in th e s to rie s h e te lls i n h is

books a re s o m e r a d ic al th o ughts a b out h o w s u ccessfu l tr a nsfo rm ati o ns c am e i n to b ein g.

Sm all s c a le , s lo w g ro w th .

N ot o ne o f th e e xam ple s D av id d esc rib es b egan a s a g o vern m ent

or l a rg e-s y ste m -s p onso re d p ro gra m . E ach w as b egun w ith v ery l ittl e f u nd in g, n o f a nfa re , a nd

littl e c o ncern a b out h o w to m easu re th e o utc o m es. E ach h ad a d eep ly c o m mitte d a nd s e lf-

cho se n l e ad er w ith

a c o m mitm ent to m ake a d iffe re nce i n th e l iv es o f h o w ev er m any p eo ple

th ey w ere a b le to r e ach.

Born ste in c o nclu d ed th at w ell- fu nd ed e ffo rts , w ith c le ar o utc o m es, th at s p ell o ut th e s te p s to

get th ere d o n o t w ork . C hanges th at b egin o n a l a rg e s c ale , a re i n iti a te d o r i m pose d f r o m th e

to p, a nd a re d riv en to p ro duce q uic k w in s i n ev ita b ly p ro duce f e w l a sti n g r e su lts . T his m ay b e

a c lu e to w hy o ur w ars s u ch a s th o se o n d ru gs a nd p overty h av e b een c o nsis te ntl y

dis a p poin ti n g a nd s o m eti m es h av e e v en p ro duced m ore o f w hat th ey s o ught to e lim in ate .

If y o u r e fle ct o n th e s to rie s o f th e s u ccessfu l l e ad ers w ho B orn ste in d ocum ents , y o u r e aliz e

th at th ese e ntr e p re neurs w ere c o m mitte d e no ugh a nd p ati e nt e no ugh to g iv e th eir p ro je cts ti m e

to e v olv e a nd f in d th eir o w n w ay o f o pera ti n g. T here w ere y ears s p ent s im ply l e arn in g w hat

str u ctu re s, a gre em ents , l e ad ers h ip , a nd ty p es o f p eo ple w ere r e q uir e d to b e s u ccessfu l.

It w as a fte r th e m odel h ad e v olv ed a nd s u cceed ed o n i ts o w n te rm s th at i t b egan to g ro w ,

gain a tte nti o n, a nd a chie v e a l e v el o f s c ale th at to uched l a rg e n um bers o f p eo ple .

This m eans th at s u sta in ab le c hanges i n c o m munity o ccur l o cally o n a s m all s c ale , h ap pen

slo w ly , a nd a re i n iti a te d a t a g ra ssro ots l e v el.

Em erg ent d esig n.

A lla n C ohen i s a b rillia nt s tr a te gy c o nsu lta nt w ho c o m bin es a d eep

und ers ta nd in g o f th e p ow er o f c o nv ers a ti o n w ith i n sig hts a b out th e o rg anic n atu re o f d esig n. A

win nin g c o m bin ati o n. A lla n m akes e v en m ore i n te nti o nal a nd e xp lic it th e s tr a te gie s th at

Born ste in h as d ocum ente d . A lla n d is ti n guis h es b etw een e m erg ent s tr a te gie s a nd d esti n ati o n o r

blu ep rin t s tr a te gie s. H e s a ys th at e ffe cti v e c hange s tr a te gie s o bvio usly b egin w ith a s tr o ng

se nse o f p urp ose p lu s a c o m mitm ent to b rin g s o m eth in g n ew i n to th e w orld .

The k ey i s w hat y o u d o a fte r th at. H e ta lk s o f tw o th in gs: O ne i s r e co gniz in g th at

org aniz a ti o ns a re a lw ays a d ap ti n g a nd l e arn in g, e v en i n th e a b se nce o f b ig c hange i n iti a ti v es.

So a g o od p la ce to s ta rt i s b y a sk in g w hy th e o rg aniz a ti o n h asn ’t b een m ovin g n atu ra lly i n a

more d esir a b le d ir e cti o n. T hen ta ke m odest s te p s to i m pact th e c o nv ers a ti o ns a nd r e la ti o nsh ip s

th at a re s h ap in g th e d ir e cti o n o f c hange i n here nt i n th e o rg aniz a ti o n. W atc h w hat e m erg es,

pause , r e fle ct, a nd c o urs e c o rre ct— th en w atc h w hat e m erg es a gain . T his i s a c ru d e d efin iti o n

of e m erg ence.

A s e co nd i n sig ht f r o m A lla n i s a b out c hangin g th e c o nd iti o ns u nd er w hic h a n i n te nti o n i s

acte d u p on. H e c la im s th e a b ility to h erd c ats , w hic h m any h av e s a id i s i m possib le . H e d oes

th is b y ti lti n g th e f lo or, w hic h c hanges th e c o nd iti o ns u nd er w hic h th e c ats a re o pera ti n g.

Em erg ent s tr a te gie s f o cus o n c o nd iti o ns m ore th an o n b ehav io rs o r p re d ic ta b le g o als .

Ir o nic ally , th e a ct o f p re d ic ti n g th e p ath m ay b e th e o bsta cle to a chie v in g th e p urp ose . Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

Alla n’s w ork o n e m erg ent d esig n p la ces i m porta nt e m phasis o n b eco m in g c le ar o n th e

purp ose , th e k ey to w hic h i s o penin g w id e th e p ossib ility f o r a d iffe re nt f u tu re . H e a ls o g iv es

im porta nce to r e la te d ness b ein g th e f o und ati o n o f a ll a chie v em ent.

Com bin in g t h e I n sig hts

Dav id B orn ste in ’s s to rie s a re a n e xp re ssio n o f a ll th e i n sig hts s u m mariz e d h ere a nd w oven

th ro ugho ut th is b ook. F or e xam ple , th e e ffo rts h e ta lk s a b out d em onstr a te th e c o nd iti o ns l e ad in g

to A le xand er’s q uality o f a liv eness. T hey u nfo ld ed s lo w ly a nd w ith g re at c o nsc io usn ess; th en

th ey b ecam e s m all w ho le c ente rs i n a nd o f th em se lv es, w hic h f in ally , o rg anic ally , b egan to

co m bin e w ith o th er c ente rs to a chie v e s o m e s c ale .

These e ffo rts a ls o h ad l e ad ers w ho c ho se to l iv e i n to W ern er E rh ard ’s c o ncep t o f

possib ility . T he e nd s s e em ed u nachie v ab le a nd th e c o m mitm ent w as n o t c o nti n gent o n r e su lts .

Each p ro je ct c re ate d a n ew c o nv ers a ti o n a b out th e p eo ple i n v olv ed . T ake G ra m een B ank a s a n

exam ple . T he f o und er d ecla re d th at p oor p eo ple w ere c re d itw orth y a nd e xcelle nt

entr e p re neurs . T his w as s im ply a d ecla ra ti o n o f p ossib ility a nd b egan a n ew c o nv ers a ti o n

ab out p overty th at s h ifte d th e c o nte xt w ith in w hic h l o ans w ere m ad e.

By th is s h ift i n c o nte xt, M uham mad Y unus, f o und er o f G ra m een, e m bodie d M cK nig ht’ s

obse rv ati o n th at d ev elo pm ent i s b ase d o n g ifts , n o t d efic ie ncie s.

Gra m een B ank a ls o c o unte d o n th e p ow er o f c o m munity a nd r e la te d ness. Y unus a nd h is b ank

cre ate d te am s o f b orro w ers ( th ey c alle d th em

ch apte rs

), i n w hic h e ach p ers o n’s a b ility to

re ceiv e a l o an w as d ep end ent o n th e r e p aym ent b y o th ers i n th e g ro up . A p orti o n o f e ach

re p aym ent w ent to f u nd th e l o ans to o th er c hap te rs a nd th e w ell- b ein g o f th e c o m munity . T hese

sm all g ro up s w ere th e b asic u nit o f b orro w in g, f o ur w om en to a g ro up .

Not i n d iv id uals , b ut th e

sm all g ro up . E ach s m all g ro up a ls o w as r e q uir e d to o pera te a s p art o f a l a rg er c o m munity , s o

th at th ey c o uld n o t b eco m e i n su la r a nd a ct a s i f th e b ound ary o f th eir g ro up w as th e e d ge o f th e

earth . T his i s th e e sse nce o f th e l a rg e g ro up m eth o dolo gie s.

There w as f o r e ach te am o f b orro w ers a s e t o f r e q uir e m ents th at w ent b eyo nd th e m oney.

They w ere a cco unta b le f o r p ro ducin g a s u ccessfu l l ife f o r th em se lv es a nd o th ers , w hic h i s a

co rre la te o f K oeste nb aum ’s u nd ers ta nd in g o f f r e ed om — th at f r e ed om a nd a cco unta b ility a re

one a nd th e s a m e.

And a ll o f th is r e su lte d i n th e w id er b enefits o f h av in g c re ate d s o cia l c ap ita l, a s P utn am

would te rm i t. T he p arti c ip ati o n o f th e w om en i n th e e ntr e p re neuria l v entu re a ffe cte d a ll

asp ects o f th eir l iv es a nd th at o f th eir v illa ge. E ventu ally i t w ould i m pact a n ati o n.

So i n th is b rie f s n ap sh o t w e h av e th e c o re e le m ents o f th e m eth o ds o f c o lle cti v e

tr a nsfo rm ati o n th at f o llo w . I n te gra ti n g th ese i n sig hts g iv es u s s o m e b asic c o ncep tu al e le m ents

fo r tr a nsfo rm in g c o m muniti e s. T he r e aso n to k eep r e ad in g i s to g iv e m ore f o rm a nd d ep th to

th ese i d eas a nd a p ply th em to o ur w orld , h o w ev er l a rg e o r s m all w e m ay d efin e i t. Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

CH APT ER 2

Shif tin g t h e C on te xt f o r C om munit y

The c o n te x t t h at r e sto re s

c o m munity i s o ne o f p ossib ility , g en ero sity , a nd g ifts , r a th er

th an o ne o f p ro ble m s o lv in g, f e a r, a nd r e tr ib utio n. A n ew c o nte xt a ckn ow le d ges t h at w e

have a ll t h e c a pacity , e xp ertis e , a nd r e so urc es t h at a n a lte rn ativ e f u tu re r e q uir e s.

Com munitie s a re h um an s y ste m s g iv en f o rm b y c o nversa tio ns t h at b uild r e la te d ness. T he

co nversa tio ns t h at b uild r e la te d ness m ost o fte n o ccu r t h ro ugh a sso cia tio nal l ife , w here

citiz e n s s h ow u p b y c h oic e, a nd r a re ly i n t h e c o nte xt o f s y ste m l ife , w here c itiz e n s s h ow

up o ut o f o blig atio n. T he s m all g ro up i s t h e u nit o f t r a nsfo rm atio n a nd t h e c o nta in er f o r

th e e xp erie n ce o f b elo ngin g. C onversa tio ns t h at f o cu s o n s to rie s a bout t h e p ast b eco m e

a l im ita tio n t o c o m munity ; o nes t h at a re t e a ch in g p ara ble s a nd f o cu s o n t h e f u tu re

re sto re c o m munity .

• • •

C om munit y o ccu rs in p art

a s a s h ift i n c o nte xt, th e m enta l m odels w e b rin g to o ur c o lle cti v e

e ffo rts . I t i s a n ew c o nte xt th at g iv es g re ate r i m pact to th e w ays w e w ork to m ake o ur

c o m muniti e s b ette r. C onte xt i s th e s e t o f b elie fs , a t ti m es o nes th at w e a re u naw are o f, th at

d ic ta te h o w w e th in k, h o w w e f r a m e th e w orld , w hat w e p ay a tte nti o n to , a nd c o nse q uentl y

h o w w e b ehav e. I t i s s o m eti m es c alle d a

world vie w

The f o llo w in g a re th e s h ift i n c o nte xt th at w ould s ig nal a tr a nsfo rm ati o n i n to a uth enti c

c o m munity :

• W e a re a c o m munity o f p ossib iliti e s, n o t a c o m munity o f p ro ble m s.

• C om munity e xis ts f o r th e s a ke o f b elo ngin g a nd ta kes i ts i d enti ty f r o m th e g ifts , g enero sity ,

and a cco unta b ility o f i ts c iti z e ns. I t i s n o t d efin ed b y i ts f e ars , i ts i s o la ti o n, o r i ts p enchant

fo r r e tr ib uti o n.

• W e c urre ntl y h av e a ll th e c ap acity , e xp erti s e , p ro gra m s, l e ad ers , r e gula ti o ns, a nd w ealth

re q uir e d to e nd u nnecessa ry s u ffe rin g a nd c re ate a n a lte rn ati v e f u tu re .

Com munity i s f u nd am enta lly a n i n te rd ep end ent h um an s y ste m g iv en f o rm b y th e

c o nv ers a ti o n i t h o ld s w ith i ts e lf. T he h is to ry , b uild in gs, e co no m y, i n fr a str u ctu re , a nd c ultu re

a re p ro ducts o f th e c o nv ers a ti o ns a nd s o cia l f a b ric o f a ny c o m munity . T he b uilt a nd c ultu ra l

e nv ir o nm ents a re s e co nd ary g ain s o f h o w w e c ho ose to b e to geth er.

Prin cip le s o f S tr a te gy

T his c o nte xt l e ad s to c erta in p rin cip le s o f a s tr a te gy f o r c o m munity tr a nsfo rm ati o n: Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

•

The e sse ntia l w ork is t o b uild s o cia l f a bric , b oth f o r it s o w n s a k e a nd t o e nable c h ose n

acco unta bilit y a m ong c it iz ens.

W hen c iti z e ns c are f o r e ach o th er, th ey b eco m e

acco unta b le to e ach o th er. C are a nd a cco unta b ility c re ate a h ealth y c o m munity . T he w ork

is to d esig n w ays to b rin g c iti z e ns ( in clu d in g f o rm al l e ad ers , f o r th ey a re c iti z e ns)

to geth er s o th at th ey e xp erie nce th e “ q uality o f a liv eness” C hris to pher A le xand er w rite s

ab out. T his o ccurs b y b ein g h ig hly a tte nti v e to th e w ay th at w e g ath er.

•

S tr o ng a sso cia tio nal lif e is e sse ntia l a nd c e ntr a l.

A sso cia ti o nal l ife i s th e v oliti o nal

asp ect o f c o m munity . I t i s h o w c iti z e ns c ho ose to b uild c o nnecti o ns f o r th eir o w n s a ke,

usu ally f o r c o m mon p urp ose . T hese a re th e p rim ary c o nsti tu ency f o r tr a nsfo rm ati o n. I n

asso cia ti o nal l ife , c re ati n g c o nnecte d ness b eco m es b oth a n e nd a nd a m eans. L arg e

esta b lis h ed s y ste m s s u ch a s b usin ess, g o vern m ent, e d ucati o n, h ealth c are , a nd s o cia l

se rv ic es a re i m porta nt b ut a re n o t

esse nti a l to c o m munity tr a nsfo rm ati o n. F or s y ste m s,

build in g r e la te d ness i s m ostl y a m eans, n o t a n e nd i n i ts e lf.

•

Cit iz ens w ho u se t h eir p ow er t o c o nvene o th er c it iz ens a re w hat c re ate a n

alt e rn ativ e f u tu re .

A q uality o f a liv eness o ccurs th ro ugh c hange e ffo rts th at a re e nerg iz e d

by c iti z e ns a nd a re o rg anic o r e m erg ent i n n atu re . A s h ift i n th e th in kin g a nd a cti o ns o f

citi z e ns i s m ore v ita l th an a s h ift i n th e th in kin g a nd a cti o n o f i n sti tu ti o ns a nd f o rm al

le ad ers . T his i s i n s h arp c o ntr a st to th e tr a d iti o nal b elie fs th at b ette r l e ad ers h ip , m ore

pro gra m s, n ew f u nd in g, n ew r e gula ti o ns, a nd m ore o vers ig ht a re th e p ath to a b ette r

fu tu re . A t ti m es a ll o f th ese a re n ecessa ry , b ut th ey d o n o t h av e th e p ow er to c re ate a

fu nd am enta l s h ift.

•

The s m all g ro up is t h e u nit o f t r a nsfo rm atio n.

I t i s i n th e s tr u ctu re o f h o w s m all g ro up s

gath er th at a n a lte rn ati v e f u tu re w ill b e c re ate d . T his a ls o m eans th at w e m ust s e t a sid e

our c o ncern f o r s c ale a nd o ur c o ncern f o r s p eed . S cale , s p eed , a nd p ra cti c ality a re

alw ays th e c o ded a rg um ents f o r k eep in g th e e xis ti n g s y ste m i n p la ce. B elo ngin g c an o ccur

th ro ugh o ur m em bers h ip i n l a rg e g ro up s, b ut th is f o rm o f b elo ngin g r e d uces th e p ow er o f

citi z e ns. I n ste ad o f s u rre nd erin g o ur i d enti ty f o r th e s a ke o f b elo ngin g, w e f in d i n th e

sm all g ro up a p la ce th at c an v alu e o ur u niq ueness.

•

All t r a nsfo rm atio n is lin guis tic , w hic h m eans t h at w e c a n t h in k o f c o m munit y a s

esse ntia lly a c o nversa tio n.

T hen w e a ct o n th e p rin cip le th at i f w e w ant to c hange th e

co m munity , a ll w e h av e to d o i s c hange th e c o nv ers a ti o n. T he s h ift i n c o nv ers a ti o n i s f r o m

one o f p ro ble m s, f e ar, a nd r e tr ib uti o n to o ne o f p ossib ility , g enero sity , a nd r e sto ra ti o n.

This i s th e n ew c o nte xt th at b oth c re ate s s tr o ng s o cia l c ap ita l a nd i s c re ate d b y i t.

The o vera rc hin g i n te nt o f th ese p rin cip le s i s to c re ate c o m muniti e s th at o pera te o ut o f a n ew

co nte xt. T ra nsfo rm ati o n c an b e th o ught o f a s a f u nd am enta l s h ift i n c o nte xt, w heth er th e s h ift i s

ab out m y o w n l ife , m y i n sti tu ti o n, o r o ur c o m munity .

Conte xt c le arly o ccurs a s i n d iv id ual m in d se ts , b ut i t a ls o e xis ts a s a f o rm o f c o lle cti v e

world vie w . C om muniti e s c arry a c o nte xt th ro ugh th e

fr e q uentl y r e p eate d b elie fs th at c iti z e ns

ho ld a b out th e p la ce w here th ey l iv e. T he m ed ia i s o ne c arrie r o f th is c o nte xt, b ut i t i s n o t i ts

cre ato r.

If tr a nsfo rm ati o n i s l in guis ti c , th en c o m munity b uild in g r e q uir e s th at w e e ngage i n a n ew Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

co nv ers a ti o n, o ne th at w e h av e n o t h ad b efo re , o ne th at c an c re ate a n e xp erie nce o f a liv eness

and b elo ngin g. I t i s th e a ct o f e ngagin g c iti z e ns i n a n ew c o nv ers a ti o n th at a llo w s u s to a ct i n

co ncert w ith a nd a ctu ally c re ate s th e c o nd iti o n f o r a n ew c o nte xt.

I a m u sin g th e w ord

co nversa tio n

i n a b ro ad s e nse — nam ely , a ll th e w ays th at w e l is te n,

sp eak, a nd c o m munic ate m eanin g to e ach o th er. S o, i n a d diti o n to s p eakin g a nd l is te nin g, th is

meanin g o f

co nversa tio n

i n clu d es th e a rc hite ctu re o f o ur b uild in gs a nd p ub lic s p aces, th e w ay

we i n hab it a nd a rra nge a r o om w hen w e c o m e to geth er, a nd th e s p ace w e g iv e to th e a rts .

The E xis tin g C onte xt: C om munit y a s a P ro ble m t o B e S olv ed

To m ake a d iffe re nce i n o ur c o m munity , w e m ust b egin b y n am in g th e e xis ti n g c o nte xt a nd

ev olv in g to a w ay o f th in kin g th at l e ad s to n ew c o nv ers a ti o ns th at p ro duce a n ew c o nte xt. I t i s

th e s h ift i n c o nv ers a ti o n th at i n cre ase s s o cia l c ap ita l. E very ti m e w e g ath er b eco m es a m odel

of th e f u tu re w e w ant to c re ate . I f y o u r e ally g et th is p ara gra p h, y o u p ro bab ly d on’t n eed to

re ad a ny f u rth er.

Our c urre nt c o nte xt i s a l o ng w ay f r o m o ne o f g ifts , g enero sity , a nd a cco unta b ility . T he

dom in ant c o nte xt w e n o w h o ld i s o ne o f d efic ie ncie s, i n te re sts , a nd e nti tl e m ent. O ut o f th is

co nte xt g ro w s th e b elie f th at th e s u ffe rin g o f c o m muniti e s i s a s e t o f p ro ble m s to b e s o lv ed .

Afte r w e f in is h g iv in g s p eeches a b out th e v ir tu es o f o ur n eig hb orh o od a nd c ity , w e l o ve to

ela b ora te th eir p ro ble m s. W e h av e s tu d ie d a nd r e p orte d f o r y ears th e p ro ble m s o f h o usin g,

health c are , th e e nv ir o nm ent, y o uth a t r is k , r a ce, th e d is a b le d , p overty , u nem plo ym ent, p ub lic

ed ucati o n, th e c ris is i n tr a nsp orta ti o n, a nd d ru gs. T hese p ro ble m s a re s tu d ie d b y a cad em ic s

and f u ele d b y ta lk r a d io a nd th e A M b and , w hic h s e rv es a s a p la ce f o r h o sts a nd c iti z e ns to

arg ue, d eb ate , a nd c o m pla in a b out w ho i s r ig ht o r w ro ng a nd w ho n eed s to c hange. T alk r a d io

and T V a re th e v is ib le b aro m ete rs o f o ur a tta chm ent to th e c o nte xt g iv in g p rim acy to p ro ble m s.

Our l o ve o f p ro ble m s r u ns d eep er th an j u st th e j o y o f c o m pla in t, b ein g r ig ht, o r e sc ap e f r o m

re sp onsib ility . T he c o re b elie f f r o m w hic h w e o pera te i s th at a n a lte rn ati v e o r b ette r f u tu re c an

be a cco m plis h ed b y m ore p ro ble m s o lv in g. W e b elie v e th at d efin in g, a naly zin g, a nd s tu d yin g

pro ble m s i s th e w ay to m ake a b ette r w orld . I t i s th e d om in ant m in d se t o f w este rn c ultu re .

This c o nte xt— th at l ife i s a s e t o f p ro ble m s to b e s o lv ed — may a ctu ally l im it a ny c hance o f

th e f u tu re b ein g d iffe re nt f r o m th e p ast. T he i n te re st w e h av e i n p ro ble m s i s s o i n te nse th at a t

so m e p oin t w e ta ke o ur i d enti ty f r o m th o se p ro ble m s. W ith o ut th em , i t s e em s l ik e w e w ould n o t

kno w w ho w e a re a s a c o m munity . M any o f th e s tr o ngest a d vocate s f o r c hange w ould l o se th eir

se nse o f i d enti ty i f th e c hange th ey d esir e d e v er o ccurre d .

Com munity -a s-p ro ble m s-to -b e-s o lv ed h as s o m e b enefits . I t v alu es th e a b ility to i m ple m ent,

is b ig o n d oin g, h as a c erta in h o nesty a b out i t, a nd w ors h ip s ta ngib le r e su lts a s th e u lti m ate

ble ssin g. Y ou m ig ht s a y th at th is i s w hat h as g o tte n u s th is f a r. I t i s n o t th at th is ( o r a ny o th er)

co nte xt i s w ro ng; i t j u st d oes n o t h av e th e p ow er to b rin g s o m eth in g n ew i n to th e w orld .

To s h ift to s o m e o th er c o nte xt, w e n eed to d eta ch o urs e lv es f r o m th e d is c ussio ns o f

pro ble m s. O ne w ay to a chie v e th is d eta chm ent i s to s e e th at w hat w e n o w c all p ro ble m s a re Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

sim ply s y m pto m s o f s o m eth in g d eep er.

For e xam ple , w hat w e c all “ urb an p ro ble m s” a re r e ally s y m pto m s o f th e b re akd ow n o f

co m munity . B arry L opez, w ell- k no w n a uth o r o n th e e nv ir o nm ent, l iv es i n a to w n th at s e v era l

years a go s u ffe re d a te rrib le s h o oti n g a t i ts h ig h s c ho ol. H e w ro te l a te r th at a fte r a ll th e T V

cam era s, a d vocate s f o r a nd a gain st g un c o ntr o l, g rie f c o unse lo rs , a nd e xp erts o n y o uth a nd

pub lic e d ucati o n l e ft to w n, th e c iti z e ns c o uld f a ce th e r e ality th at th e s h o oti n g w as s y m pto m ati c

of a b re akd ow n i n th at c o m munity — a b re akd ow n i n c iti z e ns’ c ap acity to c re ate a p la ce w here

th is k in d o f tr a ged y c o uld n o t h ap pen. H is a naly sis h as s ta yed w ith m e.

The L im it a tio ns o f S ym pto m s

The c o nv enti o nal a p pro ach to c o m munity b uild in g a nd d ev elo pm ent a d dre sse s p ro ble m a re as

su ch a s p ub lic s a fe ty , j o bs a nd l o cal e co no m y, a ffo rd ab le h o usin g, y o uth , u niv ers a l h ealth c are ,

and e d ucati o n. E very c ity h as th o usa nd s o f i n sti tu ti o ns, p ro gra m s, a nd a gencie s a ll c o m mitte d

to s e rv in g th e

pub lic g o od. F ro m th e s ta nd poin t o f b uild in g c o m munity a nd s o cia l c ap ita l, th ese

in sti tu ti o ns a nd p ro gra m s a re j u st tr e ati n g th e s y m pto m s. S afe ty , j o bs, h o usin g, a nd th e r e st a re

sy m pto m s o f th e u nre co ncile d a nd f r a gm ente d n atu re o f th e c o m munity — what L opez c alls th e

bre akd ow n o f c o m munity . T his f r a gm enta ti o n o r b re akd ow n c re ate s a c o nte xt w here tr y in g to

so lv e th e s y m pto m s o nly s u sta in s th em . O th erw is e , w hy h av e w e b een w ork in g o n th ese

sy m pto m s f o r s o l o ng a nd s o h ard ; a nd e v en w ith s o m any s u ccessfu l p ro gra m s, w hy h av e w e

se en to o l ittl e f u nd am enta l c hange?

The r e al i n te nt o f c o m munity tr a nsfo rm ati o n i s to s h ift th e u m bre lla u nd er w hic h th e

tr a d iti o nal p ro ble m s o lv in g, i n v estm ent, a nd s o cia l a nd c o m munity a cti o n n o w ta ke p la ce. I t i s

aim ed a t th e r e sto ra ti o n o f th e e xp erie nce a nd v ita lity o f c o m munity . I t i s th is s h ift i n c o nte xt,

exp re sse d th ro ugh a s h ift i n l a nguage, th at c re ate s th e c o nd iti o ns w here tr a d iti o nal f o rm s o f

acti o n c an c re ate a n a lte rn ati v e f u tu re .

When w e s h ift f r o m ta lk in g a b out th e p ro ble m s o f c o m munity to ta lk in g a b out th e b re akd ow n

of c o m munity , s o m eth in g c hanges.

Nam in g t h e c h alle n ge a s t h e “ bre a kd ow n o f c o m munity ”

open s t h e w ay f o r r e sto ra tio n.

Hold in g o n to th e v ie w th at c o m munity i s a s e t o f p ro ble m s to

be s o lv ed h o ld s u s i n th e g rip o f r e tr ib uti o n.

At e v ery l e v el o f s o cie ty , w e l iv e i n th e l a nd sc ap e o f r e tr ib uti o n. T he r e tr ib uti v e c o m munity

is s u sta in ed b y s e v era l a sp ects o f th e m odern c o m munity c o nv ers a ti o n, w hic h I w ill e xp and o n

th ro ugho ut th e b ook: th e m ark eti n g o f f e ar a nd f a ult, g ra v ita ti o n to w ard m ore l a w s a nd

overs ig ht, a n o bse ssio n w ith r o m anti c iz e d l e ad ers h ip , m arg in aliz in g h o pe a nd p ossib ility , a nd

dev alu in g a sso cia ti o nal l ife to th e p oin t o f i n v is ib ility .

Gettin g O ur S to ry A bout S to ry S tr a ig ht

One f o rm o f th e r e tr ib uti v e c o m munity c o nv ers a ti o n i s th e s to ry w e te ll o urs e lv es a b out w ho

we a re . G etti n g c le ar a b out th e n atu re o f s to ry i s i m porta nt i n a p pre cia ti n g th e p ow er o f th e Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

exis ti n g c o nte xt. E sp ecia lly i n th o se p la ces w here h is to ry a nd th e p ast s e em o verrid in gly

re str a in in g.

Sto ry te llin g p la ys a n o ble a nd h is to ric r o le i n o ur l iv es a nd i n s o cie ty . S to rie s c an g iv e u s a

narra ti v e to g uid e a nd i n str u ct u s. T hey a re c ru cia l to

our k no w in g w ho w e a re ; th ey p ro vid e a

se nse o f i d enti ty . S om e s to rie s, h o w ev er, b eco m e th e l im ita ti o n to c re ati n g a nyth in g n ew .

Wern er E rh ard h as b een s o i n sig htf u l a b out th is . W e n eed to d is ti n guis h b etw een th e s to rie s th at

giv e m eanin g to o ur l iv es a nd h elp u s f in d o ur v oic e, a nd th o se th at l im it o ur p ossib ility .

The s to rie s th at a re u se fu l a nd f u lfillin g a re th e o nes th at a re m eta p ho rs , s ig np osts , p ara b le s,

and i n sp ir a ti o n f o r th e f u lle st e xp re ssio n o f o ur h um anity . T hey a re c o m munal te achin g s to rie s.

Cre ati o n s to rie s, w is d om s to rie s, s o m eti m es p ers o nal s to rie s th at h av e a m yth ic q uality , e v en i f

th ey c o m e f r o m th e p ers o n s itti n g n ext to m e. A n e xam ple i s f r o m A dam K ahane’s b ook o n th e

sh ifti n g m om ent i n h is w ork i n S outh A fr ic a,

Solv in g T o ugh P ro ble m s

. A p ers o nal s to ry to ld

fo r th e f ir s t ti m e, o r s h are d f o r th e f ir s t ti m e i n p ub lic , c an h av e a tr a nsfo rm in g e ffe ct.

In R ussia , e v en th e p ast i s u np re d ic ta b le .

Auth or u nknow n

Theate r, m ovie s, s o ng, l ite ra tu re , a nd a rt a re s to ry te llin g o f th e h ig hest o rd er. T hese a re th e

med iu m s f o r b uild in g a n i n d iv id ual s e nse o f w hat i t m eans to b e h um an. T he a rts a re a n

esse nti a l p art o f th e s to ry o f w hat i t m eans to b e a h um an b ein g a nd a c o m munity .

There a re o th er k in d s o f s to rie s th at i n th eir te llin g b eco m e a l im ita ti o n. L im iti n g s to rie s a re

pers o nal v ers io ns o f th e p ast. T hey a re s to rie s a b out th e c o nclu sio ns w e d re w f r o m e v ents th at

hap pened to u s. O th er l im iti n g s to rie s a re th o se th at a re r e hears e d o r m ake th e p oin t th at th e

fu tu re w ill b e a s lig htl y m odifie d c o nti n uati o n o f th e p ast o ut o f w hic h th e s to ry a ro se . S to rie s

of th is n atu re p la ce u s a s v ic ti m s o f e v ents o r e v en f a te .

Lim iti n g s to rie s a re th e o nes th at p re se nt th em se lv es a s i f th ey w ere tr u e. F acts . O ur s to rie s

of o ur o w n p ast a re h eartf e lt a nd y et a re f ic ti o n. A ll w e k no w th at i s tr u e i s th at w e w ere b orn .

We m ay k no w f o r s u re w ho o ur p are nts , s ib lin gs, a nd o th er k ey p la yers i n o ur d ra m a w ere . B ut

our v ers io n o f a ll o f th em , th e m eanin g a nd m em ory th at w e n arra te to a ll w ho w ill l is te n, i s

our c re ati o n. M ad e u p . F ic ti o n. A nd th is i s g o od n ew s, f o r i t m eans th at a n ew s to ry c an b e

co nco cte d a ny ti m e w e c ho ose .

Sam e w ith c o m munity . T he s to rie s o f v io le nce, c rim e, w ro ngd oin g th at a re c o nsta ntl y to ld

are a ls o f ic ti o n. T he e v ents m ay h av e h ap pened , b ut th e v ers io ns th at l e t th o se e v ents d efin e

who w e a re a s a c o m munity — su ch a s

wheth er i t i s s a fe to g o d ow nto w n, w heth er w e n eed n ew

le ad ers , w heth er p eo ple i n th is p la ce a re f r ie nd ly , w heth er w e a re h ead ed u p o r d ow n— are a ll

fic ti o n. T he d ecis io n to te ll th o se s to rie s o ver a nd o ver a gain a s i f th ey w ere d efin in g tr u th s

cre ate s th e l im ita ti o n a gain st a n a lte rn ati v e f u tu re .

This i s w hy th era p y a nd h ealin g i s r e ally th e p ro cess o f r e -re m em berin g th e p ast i n a m ore

fo rg iv in g w ay. T he w illin gness to o w n u p to th e f ic ti o nal n atu re o f o ur s to ry i s w here th e

healin g b egin s. A nd w here th e p ossib ility o f r e sto ra ti o n r e sid es. Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

In th is w ay, r e sto ra ti o n c an b e c o nsid ere d th e w illin gness to c o m ple te a nd e lim in ate th e

pow er o ut o f th e c urre nt s to ry w e h av e o f o ur c o m munity a nd o ur p la ce i n i t. T his c re ate s a n

openin g to p ro duce a n ew c o lle cti v e s to ry . A n ew s to ry b ase d o n r e sto ra ti v e c o m munity . O ne

of p ossib ility , g enero sity , a cco unta b ility . Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

CH APT ER 3

The S tu ck C om munit y

The e x is tin g c o m munity

c o nte xt i s o ne t h at m ark ets f e a r, a ssig ns f a ult, a nd w orsh ip s

se lf- in te re st. T his c o nte xt s u pports t h e b elie f t h at t h e f u tu re w ill b e i m pro ved w ith n ew

la w s, m ore o versig ht, a nd s tr o nger l e a dersh ip . P ossib ility t h in kin g a nd a sso cia tio nal

life a re m arg in aliz e d , r e le g ate d t o h um an i n te re st a nd s id e s to rie s i n t h e m ed ia . T he

co rp ora te m odel i s t h e m odern i d ea l, a nd t h e e co nom y i s t h e c en te r s to ry. T he s to ry i n

th e s tu ck c o m munity d efin es t h e r o le o f t h e m ed ia a s f r a m er o f t h e d eb ate . I n c o m munity

build in g, w e n eed t o r e a liz e t h at w hat t h e m ed ia r e p orts i s a r e fle ctio n, n ot t h e c a use o f

th e c o nversa tio n t h at c itiz e n s c u rre n tly h old .

• • •

T o c re ate a

n ew s to ry , w e f ir s t n eed to c o m e to te rm s w ith th e c urre nt o ne. T his b egin s b y

n am in g i t. T he s to ry o f th e s tu ck c o m munity c an b e h eard b oth i n th e d om in ant p ub lic d eb ate

a nd a ls o i n w hat w e ta lk to e ach o th er a b out e ach d ay. I t i s i m porta nt to u nd ers ta nd th at th ere i s

a h id den a gend a i n e v ery s to ry . T his a gend a i s a p oin t to b e m ad e, a p oliti c al b elie f a b out w hat

i s i m porta nt, th at s ta ys c o nsta nt r e gard le ss o f th e e v ents o f th e d ay.

Mark etin g F ear a nd F ault

T he o verrid in g c hara cte ris ti c o f th e s tu ck c o m munity i s th e d ecis io n to b ro ad cast a ll th e

r e aso ns w e h av e to b e a fr a id . T his i s a k in d o f a d verti s in g

th at e xp lo its th e f e ar w e h av e o f

v io le nce, o f th e u rb an c o re , o f te rro ris m , o f A fr ic an-A meric ans a nd o th er e th nic g ro up s, o f

i m mig ra nts , o f th o se w ho a re p oor o r u nd ere d ucate d , o f o th er r e lig io ns, a nd o f o th er c o untr ie s.

I t s e em s l ik e th e l e ad s to ry o f e v ery l o cal e v enin g n ew sc ast i s a b out c rim e a nd h um an

s u ffe rin g, a nd i f o ur c ity h ad n o ne th at d ay, th en w e h ear h o w s o m ew here e ls e i n th e w orld

s o m eo ne w as m urd ere d , b om bed , k ille d i n a n a ccid ent, o r a b ducte d f r o m w hat w as o nce

t h o ught to b e a s a fe p la ce. W hat w e a re h earin g i s th e m ark eti n g o f f e ar.

In th e te llin g, w e a re w illin g to s a crific e th e w ho le ness a nd d ig nity o f a p ers o n f o r th e s a ke

o f c ap tu rin g th e e m oti o n o r d ra m a o f th e m om ent. T he m ark eti n g o f f e ar th ru sts a m ic ro pho ne i n

t h e f a ce o f s o m eo ne w ho h as j u st s u ffe re d a n i r re p la ceab le l o ss a nd a sk s, “ H ow d o y o u f e el? ”

I t i s th e c o m merc ia liz a ti o n o f s u ffe rin g f o r th e s a ke o f p ro fit. N ot th at c o m plic ate d .

When I w as d ep uty p re ss s e cre ta ry a t th e W hite H ouse , o ur c re d ib ility w as s o b ad w e

co uld n’t b elie v e o ur o w n l e aks.

Bill M oyers

The m ark eti n g o f f e ar i s n o t j u st f o r p ro fit; i t a ls o h o ld s a p oliti c al a gend a. F ear j u sti fie s th e Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

re tr ib uti v e a gend a, f u nd am enta lis t i n th e e xtr e m e, th at h as b een o n th e r is e f o r s o m e ti m e. T he

re tr ib uti v e a gend a b elie v es th at a j u st a nd c iv il s o cie ty i s o ne th at g iv es p rio rity to r e str a in ts ,

co nse q uences, a nd c o ntr o l, a nd u nd erlin es th e i m porta nce o f r u le s. I t g ets p ackaged a s s p ir itu al

valu es, f a m ily v alu es, th e A meric an w ay, l o ve i t o r l e av e i t, a ll u nd er th e u m bre lla o f l a w a nd

ord er. I t h elp s b uild th e i n carc era ti o n i n d ustr y a nd th e p ro te cti o n i n d ustr y , i t c re ate s a p la tf o rm

so th at th o se i n p ow er c an e xp and th eir p ow er, a nd i t d is c o unts th e r e hab ilita ti o n i n d ustr y . F ear

fo rm s th e b asis o f o ur r e cent f o re ig n p olic y a nd d riv es m uch o f o ur l e gis la ti o n. F ear a ls o f u els

th e a llu re o f s u b urb an l ife a nd i s a s u b tl e b ut c le ar a rg um ent a gain st d iv ers ity a nd i n clu sio n.

• • •

In a d diti o n to m ark eti n g f e ar, th e s tu ck c o m munity m ark ets f a ult. W hen th ere i s a h um an

tr a ged y, m ost o f th e e nerg y g o es i n to f in d in g w ho w as to b la m e. T here i s a r e tr ib uti v e s e arc h

fo r r e sp onsib ility a nd a c o rre sp ond in g d efe nse f r o m th e p la yers c la im in g th eir i n no cence. F ault

mark eti n g r e sts o n th e b elie f th at i f w e c an a ssig n b la m e a nd f in d c ause , i t i s u se fu l to s o cie ty

and s o m eho w r e assu re s u s th at i t w on’t h ap pen a gain . T o m e, th is i s i r ra ti o nal th in kin g. W hat i s

mis sin g h ere i s a r e co gniti o n o f th e c o m ple xity o f h um an a ffa ir s , a n a ckno w le d gm ent o f th e

para d oxic al a nd a ccid enta l n atu re o f l ife . T here i s n o i n su ra nce p olic y a gain st th e h um an

co nd iti o n.

Out o f th e d ecis io n to d w ell o n f e ar a nd f a ult, th e c o m munity i s s tu ck i n a c o nte xt th at h o ld s

th e f o llo w in g:

• W e a re a c o m munity o f p ro ble m s to b e s o lv ed . T ho se w ho c an b est a rti c ula te th e p ro ble m s

and w ho c an b est a rti c ula te th e s o lu ti o ns d om in ate th e c o nv ers a ti o n.

• T he f u tu re i s d efin ed b y th e i n te rp la y o f s e lf- in te re sts , d ep end ent o n th e a cco unta b ility o f

le ad ers , a nd c o ntr o lle d b y a s m all n um ber o f w ealth y a nd p ow erfu l p eo ple , c o m monly

lu m ped i n to th e c ate go ry w e c all “ th ey.”

• C om munity a cti o n i s a im ed a t e lim in ati n g th e s o urc es o f o ur f e ar. W e a im a t a s e t o f n eed s

and d efic ie ncie s. I n o rd er to e lim in ate o ur f e ar a nd r e sp ond to th e n eed in ess o f o ur

peo ple , w e tr y h ard er a t w hat w e h av e b een d oin g a ll a lo ng. W e l o ck d ow n

neig hb orh o ods, b uild m ore p ris o ns, a nd r e d uce to le ra nce to z e ro . W e c all f o r b ette r

pro gra m s, m ore e xp erti s e , m ore f u nd in g, b ette r l e ad ers h ip , s tr o nger c o nse q uences, a nd

more p ro te cti o n. W e a re c o m mitte d to tr y in g h ard er a t w hat i s n o t w ork in g.

Ram pin g U p L aw s a nd O versig ht

When s o m eth in g g o es w ro ng, w e c arry th e i llu sio n th at a fte r w e f in d th e g uilty p arty , s o m e k in d

of l e gis la ti o n o r c hange i n p olic y w ill p re v ent th e c rim e o r a ccid ent f r o m h ap penin g a gain . W e

are s tu ck i n th e b elie f th at w e c an l e gis la te th e f u tu re a nd m and ate m ora lity . I n C in cin nati w e

passe d a n o rd in ance th at s tr e et p eo ple h ad to b e l ic ense d to a sk p asse rs b y f o r m oney. T he i d ea

was th at s o m eho w I n o w w ould b e c o m fo rta b le g o in g d ow nto w n k no w in g th at th e p ers o n

ask in g f o r m oney h ad b een c erti fie d a nd a p pro ved b y th e c ity c o uncil. N ow e v en p anhand lin g Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

was p ro fe ssio naliz e d . T he o rd in ance d id n o t b rin g m ore p eo ple i n to to w n a t n ig ht.

The c o ncern a b out s tr e et s a fe ty a nd i n cre asin g th e c o m fo rt a nd q uality o f th e u rb an

exp erie nce i s o f c o urs e l e giti m ate . W hat l im its u s a nd u nd erm in es o ur q uest f o r a uth enti c

co m munity i s th e b elie f th at f a ult f in d in g, l e gis la ti o n, a nd e nfo rc em ent c an g iv e u s th e s e curity

we s e ek. B ut th is th in kin g i s j u st to o s im plis ti c a nd r e d ucti o nis t. I t i s m ore a r e sp onse to o ur

need to ta ke a cti o n a nd l o ok l ik e p ro ble m s o lv ers , r a th er th an f in d in g a d ura b le a nsw er to a

co m ple x c iv ic i s su e.

A c o ro lla ry to m ore l a w s i s th e p ush f o r m ore o vers ig ht. W e th in k th at m ore w atc hin g

im pro ves p erfo rm ance. A ll th e e v id ence i s to th e c o ntr a ry , f o r m ost h ig h-p erfo rm in g

co m muniti e s a nd o rg aniz a ti o ns a re h eav ily s e lf- re gula ti n g. M y f a v orite q uo te o n th is i s

“R ese arc h c ause s c ancer i n r a ts .” I t i s r e aso nab le to u nd ers ta nd th at th e a ct o f o vers ig ht m ay i n

fa ct i n cre ase th e v ery th in g th at i s b ein g w atc hed w ith th e i n te nt o f r e d ucin g i t.

The p oliti c al a gend a o f th e s tu ck c o m munity s a ys th at c iti z e ns a nd e m plo yees a re i n cap ab le

of m onito rin g th em se lv es a nd c o ntr o llin g e ach o th er, a nd th at m ore c are fu l o vers ig ht,

in sti tu ti o nally m and ate d a nd i n sta lle d , w ill b uild c o m munity a nd p ro vid e f o r th e c o m mon g o od.

It i s i n f a ct a n a rg um ent a gain st b uild in g c o m munity a nd e nd s u p l e av in g u s m ore d ep end ent o n

sp ecia lis ts a nd s p ecia l d esig nees o f th e s ta te . I t p ro vid es th e a rg um ent f o r m onarc hy. S om eo ne

to w atc h o ver m e.

Rom antic iz in g L eadersh ip

Caro le S ch urc h w as t a kin g c a re o f t h e l o gis tic s o f a c o nfe re n ce o n t r a nsfo rm atio n. S he

open ed t h e e ven t b y a nnouncin g, “ The r e str o om s a re d ow n t h e h all o n t h e l e ft, l u nch w ill

be a t 1 :0 0 p .m ., d in ner i s a t 8 :0 0 p .m ., a nd t h e c o nfe re n ce w ill b e o ver t o m orro w

afte rn oon. L et m e k n ow i f I c a n h elp y o u w ith a nyth in g a nd a ls o l e t m e k n ow w hat t im e

yo ur m oth er i s p ic kin g y o u u p!”

We l o ve o ur h ab it o f d ep end ency a nd a ccep t th e c ultu re o f r e tr ib uti o n b ecause i t r e in fo rc es th e

case f o r s tr o ng l e ad ers — “str o ng” b ein g th e c o de w ord f o r a uto cra ti c , a m essa ge o ur c ultu re i s

in cre asin gly w illin g to a cced e to . W e a re f a sc in ate d w ith o ur l e ad ers . W e s p eak e nd le ssly , b oth

in th e p ub lic c o nv ers a ti o n a nd p riv ate ly , a b out th e r is e a nd f a ll o f l e ad ers . T he a gend a

th is

su sta in s i s th at l e ad ers a re c ause a nd a ll o th ers a re e ffe ct. T hat a ll th at c o unts i s w hat l e ad ers

do. T hat l e ad ers a re th e l e v era ge p oin t f o r b uild in g a b ette r c o m munity . T hat th ey a re

fo re gro und w hile c iti z e ns, f o llo w ers , p la yers , a nd a nyo ne e ls e n o t i n a l e ad ers h ip p ositi o n i s

backgro und . T his i s a d eep ly p atr ia rc hal a gend a, a nd i t i s th is l o ve o f l e ad ers th at l im its o ur

cap acity to c re ate a n a lte rn ati v e f u tu re . I t p ro pose s th at th e o nly r e al a cco unta b ility i n th e

world i s a t th e to p. T hey a re th e o nly o nes w orth ta lk in g a b out.

The e ffe ct o f b uyin g i n to th is v ie w o f l e ad ers h ip i s th at i t l e ts c iti z e ns o ff th e h o ok a nd

bre ed s c iti z e n d ep end ency a nd e nti tl e m ent. I t u nd erm in es a c ultu re w here e ach i s a cco unta b le

fo r th eir c o m munity . T he a tte nti o n o n th e l e ad er m akes g o od c o py, i t g iv es u s s o m eo ne to b la m e

and th ere b y d ecla re s o ur i n no cence, b ut i t d oes n o t c o ntr ib ute to b uild in g c o m munity . I n i ts o w nBlock, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

way, i t r e in fo rc es i n d iv id ualis m , p utti n g u s i n th e s ta nce o f w aiti n g f o r th e c re am to r is e ,

wis h in g f o r a g re at i n d iv id ual to b rin g l ig ht w here th ere w as d ark ness.

What i s m is sin g o r d is m is se d h ere a re th e c o m munity -b uild in g i n sig hts a b out h o w g ro up s

work , th e p ow er o f r e la te d ness, w hat o ccurs w hen o rd in ary p eo ple g et to geth er. W e w rite

co m munal p ossib ility o ff a s j u st a no th er m eeti n g, th e b lin d l e ad in g th e b lin d , c iti z e ns c o m in g

to geth er to p ool i g no ra nce o r to s p eak “ tr u th to p ow er,” w hic h i s j u st a c o m pla in t s e ssio n i n

ev enin g c lo th es.

As a n a sid e, to r e tu rn to i n m ore d ep th l a te r, s o m e r e aso ns f o r d is c o unti n g th e p ow er o f

citi z e ns a re w ell f o und ed , f o r m ost o f th e ti m e w hen c iti z e ns c o m e to geth er i t m akes n o

diffe re nce. T hat’ s b ecause th ey o pera te u nd er th e r e tr ib uti v e p rin cip le s th at I a m tr y in g to

desc rib e i n th is s e cti o n. T hey w ant to d efin e th e p ro ble m , f in d f a ult, e la b ora te f e ar, d em and

co ntr o l- o rie nte d a cti o n, a nd p oin t to l e ad ers . M any c iti z e ns g et e ngaged i n c o m munity o nly

when th ey a re a ngry .

If w e k eep e ngagin g c iti z e ns i n th is tr a d iti o nal w ay, th en n o a m ount o f i n v olv em ent w ill

make a d iffe re nce. T he w ay w e c urre ntl y g ath er h as n o tr a nsfo rm ati o nal p ow er. T his i s w hat

need s to c hange, f o r i f w e d o n o t c hange th e w ay c iti z e ns c o m e to geth er, i f w e d o n o t s h ift th e

co nte xt u nd er w hic h w e g ath er a nd d o n o t c hange th e m eth o dolo gy o f o ur g ath erin gs, th en w e

will h av e to k eep w aiti n g f o r g re at l e ad ers , a nd w e w ill n ev er s te p u p to th e p ow er a nd

acco unta b ility th at i s w ith in o ur g ra sp .

Marg in aliz in g P ossib ilit y

Giv en th e d om in ant c o nte xt th at v alu es s c arc ity , l e ad ers h ip , i n d iv id ualis m , f e ar, a nd f a ult,

anyth in g p ositi v e o r h o pefu l b eco m es a n a no m aly . A n e xcep ti o n, a n a ccid ent. T o c ho ose

possib ility m eans I h av e to c o nfr o nt c ynic is m . J o urn alis m , h um an s e rv ic es, c o rre cti o ns, a nd

pub lic s a fe ty a re p ro fe ssio ns th at c la im th eir c ynic is m c o m es f r o m c o nsta nt c o nta ct a nd

fa m ilia rity w ith th e d ark s id e o f s o cie ty . T his i g no re s th e r e ality th at w hat y o u s e e c o m es f r o m

what y o u c ho ose to l o ok a t. D ecid e th at a ll th e n ew s f it to p rin t i s a b out p ro ble m s, a nd th at i s

what y o u g et. I n th e r e tr ib uti v e c ultu re , c ynic is m i s th e n o rm a nd b eco m es th e l e ad s to ry .

Cynic is m j u sti fie s r e tr ib uti o n. R etr ib uti o n i s f u ele d b y c ynic is m .

In th is c o nte xt, p ossib ility a nd v is io n b eco m e b urie d i n th e m id dle s e cti o n o f th e n ew s, o r

beco m e a n u p beat p at o n th e b ack a s th e a ncho r g o es o ff th e a ir. P ossib ility a nd f a ith a re s e en

as th re ate nin g b ecause th ey a re a n i n d ic tm ent o f c ynic is m . S o i t i s n o t b y a ccid ent th at w hen

citi z e ns d o f in d a w ay to u se th eir g ifts , o r c o m mit to s o m eth in g th o ught i m possib le , o r b rin g

fa ith a nd g ra ti tu d e i n to th e w orld , th e s to ry i s r e d uced to a “ hum an i n te re st” p ie ce— th e k is s o f

death w hen i t c o m es to c hangin g o ur c o nte xt. M any r e p orte rs d o n o t e v en c o nsid er th ese s to rie s

jo urn alis m .

This i s o ne w ay p ossib ility i s tr iv ia liz e d . W hen l a b ele d “ hum an i n te re st,” p ossib ility

doesn ’t q ualify a s n ew s. I t i s a f e el- g o od d iv ers io n. S om eth in g to c alm o ur n erv es. P ossib ility

and th e f a ith th at s u p ports i t m ay b e s tr o ng d ecla ra ti o ns f o r th e i n d iv id ual, b ut f o r th e

co lle cti v e, th ey a re n eute re d a nd tr e ate d a s m ere ly c harm in g. Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

Possib ility a ls o g ets u nd erm in ed b y b ein g c o nfu se d w ith o pti m is m . E ven w hen l e ad ers

sp eak to th e p ossib ility o f o ur c o m munity , i n th e s tu ck c o m munity w e c o nsid er i t a m oti v ati o nal

sp eech, a s a le s p itc h, a b oots tr a p k eyno te to m ake p eo ple f e el b ette r, to l ift o ur s p ir its f r o m

what w e c all r e ality . B ut p ossib ility i s n o t a p re d ic ti o n, o r a g o al; i t i s a c ho ic e to b rin g a

certa in q uality i n to o ur l iv es. O pti m is m , w hic h

a p re d ic ti o n a b out th e f u tu re , h as n o p ow er.

Pessim is m i s e q ually i r re le v ant.

The w ays i n w hic h p ossib ility i s m arg in aliz e d u nd erlin e th e i m porta nce o f c o nte xt. A ll th at

does n o t c o nfir m th e p re v ailin g m in d se t i s m ad e m arg in al a nd c ute . T his i s w hy, i f y o u w ant to

cre ate a n a lte rn ati v e f u tu re , y o u

hav e to s h ift th e c o nte xt, f o r a ll th at d is c o nfir m s th e c urre nt

co nte xt w ill b e d is c ard ed . W e n eed to s h ift w hat i s c o nsid ere d “ re ality .” F or e xam ple , i f w e

se e th e m ed ia a s a r e fle cti o n o f w ho w e a re , w hy n o t v alu e w ith o ur l is te nin g th e m ed ia th at

pro m ote s l e arn in g a nd p ossib ility , d ocum ents m ir a cle s, a nd r e p orts o n a d iffe re nt a gend a, a nd

call i t th e “ new r e ality ”? L es I h ara , a l o ngti m e s ta te s e nato r i n H aw aii, s a ys th at w hat i s

need ed i s “ a s h ift i n th e g ro und o f b ein g th at r e p orts th e n ew s.” I f w e ta ke th at s e rio usly , a s

fa ctu al a nd tr u e, th en s o m eth in g n ew i s b ro ught i n to th e w orld .

Devalu in g A sso cia tio nal L if e

Jo hn M cK nig ht h as s tu d ie d c o m muniti e s f o r 3 0 y ears a nd f o und th at c o m munity i s b uilt m ost

pow erfu lly b y w hat h e c alls “ asso cia ti o nal l ife ,” r e fe rrin g to th e m yria d w ays c iti z e ns c o m e

to geth er to d o g o od w ork a nd s e rv e th e p ub lic i n te re st. W heth er i n c lu b s, a sso cia ti o ns,

in fo rm al g ath erin gs, s p ecia l e v ents , o r j u st o n th e s tr e et o r a t b re akfa st, n eig hb orly c o nta ct

co nsti tu te s a n u nco unte d a nd u nno ti c ed g lu e a nd c o nnecti o n th at m akes g o od c o m muniti e s

work .

The s tu ck c o m munity e sse nti a lly d is c o unts a sso cia ti o nal l ife a nd i n ste ad v alu es, a nd e v en

glo rifie s, th e “ sy ste m ” l ife , e sp ecia lly th e p riv ate s e cto r a nd c o rp ora te m in d se t. T his c o nte xt i s

so a ro und u s th at w e h av e b eco m e a naesth eti z e d to i t. A lth o ugh th ere i s a g ro w in g a w are ness

of th e c o st o f th is m in d se t ( s e e D av id K orte n), w e s ti ll a ct a s i f w hat i s g o od f o r b usin ess i s

go od f o r th e c o untr y .

Here a re s o m e w ays i n w hic h w e d is c o unt a sso cia ti o nal l ife , th e p la ce w here th e s o cia l

fa b ric i s b uilt:

•

The o nly t r u e m easu re o f c o m munit y is it s e co nom ic p ro sp erit y .

W e s e ek th e A meric an

dre am , s tr e ets p av ed w ith g o ld . T he o nly g o od n ew s th at m akes th e n ew s i s w hen T oyo ta

decid es to b uild a p la nt i n o ur to w n. C om muniti e s w ill j u sti fy s p end in g i n fin ite a m ounts

of m oney to k eep s p orts te am s b ecause th ey a re th eo re ti c ally g o od f o r th e e co no m y. J o b

cre ati o n i s th e f in al a rg um ent f o r m ost o f o ur m is ta kes.

•

We n am e s o cia l s e rv ic e a nd in stit u tio ns t h at s e rv e t h e p ublic g ood “ not f o r p ro fit s .”

“N ot f o r p ro fit” m eans th at s e rv ic e a nd g enero sity a re d efin ed b y w hat i t i s n o t. W hat k in d

of i d enti ty a nd e ste em d oes th is e sta b lis h f o r th e c ho ic e f o r s e rv ic e a nd c are f o r

co m munity ? C an y o u i m agin e i n tr o ducin g y o urs e lf a s th e n am e y o u a re

not?

“ H ello , m yBlock, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

nam e i s n o t A lic e.” “ W ell, I w ould l ik e y o u to m eet m y f r ie nd , n o t R oger.” T here i s n o

id enti ty i n th at. N oth in g m em ora b le o r r e co gniz a b le n ext ti m e w e m eet. T here i s a

movem ent to c all i t th e “ p ub lic b enefit” s e cto r. N ot s u ch a b ad th in g.

•

Asso cia tio ns a re u nder c o nsta nt p re ssu re t o b e m ore c o rp ora te : t o m erg e, b eco m e

more e ffic ie nt, s u bm it t o e xte rn al o versig ht, m easu re h ard er, a nd s u bm it t o g re ate r

acco unta bilit y .

T hese a re c o re v alu es i n th e p riv ate s e cto r. A n atu ra l o utg ro w th o f th is i s

th e w ay m any f o und ati o ns, w hic h e xis t f o r th e s a ke o f c o m munity s e rv ic e, tr e at

co rp ora ti o ns a s th eir c lie nts . I n th e p hila nth ro pic w orld y o u a ls o h ear p eo ple ta lk a b out

th eir “ re tu rn o n s o cia l i n v estm ent.” W e u se th e l a nguage o f c o m merc e w hen ta lk in g a b out

th e f ie ld o f g enero sity .

•

The p ublic b enefit s e cto r m ak es f r o nt p age n ew s o nly w hen t h ere is s c a ndal.

T he h ead

of a l a rg e a gency w ho s p end s f u nd s o n l im ousin es a nd h ig h l iv in g i s f r o nt p age f o r d ays.

When th e s a m e a gency s o fte ns th e l a nd in g f o r p eo ple i n a tr a ged y o r tu rn s p eo ple ’s l iv es

aro und , th e s to ry i s a t b est a f o otn o te .

•

We m arg in aliz e c o m passio n in t h e p ublic c o nversa tio n.

H ere ’s a n e xam ple : A s a n e ffo rt

to b uild th e i m age a nd w ell- b ein g o f th e c ity , G o C in cin nati i s a b out s tr e etc ars , h o usin g

dev elo pm ent, a nd a ttr a cti n g n ew b usin esse s. I t s e lls h ard th e s tr e ngth s o f th e c ity ,

in clu d in g th e a rts , e nte rta in m ent, a nd s p orts a ttr a cti o ns. A ll g o od th in gs to s e ll a nd

esse nti a l to a c ity th at w ork s. W hat i s m is sin g i n th is c o nv ers a ti o n a nd s a le s p itc h i s th e

co m passio n o f a c ity . H av in g a l a rg e n um ber o f s o cia l s e rv ic es i n a n eig hb orh o od i s s e en

as a w eakness, n o t a s e llin g p oin t. T he v ie w i s th at i f p eo ple n eed h elp , i f th ey a re

vuln era b le o r i n c ris is , i t i s a c o m munal l ia b ility . T he g enero sity th at s e rv es th ese p eo ple

go es u nm enti o ned a s a n a sse t.

Rein fo rc in g S elf -In te re st a nd I s o la tio n

These d im ensio ns o f th e w ay w e ta lk a b out o ur c o m munity a nd th e d om in ant s to rie s w e te ll

ab out o ur c o m munity w ork to geth er to c re ate a n i n su la r m enta lity . U nd er th e s ie ge o f f e ar, f a ult,

and th e r e st, p eo ple a nd i n sti tu ti o ns b uild a w all a ro und th em se lv es a nd a re p rim arily

co ncern ed w ith th eir o w n s u rv iv al. T his g iv es u s a c o m munity w here e ach s e cto r— busin ess,

ed ucati o n, g o vern m ent, s o cia l s e rv ic e, h ealth c are — is s o f o cuse d o n i ts o w n a ffa ir s th at th o se

who c ho ose to c o m mit to th e w ell- b ein g o f th e w ho le h av e a d iffic ult ti m e g ain in g a f o oth o ld .

And w hat e xis ts f o r o ur i n sti tu ti o ns i s r e in fo rc ed b y c iti z e ns. C iti z e ns m ostl y g et e ngaged

when s o m eth in g th re ate ns th eir b ackyard . T hey s h o w u p i n p ub lic s e tti n gs w hen th ey a re a ngry ;

th ey b eco m e a cti v ate d b y n arro w ly d efin ed i n te re sts .

Both i n sti tu ti o ns a nd a cti v e c iti z e ns a re s in cere a nd o fte n e ffe cti v e i n th e p urs u it o f th eir

ow n w ell- b ein g, o f m atte rs th at o ccur w ith in th eir o w n b ound arie s. B ut n o m atte r h o w e ffe cti v e

th ey a re i n p urs u in g th eir i n te re sts , th e c o m munity a s a w ho le d oes n o t c hange, e sp ecia lly f o r

th o se o n th e m arg in . I n a n i n d iv id ualis ti c c ultu re , th e s o cia l c ap ita l, th e f a b ric o f c o m munity ,

does n o t g et b uilt.

To s u m mariz e , th e c o nte xt o f r e tr ib uti o n a nd th e s to ry th at g ro w s o ut o f i t c ause o ur a tte m pts Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

to b uild c o m munity to b e w hat a ctu ally k eep s i t u nchanged . O ur r e tr ib uti v e a p pro ach to th e

sy m pto m s o f p overty , v io le nce, h o m ele ssn ess, a nd c ynic is m d oes n o t c re ate th ese s y m pto m s

but i n te rfe re s w ith th eir c hangin g. R etr ib uti o n b y i ts n atu re s e rv es to f r a gm ent c o m munity a nd

re d uce s o cia l c ap ita l. T he s id e e ffe ct i s th at e ach c iti z e n’s a cco unta b ility f o r th e w ell- b ein g o f

co m munity i s r e d uced . W hen th e c o nte xt i s r e tr ib uti v e, r e d uced a cco unta b ility a nd d im in is h ed

so cia l c ap ita l a re th e d ir e ct o utg ro w th s o f o ur v ery e ffo rts to i m pro ve c o m munity . A nd th is

mostl y o ccurs a s a n u nin te nd ed c o nse q uence, f o r n o o ne h o ld s a f r a gm ente d c o m munity a s a

go al.

The r e tr ib uti v e c o nte xt, g iv en f o rm th ro ugh th e d om in ant p ub lic c o nv ers a ti o n, i s b ase d o n a

cultu re o f f e ar, f a ult f in d in g, f r a gm enta ti o n, a nd w orry in g m ore a b out ta xes th an c o m passio n; i t

is m ore a b out b ein g r ig ht th an w ork in g s o m eth in g o ut, m ore a b out g erry m and erin g f o r o ur o w n

in te re sts th an g iv in g v oic e to th o se o n th e m arg in . O th er th an th at, i t i s f in e.

The M edia

As a k ey m esse nger o f c o nte xt i n th e s tu ck c o m munity , th e m ed ia ta kes i ts c ue f r o m c iti z e ns a nd

makes i ts l iv in g f r o m r e tr ib uti o n. T he p ub lic c o nv ers a ti o n m ost v is ib le to u s i s th e i n te ra cti o n

betw een w hat w e c iti z e ns w ant to h ear a nd th e n arra ti v e p ut f o rth b y th e m ed ia . B ut i t i s to o

easy to b la m e th e m ed ia f o r v alu in g e nte rta in m ent o ver n ew s a nd f o r s e llin g f e ar a nd p ro ble m s

over g enero sity a nd p ossib ility . I t i s m ore u se fu l to s e e th at th e m ed ia i s a r e fle cti o n o f w ho

we, a s c iti z e ns, h av e b eco m e.

The n ew s i s m ost u se fu lly u nd ers to od a s th e d aily d ecis io ns a b out w hat i s n ew sw orth y. T his

is a p ow er th at g o es w ay b eyo nd s im ply i n fo rm in g u s. T he a gend a i n e ach s to ry d efin es w hat i s

im porta nt, a nd i n d oin g th is , i t p ro m ote s a n i d enti ty f o r a c o m munity .

The p ro ble m , o f c o urs e , w as th at B ab a s a w th e w orld i n b la ck a nd w hite . A nd h e g o t to

decid e w hat w as b la ck a nd w hite .

Khale d H osse in i,

The K ite R unner

This m eans th e r e al i m porta nce o f th e m ed ia i s n o t i n th e ty p ic al d eb ate o ver th e q uality ,

bala nce, o r e v en a ccura cy o f w hat i s r e p orte d . T hese v ary w ith th e c hannel, th e n etw ork , th e

new sp ap er, th e W eb s ite . T hey v ary w ith h av in g th e r e so urc es to g et th e w ho le s to ry , th e m ark et

se gm ent i t i s a im in g a t, a nd i ts e d ito ria l a gend a. W hat i s m ost i m porta nt, a nd th e p ow er th at i s

most d efin in g, i s th e p ow er o f th e m ed ia to d ecid e w hat i s w orth ta lk in g a b out. A s B riti s h

new sp ap er p io neer L ord N orth cliffe o nce s a id , “ N ew s i s w hat s o m eb ody s o m ew here w ants to

su p pre ss; a ll th e r e st i s a d verti s in g.”

The m ed ia ’s p ow er i s th e p ow er to n am e th e p ub lic d eb ate . O r, i n o th er w ord s, th e p ow er to

nam e “ re ality .” T his i s tr u e f o r th e m ain str e am a s w ell a s o nlin e m ed ia .

The p oin t i s th is : C iti z e ns h av e th e c ap acity to c hange th e c o m munity s to ry , to r e cla im th e

pow er to n am e w hat i s w orth ta lk in g a b out, to b rin g a n ew c o nte xt i n to b ein g. T ho se o f u s w ho Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

cre ate th e c urre nt d om in ant c o nte xt f o r th e c o m munity c o nv ers a ti o n d riv e th e c o nd iti o ns th at

nurtu re a r e tr ib uti v e c o nte xt o r a r e tr ib uti v e c o m munity . I f w e d o n o t c ho ose to c hange th is

co nte xt a nd th e s tr a te gie s th at f o llo w f r o m i t, w e w ill p ro duce n o n ew o utc o m es f o r o ur

in sti tu ti o ns, n eig hb orh o ods, a nd to w ns. Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

CH APT ER 4

The R esto ra tiv e C om munit y

Resto ra tio n c o m es

f r o m t h e c h oic e t o v a lu e p ossib ility a nd r e la te d ness o ver p ro ble m s,

se lf- in te re st, a nd t h e r e st o f t h e s tu ck c o m munity ’s a gen da. I t h in ges o n t h e

acco unta bility c h ose n b y c itiz e n s a nd t h eir w illin gness t o c o nnect w ith e a ch o th er

aro und p ro m is e s t h ey m ake t o e a ch o th er.

Resto ra tio n i s c re a te d b y t h e k in ds o f c o nversa tio ns w e i n itia te w ith e a ch o th er. T hese

co nversa tio ns a re t h e l e vera ge p oin t f o r a n a lte rn ativ e f u tu re . T he c o re q uestio n t h at

underlie s e a ch c o nversa tio n i s “ W hat c a n w e c re a te t o geth er? ” S hiftin g t h e c o nte xt

fr o m r e tr ib utio n t o r e sto ra tio n w ill o ccu r t h ro ugh l a nguage t h at m oves i n t h e f o llo w in g

dir e ctio ns: f r o m p ro ble m s t o p ossib ility ; f r o m f e a r a nd f a ult t o g ifts , g en ero sity , a nd

abundance; f r o m l a w a nd o versig ht t o s o cia l f a bric a nd c h ose n a cco unta bility ; f r o m

co rp ora tio n a nd s y ste m s t o a sso cia tio nal l ife ; a nd f r o m l e a ders t o c itiz e n s.

• • •

I n c o ntr a st t o t h e

i s o la ti n g e ffe cts o f r e tr ib uti o n, a r e sto ra ti v e e xp erie nce, r e la ti o nsh ip , o r

c o m munity p ro duces n ew e nerg y r a th er th an h o ld in g u s i n p la ce. R esto ra ti o n i s a sso cia te d w ith

t h e q uality o f a liv eness a nd w ho le ness th at C hris to pher A le xand er ta lk s a b out. T his q uality i s

n o t o nly i n th e a rti fa cts , b uild in gs, a nd s p aces th at h e r e fe rs to , b ut a ls o i n th e g ath erin gs a nd

c o nv ers a ti o ns w e c ho ose to c re ate . T he e nerg y c ris is w e f a ce i s n o t s o m uch a b out f o ssil f u els

a s i t i s a b out th e c alc ifie d e xp erie nce th at i s to o o fte n c re ate d b y th e w ay w e h o ld

c o nv ers a ti o ns, b oth p ub lic ly a nd w hen w e c o m e to geth er i n m ore p riv ate s e tti n gs.

Resto ra ti v e c o m munity i s c re ate d w hen w e a llo w o urs e lv es to u se th e l a nguage o f h ealin g

a nd r e la te d ness a nd b elo ngin g w ith o ut e m barra ssm ent. I t r e co gniz e s th at ta kin g r e sp onsib ility

f o r o ne’s o w n p art i n c re ati n g th e p re se nt s itu ati o n i s th e c riti c al a ct o f c o ura ge a nd

e ngagem ent, w hic h i s th e a xis a ro und w hic h th e f u tu re r o ta te s. T he e sse nce o f r e sto ra ti v e

c o m munity b uild in g i s n o t e co no m ic p ro sp erity o r th e p oliti c al d is c o urs e o r th e c ap acity o f

l e ad ers h ip ; i t i s c iti z e ns’ w illin gness to o w n u p to th eir c o ntr ib uti o n, to b e h um ble , to c ho ose

a cco unta b ility , a nd to h av e f a ith i n th eir o w n c ap acity to m ake a uth enti c p ro m is e s to c re ate th e

a lte rn ati v e f u tu re .

This m eans th at th e e sse nti a l a sp ect o f th e r e sto ra ti o n o f c o m munity i s a c o nte xt i n w hic h

e ach c iti z e n c ho ose s to b e a cco unta b le r a th er th an e nti tl e d .

Acco unta b ility i s th e w illin gness to c are f o r th e w ho le , a nd i t f lo w s o ut o f th e k in d o f

c o nv ers a ti o ns w e h av e a b out th e n ew s to ry w e w ant to ta ke o ur i d enti ty f r o m . I t m eans w e h av e

c o nv ers a ti o ns o f w hat w e c an d o to c re ate th e f u tu re . E nti tl e m ent i s a c o nv ers a ti o n a b out w hat

o th ers c an o r n eed to d o to c re ate th e f u tu re f o r u s.

Resto ra ti o n b egin s w hen w e th in k o f c o m munity a s a p ossib ility , a d ecla ra ti o n o f th e f u tu re

t h at w e c ho ose to l iv e i n to . T his i d ea o f a c o m munal p ossib ility i s d is ti n ct f r o m w hat w e

c o m monly c all a n i n d iv id ual p ossib ility . C om munity i s s o m eth in g m ore th an a c o lle cti o n o fBlock, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

in d iv id ual l o ngin gs, d esir e s, o r p ossib iliti e s. T he c o m munal p ossib ility h as i ts o w n l a nd sc ap e,

and i ts o w n d ynam ic s, r e q uir e m ents , a nd p oin ts o f l e v era ge. I n th e i n d iv id ualis ti c w orld w e

liv e i n , w e c an c o ngre gate a l a rg e c o lle cti o n o f s e lf- a ctu aliz e d p eo ple a nd s ti ll n o t h o ld th e

id ea o r e xp erie nce o f c o m munity .

The c o m munal p ossib ility r o ta te s o n th e q uesti o n “ W hat c an w e c re ate to geth er? ” T his

em erg es f r o m th e s o cia l s p ace w e c re ate w hen w e a re to geth er. I t i s s h ap ed b y th e n atu re o f th e

cultu re w ith in w hic h w e o pera te b ut i s n o t c o ntr o lle d b y i t. T his q uesti o n o f w hat w e c an

cre ate to geth er i s a t th e i n te rs e cti o n o f p ossib ility a nd a cco unta b ility . P ossib ility w ith o ut

acco unta b ility r e su lts i n a w is h fu l th in kin g. A cco unta b ility w ith o ut p ossib ility c re ate s d esp air,

fo r e v en i f w e k no w w e a re c re ati n g th e w orld w e e xis t i n , w e c anno t i m agin e i ts b ein g a ny

diffe re nt f r o m th e p ast th at g o t u s h ere .

Exam ple : T he C le rm ont C ounse lin g C ente r

Tric ia B urk e i s th e d ir e cto r o f th e C le rm ont C ounse lin g C ente r. S he c o m ple te ly u nd ers ta nd s th e

destr u cti v e p ow er o f l a b elin g a nd c ate go riz in g h um an b ein gs. R are f o r o ne i n a l e ad ers h ip

positi o n i n a l a b elin g i n d ustr y . O ne o f h er p ro gra m s i s f o r w om en i n a b usiv e r e la ti o nsh ip s w ho

are s u rv iv ors o f d om esti c v io le nce. S he c alls th is p ro gra m W om en o f W orth . W hat’ s i n a n am e

. . . e v ery th in g.

The c o unse lin g c ente r a ls o r u ns a m enta l h ealth f a cility , a nd th is i s th e s to ry I w ant to p ay

atte nti o n to . I t c o nta in s m ost o f th e e le m ents o f f r e ed om , c ho ic e, tr a nsfo rm in g l a nguage, a nd

sm all g ro up b elo ngin g d is c usse d i n th is b ook. I n th e m enta l h ealth p ro gra m a re c lie nts w ho a re

la b ele d a s p ara no id s c hiz o phre nic , b ip ola r, a nd d elu sio nal, a nd h av e a h is to ry o f s ta te h o sp ita l

sta ys. F or th e c ente r to b ill M ed ic aid f o r th eir s e rv ic es, th e s e rv ic es m ust b e “ m ed ic ally

necessa ry .” T his m eans th ey a re r e q uir e d to c erti fy e ach c lie nt’ s i lln ess a nd m ed ic aliz e a ll o f

th e c ente r’s s e rv ic es i n o rd er to b e r e im burs e d .

In th e e yes o f T ric ia a nd h er s ta ff, m any o f th e m ost e ffe cti v e h ealin g e ffo rts c o m e f r o m

acti o ns th at a re n o t r e ally m ed ic al i n te rv enti o ns. W hat a re o fte n m ost h ealin g a re th e w ays th at

peo ple i n p ro gra m s l ik e th e c ente r’s d is c o ver to h av e f u n, e m bra ced a nd s u rro und ed b y th e

su p port o f o th ers l ik e th em se lv es. T he s e nse o f b elo ngin g th at a ccru es i s a s h ealin g a s

tr a d iti o nal tr e atm ent. T his s o rt o f th in g i s n o t a l e giti m ate p ro gra m a cti v ity i n th e e yes o f

Med ic aid . T o k eep M ed ic aid f u nd in g, th e c ente r i s r e q uir e d to n am e a nd p la ce a d is e ase o n th e

head o f e ach p ers o n.

Desp ite th is , T ric ia a nd h er s ta ff d ecid ed to c hange th e c o nv ers a ti o n a t C le rm ont i n d ra m ati c

ways. T hey g av e u p th e M ed ic aid f u nd in g f o r th eir “ p arti a l h o sp ita l d ay tr e atm ent” p ro gra m

and p ut th e c lie nts i n c harg e o f th e d ay p ro gra m . S ta ff w ere r e assig ned to o th er p ro gra m s. I n

doin g th is , T ric ia c hanged th e m essa ge to c lie nts f r o m o ne f o cusin g o n th eir l ia b iliti e s to o ne

fo cusin g o n th eir p ossib iliti e s. T he o rg aniz in g q uesti o ns to “ m em bers ” — no l o nger p ati e nts —

were “ W hat d o y o u l ik e to d o?” a nd “ H ow d o y o u w ant to f ill y o ur d ay?” W hile th e tr a d iti o nal

ho sp ita l e xp erie nces w ere m ain ta in ed , th ese q uesti o ns w ere th e o rg aniz in g p rin cip le s th at

guid ed th e h ealin g p ro cess.

The s tr a te gy th en w as to tr e at m em bers a s i f th ey h ad th e c ap acity to d esig n a nd s tr u ctu re a

go od p orti o n o f th eir o w n ti m e. P ho enix P la ce, th e

new n am e c ho se n b y th e c lie nts f o r th is Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

effo rt, b ecam e a c o ntr o lle d s e lf- g o vern in g p ro gra m . T here w as o nly o ne p aid s ta ff m em ber—

Kim H ensle y, th e d ir e cto r o f th e p ro gra m — and m any o f th e g o vern ance a nd p ro gra m d ecis io ns

were p la ced i n th e h and s o f m em bers .

In th e f ir s t y ear, th e m em bers c am e u p w ith i n genio us a nsw ers to th e q uesti o n “ W hat c an w e

cre ate to geth er? ” F or e xam ple :

• T hey f o rm ed a nd c ho se a n e xecuti v e c o m mitte e f o r th em se lv es.

• T hey o rg aniz e d a w elln ess a cti v ity .

• T hey v olu nte ere d th eir s e rv ic es to a n a nim al s h elte r.

• T hey w ante d to tr a v el, s o th ey d ecid ed to o pen a s n ack s h o p to e arn m oney.

• W hen P ho enix P la ce r e ceiv ed a g ra nt to d o m ed ic ati o n e d ucati o n f o r o th er m enta lly i ll

fo lk i n f iv e c o unti e s, th e m em bers d id th is e d ucati o n.

• W hen O hio s ta te l e gis la to rs w ere i n v ite d to v is it th e f a cility , th e m em bers w ante d ti m e

with th em to m ake th e p oin t th at p eo ple w ho h av e m enta l i lln ess a re n o t th eir i lln ess, th ey

are m uch m ore th an th eir i lln ess.

• T hey w ere n o l o nger a fr a id to ta lk a b out th eir l iv es; th ey c am e o ut o f th e c lo se t.

• T he g ro up s ta rte d tr a in in g p olic e o n th e n atu re o f m enta l i lln ess— what i t i s l ik e to h ear

voic es, f o r e xam ple . T hey ta ught th e p olic e h o w to a p pro ach p eo ple h av in g a n i n cid ent

and w hat l a nguage to u se .

• T hey s ta rte d a j o urn alin g p ro cess, w hic h th ey c alle d W ild S pir its , to g iv e v oic e to w hat i t

fe els l ik e to b e i n th e d ark h o le o f d esp air a nd f in d y o ur w ay o ut, a nd to e xp re ss th eir

healin g b y w riti n g a b out h o pe, g ra ti tu d e, l o ve . . .

At th e e nd o f th e f ir s t y ear o f P ho enix P la ce, i ts m em bers f e lt p rid e i n w hat th ey h ad

cre ate d ; th ey h ad j o bs to d o a nd h ad r e gain ed s o m e o f th e r o le s th ey h ad l o st i n th e l a rg er

so cie ty . M ost o f a ll, th ey h ad b egun to o nce a gain h av e h o pes a nd d re am s a b out th eir f u tu re .

Eventu ally th ey o utg re w th e s m all h o use f o r P ho enix P la ce, s o th ey s e t a b out r a is in g m oney

fo r a b ig ger o ne b y w ork in g th e c o ncessio n s ta nd s a t th e R ed s a nd B engals g am es— and y ears

la te r th eir d re am c am e tr u e. W hen i t d id , th ey w ro te a g ra nt to m ake a v id eo to te ll th eir s to ry .

Of c o urs e th e s to ry o f P ho enix P la ce, a nd o th ers l ik e i t, i s n o t a ll a b out s u ccess a nd v ic to ry .

Alo ng th e w ay, T ric ia s a ys, i t to ok p ati e nce a nd e nco ura gem ent to h elp P ho enix m em bers s h ift

th eir th in kin g to b elie v in g th at th ey c o uld r u n th eir o w n p ro gra m . I n th e b egin nin g, th ey w ere

angry a nd f e lt th ey w ere b ein g a b and oned . T hey e v en p ic kete d th e c ente r. H elp in g th em b re ak

fr e e o f th eir d ep end ency w as d iffic ult.

Here i s a

part I

e sp ecia lly l ik e: O ne e xerc is e w as f o r i n d iv id uals to c o m ple te a

questi o nnair e a b out th eir s tr e ngth s a s p art o f a p ro gra m o n p ositi v e p sy cho lo gy. T he m em bers

no te d th at th is w as th e f ir s t ti m e i n th eir l iv es th ey h ad e v er ta ken a te st a nd g o tte n g o od n ew s

fr o m th e r e su lts .

The tr a nsiti o n f r o m p ati e nt to c iti z e n i s a lw ays d iffic ult. F or a ll o f u s, n o t j u st l a b ele d Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

peo ple . A nd th e tr a je cto ry i s n o t a lw ays s m ooth . W hen th e o rig in al d ir e cto r o f P ho enix P la ce

le ft, i t c ause d a nxie ty a nd w orry . T he m em ber-le d e xecuti v e c o m mitte e b egan to a ct s u p erio r,

co ntr o llin g, a nd j u d gm enta l, a nd s o m e o f th e s p ir it o f c o m munity w aned . I n o th er w ord s, th ey

sta rte d to f u ncti o n l ik e m ost tr a d iti o nal e xecuti v e c o m mitte es.

The g ro up r e d is c o vere d th eir b ala nce w hen a n ew d ir e cto r w as s e le cte d , a nd th e m em bers

mostl y b ecam e f r ie nd s o nce a gain . B ut th eir te m pora ry f a ll f r o m g ra ce s h o w s th at w e c an n ev er

fo rg et h o w f r a gile i s o ur a b ility to h o ld o ur f r e ed om a nd s ta y w ho le i n h ard ti m es.

Lesso ns f r o m R esto ra tiv e J ustic e

Pho enix P la ce g iv es u s a p ow erfu l m odel o f w hat a r e sto ra ti v e c o m munity l o oks l ik e. W hen I

sa y “ re sto ra ti v e,” I a m n o t ta lk in g a b out r e tu rn in g to a p rio r ti m e, f ix in g u p a n o ld b uild in g, o r

se ekin g to r e cap tu re a c ultu re th at w e th in k o nce e xis te d . R esto ra ti o n i s a b out h ealin g o ur

wound ed ness— in c o m munity te rm s, h ealin g o ur f r a gm enta ti o n a nd i n civ ility . I t i s o nly o ut o f

th is h ealin g th at s o m eth in g n ew c an e m erg e.

I h av e b een a ttr a cte d f o r s o m e ti m e b y th e w ay

re sto ra tiv e

i s u se d i n th e c rim in al j u sti c e

sy ste m , w hic h I l e arn ed f r o m B arry S tu art a nd o th ers w ho h av e c re ate d th e r e sto ra ti v e j u sti c e

movem ent. T hey h av e g iv en a p ow erfu l s tr u ctu re to r e sto ra ti o n, a nd th ey h av e d one i t i n a m ost

unlik ely p la ce. T he i n te nt o f r e sto ra ti o n i n th e c rim in al j u sti c e s y ste m i s to p ro vid e a m ore

healin g

path f o r b oth th e o ffe nd er a nd v ic ti m o f a c rim e. T his b eco m es a n o pti o n f o r th e v ic ti m

to c ho ose a nd f o r th e o ffe nd er to a gre e to . I t a ls o g iv es a v oic e to th e c o m munity , f o r th e

co m munity i s a ls o w ound ed b y a c rim e.

There a re s e v era l s te p s to r e sto ra ti o n: T he o ffe nd er a d m its to th e c rim e, th e o ffe nd er a nd th e

vic ti m a nd th eir f a m ilie s ta lk o f th e c o st a nd d am age th e c rim e h as c ause d to a ll th eir l iv es, th e

offe nd er a p olo giz e s f o r th e o ffe nse , th e o ffe nd er p ro m is e s n o t to d o i t a gain , a nd th e o ffe nd er

agre es to s o m e f o rm o f r e sti tu ti o n f o r th e d am age c ause d .

Fin ally , th e v ic ti m a nd th eir f a m ily d ecid e w heth er to f o rg iv e th e o ffe nd er a nd a ccep t th e

re sti tu ti o n. I f th ey d ecid e to f o rg iv e, th en th e r e p re se nta ti v es o f th e c o m munity h av e a v oic e i n

decid in g w heth er to a llo w th e o ffe nd er to g o f r e e a nd r e jo in th e c o m munity . I f th e v ic ti m a nd

th eir f a m ily d ecid e n o t to f o rg iv e, th en th e o ffe nd er g o es th ro ugh th e r e gula r c rim in al j u sti c e

pro cess. O n a g lo bal s c ale , r e sto ra ti v e j u sti c e i s s im ila r to th e p ra cti c es o f th e T ru th a nd

Reco ncilia ti o n C om mis sio n i n S outh A fr ic a.

These s te p s c o nta in m any o f th e e le m ents o f c o m munity b uild in g. I t i s n o t s o m uch th e

meth o dolo gy th at c o ncern s u s h ere , b ut r a th er th e c o nte xt a nd s p ir it th at th ese m ovem ents o ffe r

us. T hey s h o w th at a n a lte rn ati v e to r e tr ib uti o n i s p ossib le a nd h as w ork ed i n th e w orld . T his

sp ir it o f r e sto ra ti o n p ro m is e s a d iffe re nt f u tu re f o r o ur c o m muniti e s.

Com munit y a s C onversa tio n

The i d ea o f c o m munity r e sto ra ti o n b eco m es c o ncre te w hen w e g ra sp th e i m porta nce o fBlock, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

la nguage. W hen w e u nd ers ta nd th at, w e c an s e e h o w o ur l a nguage, o r c o nv ers a ti o n, i s th e

acti o n s te p th at m akes c re ati n g a n a lte rn ati v e f u tu re p ossib le . S up pose w e b egin to th in k o f o ur

co m muniti e s a s n o th in g m ore o r l e ss th an a c o nv ers a ti o n.

Every c o m munity h as i ts b uild in gs, l e ad ers , s c ho ols , l a nd sc ap e, b ut f o r th e m om ent l e t u s

sa y th at th ese a re n o t w hat m ake a c o m munity u niq ue o r d efin e i ts i d enti ty . I n ste ad i t i s u se fu l to

decla re th at th e a sp ect o f a c o m munity th at g iv es i t a n ew p ossib ility i s s im ply th e c o nv ers a ti o n

it c ho ose s to h av e w ith i ts e lf. J a ne J a co bs, w orld e xp ert o n n eig hb orh o ods, u nd ers ta nd s th is .

When s h e w as a sk ed w hy s h e th o ught P ortl a nd , O re go n, h as b een s o s u ccessfu l i n

cre ati n g a

hab ita b le c o m munity , s h e s a id th e o nly th in g u niq ue a b out P ortl a nd i s th at “ P ortl a nd ers l o ve

Portl a nd .” I n o ur te rm s h ere , i t w as th e c o nv ers a ti o n P ortl a nd ers h ad w ith e ach o th er a b out

th eir to w n th at m ad e th e d iffe re nce.

Thus i f w e s p eak o f c hange o r tr a nsfo rm ati o n i n o ur c ity o r to w n— in m y c ase , C in cin nati —

we a re r e fe rrin g to th e c o nv ers a ti o n th at i s o ccurrin g i n th at to w n. W e d o th is n o t b ecause i t i s

th e w ho le p ic tu re , b ut b ecause i t i s th e p art o f th e p ic tu re th at i s m ost a m enab le to c hange.

This m eans th e a lte rn ati v e f u tu re w e s p eak o f ta kes f o rm w hen w e r e aliz e th at th e o nly

pow erfu l p la ce f r o m w hic h to ta ke o ur i d enti ty m ay b e th e c o nv ers a ti o n th at w e a re . W e b egin

th e p ro cess o f r e sto ra ti o n w hen w e u nd ers ta nd th at o ur w ell- b ein g i s d efin ed s im ply b y th e

natu re a nd s tr u ctu re a nd p ow er o f o ur c o nv ers a ti o n.

The f u tu re o f a c o m munity th en b eco m es a c ho ic e b etw een a r e tr ib uti v e c o nv ers a ti o n ( a

pro ble m to b e s o lv ed ) a nd a r e sto ra ti v e c o nv ers a ti o n ( a p ossib ility to b e l iv ed i n to ).

Resto ra ti o n i s a p ossib ility b ro ught i n to b ein g b y c ho osin g th at k in d o f c o nv ers a ti o n. A nd w ith

th at c o nv ers a ti o n i t b eco m es r e al a nd ta ngib le , f o r o nce w e h av e d ecla re d a p ossib ility , a nd

done s o w ith a s e nse o f b elo ngin g a nd i n th e p re se nce o f o th ers , th at p ossib ility h as b een

bro ught i n to th e r o om , a nd th us i n to th e i n sti tu ti o n, i n to th e c o m munity .

The k ey p hra se h ere i s “ in th e p re se nce o f o th ers .” A p ossib ility , w hen d ecla re d p ub lic ly ,

heard a nd w itn esse d b y o th ers w ith w ho m w e h av e a c o m mon i n te re st, a t a m om ent w hen

so m eth in g i s a t s ta ke, i s a c riti c al e le m ent o f c o m munal tr a nsfo rm ati o n. T his p ub lic

co nv ers a ti o n c re ate s a l a rg er r e la te d ness a nd tr a nsc end s a s im ply i n d iv id ual tr a nsfo rm ati o n.

Conv ers a ti o ns o f p ossib ility g o ne p ub lic a re n o t a ll th at r e sto re s, b ut w ith o ut th em , p ers o nal

and p riv ate c o nv ers a ti o ns o f p ossib ility h av e n o p oliti c al c urre ncy a nd th ere fo re n o c o m munal

pow er.

The S hif t

To s u m mariz e th e s to ry l in e to th is p oin t, o ur c o nv ers a ti o ns a nd g ath erin gs h av e th e p ow er to

sh ift th e c o nte xt f r o m r e tr ib uti v e c o m munity to r e sto ra ti v e c o m munity . T his o ccurs th ro ugh

questi o ns a nd d ia lo gue th at m ove u s i n th e f o llo w in g d ir e cti o ns:

• F ro m c o nv ers a ti o ns a b out p ro ble m s to o nes o f p ossib ility

• F ro m c o nv ers a ti o ns a b out f e ar a nd f a ult to o nes o f g ifts , g enero sity , a nd a b und ance Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

• F ro m a b et o n l a w a nd o vers ig ht to a p re fe re nce f o r b uild in g th e s o cia l f a b ric a nd

cho osin g a cco unta b ility

• F ro m s e ein g th e c o rp ora ti o n a nd s y ste m s a s c entr a l to s e ein g a sso cia ti o nal l ife a s c entr a l

• F ro m a f o cus o n l e ad ers to a f o cus o n c iti z e ns

What th ese h av e i n c o m mon i s th e m ovem ent f r o m c entr is m a nd i n d iv id ualis m to p lu ra lis m

and i n te rd ep end ent c o m munalis m . T his s h ift h as i m porta nt c o nse q uences f o r o ur c o m muniti e s.

It o ffe rs to r e tu rn p oliti c s to p ub lic s e rv ic e a nd r e sto re o ur tr u st i n l e ad ers h ip . I t m oves u s f r o m

hav in g f a ith i n p ro fe ssio nals a nd th o se i n p ositi o ns o f a uth o rity to h av in g f a ith i n o ur n eig hb ors .

It ta kes u s i n to a c o nte xt o f h o sp ita lity , w here in w e w elc o m e s tr a ngers r a th er th an b elie v in g w e

need to p ro te ct o urs e lv es f r o m th em . I t c hanges o ur m in d se t f r o m v alu in g w hat i s e ffic ie nt to

valu in g th e i m porta nce o f b elo ngin g. I t h elp s u s to l e av e b ehin d o ur p enchant f o r s e ein g o ur

dis c o nnecte d ness a s a n i n ev ita b le c o nse q uence o f m odern l ife a nd m oves u s to w ard

acco unta b ility a nd c iti z e nsh ip .Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

CH APT ER 5

Takin g B ack O ur P ro je ctio n s

Citiz e n s b eco m e p ow erfu l

w hen t h ey c h oose t o s h ift t h e c o nte xt w ith in w hic h t h ey a ct i n

th e w orld . U sin g t h e l a nguage o f c o nte xt r a th er t h an c u ltu re p uts t h e c h oic e i n to o ur

ow n h ands. I t a ckn ow le d ges t h at o ur m in dse t, e ven o ur w orld vie w , i s s u bje ctiv e a nd

th ere fo re a m en able t o c h ange.

To c h oose a c o nte xt c o nduciv e t o c itiz e n sh ip , w e f ir st n eed t o u ndersta nd t h e i d ea o f

co m munal p ro je ctio n. P ro je ctio n i s t h e a ct o f a ttr ib utin g q ualitie s t o o th ers t h at w e d en y

with in o urse lv es. I t i s e xp re sse d i n t h e w ay w e l a bel o th ers a nd t h en b uild d ia gnostic

ca te g orie s a nd w hole p ro fe ssio ns a ro und t h e l a belin g. T he s h ift a w ay f r o m p ro je ctio n

and l a belin g p ro vid es t h e b asis f o r d efin in g w hat w e m ea n b y a uth en tic c itiz e n sh ip —

whic h i s t o h old o urse lv es a cco unta ble f o r t h e w ell- b ein g o f t h e l a rg er c o m munity a nd t o

ch oose t o o w n a nd e xerc is e p ow er r a th er t h an d efe r o r d ele g ate i t t o o th ers.

• • •

H ere is a

w ay o f th in kin g a b out th e s h ift i n c o nte xt f r o m r e tr ib uti o n to r e sto ra ti o n. W e b egin

w ith g o in g d eep er i n to w hat i t m eans to c ho ose to b e a cco unta b le , n o t j u st f o r o urs e lv es b ut f o r

t h e w orld . T he r e aso n th e r e tr ib uti v e c o nte xt c anno t i m pro ve th e c o nd iti o ns i t tr ie s to h eal i s

t h at i t ta lk s a l o t a b out a cco unta b ility b ut d oes n o t e m body i t. T he c o nte xt o f r e tr ib uti o n i ts e lf i s

a ctu ally a n o ngo in g a rg um ent a gain st a cco unta b ility . T he m ark eti n g o f f e ar a nd f a ult a nd th e

l o ve o f l e ad ers h ip h av e i n c o m mon th e b elie f th at s o m eth in g o r s o m eo ne e ls e i s th e p ro ble m

a nd th at th e s o m eo ne e ls e n eed s to d o s o m eth in g d iffe re nt b efo re a nyth in g c an p ro fo und ly g et

b ette r.

To i n q uir e m ore d eep ly i n to th is s h ift i n c o nte xt, w e n eed to f o cus o n th e d is ti n cti o n

b etw een c ultu re a nd c o nte xt. T he c o m mon th in kin g h o ld s th at tr a nsfo rm ati o n r e q uir e s a c ultu re

c hange. I a m ta lk in g h ere a b out c o nte xt, n o t c ultu re . T he r e aso n I u se th e w ord

co nte xt

v ers u s

c u ltu re

i s to c o nstr u ct o ur s ta nce a s a m atte r o f c ho ic e. C ultu re i s a s e t o f s h are d v alu es th at

e m erg es f r o m th e h is to ry o f e xp erie nce a nd th e s to ry th at i s p ro duced o ut o f th at. I t i s th e p ast

t h at g iv es u s o ur i d enti ty a nd c o rra ls o ur b ehav io r i n o rd er to p re se rv e th at i d enti ty . C onte xt i s

t h e w ay w e s e e th e w orld . S ee th e w orld , n o t r e m em ber th e w orld .

We c o nv enti o nally th in k th at o ur v ie w o f th e w orld i s b ase d o n h is to ry , e v ents , e v id ence,

a nd th is p atte rn i s tr e ate d a s f a ct a nd i s d ecis iv e. I t i s c alle d f a ct b ut i s o nly a c o lle cti v e

m em ory , w hic h i n th e g la re o f th e m id day s u n I w ould i r re v ere ntl y c all f ic ti o n. I f th is th in g w e

c all c o nte xt w ere f a ct, th en i t w ould n o t b e a m enab le to tr a nsfo rm ati o n.

If c o nte xt w ere i n ev ita b le a nd p ure ly b ase d o n f a ct, th en w e w ould b e c o nd em ned to l iv e i n

f e ar. W e a re c o nsta ntl y b ein g s o ld th e f e ar c urric ulu m s o th at, i n ti m e, w e b egin to th in k th e

c o nte xt o f f e ar i s f o r g o od c ause a nd d ata b ase d . I n r e ality , f e ar r is e s a nd f a lls f o r m ore r e aso ns

t h an e v ents w ould d ic ta te . I f y o u c an e nte rta in th e th o ught th at f e ar i s th e c urric ulu m o f th e

p atr ia rc hal e le m ent o f o ur c ultu re , th en w e c an u nd ers ta nd th at th e d om in ant f e ar c o nv ers a ti o nBlock, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

is a s m uch a r e su lt o f m ark eti n g a nd p ro duct p ro m oti o n a s i t i s a r e sp onse to f a cts . I n th e

dom ain o f p ub lic s a fe ty , f o r i n sta nce, th ere i s l ittl e r e la ti o nsh ip b etw een th e c rim e r a te a nd

peo ple ’s a tti tu d e a b out d anger. T here i s e v id ence th at m any k in d s o f c rim e w ent d ow n i n m any

majo r c iti e s i n th e l a te ’ 9 0s a nd e arly 2 000s. B ut w hile c rim e w ent d ow n, th e p ub lic ’s f e ar o f

crim e w ent u p . W hy? B ecause w hile c rim e w as g o in g d ow n, th e r e p orti n g o f c rim e w ent u p .

So th e d ete rm in ant o f o ur f e ar i s p artl y th e r e tr ib uti v e a gend a, w hic h l e ad s to r e p orti n g a b out

ho w d angero us th e w orld i s , a nd , m ore i m porta nt, o ur c ho ic e to b uy th e s to ry .

Here i s th e p oin t: I n th e r e tr ib uti v e c o nte xt, f e ar, f a ult, d ep end ency o n l e ad ers , c ynic is m ,

and i n d iffe re nce to a sso cia ti o nal l ife a ct a s i f th ey a re e v id ence b ase d . I f w e a re c o m mitte d to

a f u tu re d is ti n ct f r o m th e p ast, th en w e tr e at th em a s a m atte r o f c ho ic e, a nd w e c all th is

co nte xt, n o t c ultu re .

Pro je ctio n a nd L abelin g

If th e f e ar-re tr ib uti o n c ycle i s a m atte r o f c ho ic e a nd n o t a n i n ev ita b le r e su lt o f c ultu re , th en w e

hav e to f a ce th e f a ct th at th e c ho ic e to i n hale i t m ust m ean i t o ffe rs u s p ayo ffs .

One p ayo ff f o r b elie v in g th at p ro ble m s a nd th e s u ffe rin g i n o ur c iti e s a re th e i n ev ita b le

pro ducts o f m odern l ife a nd c ultu re i s th at i t l e ts u s o ff th e h o ok. T he p ayo ff b egin s th e m om ent

we b elie v e th at p ro ble m s r e sid e i n o th ers a nd th at th ey a re th e o nes w ho n eed to c hange. W e

dis p la ce o r a ssig n to o th ers c erta in q ualiti e s th at h av e m ore to d o w ith u s th an w ith th em . T his

is c alle d

pro je ctio n,

a n i d ea m ost o f u s a re q uite f a m ilia r w ith . I d is c uss i t h ere b ecause i f w e

do n o t ta ke b ack o ur p ro je cti o n, a n ew c o nte xt a nd c o nv ers a ti o n a re s im ply n o t p ossib le . T he

esse nce o f o ur p ro je cti o n i s th at i t p la ces a cco unta b ility f o r a n a lte rn ati v e f u tu re o n o th ers .

This i s th e p ayo ff o f s te re o ty p in g, p re ju d ic e, a nd a b unch o f “ is m s” th at w e a re a ll f a m ilia r

with . T his i s w hat p ro duces th e “ o th er.” T he r e w ard i s th at i t ta kes th e p re ssu re o ff o f u s. I t i s a

welc o m e e sc ap e f r o m o ur f r e ed om . W e p ro je ct o nto l e ad ers th e q ualiti e s o r d is a p poin tm ents

th at w e f in d to o m uch to c arry o urs e lv es. W e p ro je ct o nto th e s tr a nger, th e w ound ed , th e e nem y

th o se a sp ects o f o urs e lv es th at a re to o m uch to o w n.

Pro je cti o n d enie s th e f a ct th at m y v ie w o f th e “ o th er” i s m y c re ati o n, a nd th is i s e sp ecia lly

tr u e w ith h o w w e v ie w o ur c o m muniti e s a nd th e p eo ple i n th em . M ost s im ply , h o w I v ie w th e

oth er i s a n e xte nsio n o r te m pla te o f h o w I v ie w m yse lf. T his i n sig ht i s th e e sse nce o f b ein g

acco unta b le . T o b e a cco unta b le i s to a ct a s a n o w ner a nd c re ato r o f w hat e xis ts i n th e w orld ,

in clu d in g th e l ig ht a nd d ark c o rn ers o f m y o w n e xis te nce. I t i s th e w illin gness to f o cus o n w hat

we c an d o i n th e f a ce o f w hate v er th e w orld p re se nts to u s. A cco unta b ility d oes n o t p ro je ct o r

deny; a cco unta b ility i s th e w illin gness to s e e th e w ho le p ic tu re th at r e sid es w ith in , e v en w hat

is n o t s o p re tty .

We a re g enera lly f a m ilia r w ith th ese i d eas f r o m th e p sy cho lo gy o f p ro je cti o n f o r

in d iv id uals , a nd th e p oin t h ere i s th at p ro je cti o n a ls o w ork s m ore b ro ad ly a t th e l e v el o f

pro fe ssio n, i n sti tu ti o n, a nd c o m munity .

Take p overty , f o r e xam ple . W hen w e s e e l o w -in co m e p eo ple , w e f o cus o n th eir n eed s a nd

defic ie ncie s, a nd th at i s a ll w e s e e. W e th in k th eir p overty i s c entr a l to w ho th ey a re , a nd th at i s Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

all th ey a re . W e b elie v e th at th e p oor

hav e c re ate d th at c o nd iti o n f o r th em se lv es. W e v ie w th em

with c harity o r p ity a nd w rin g o ur h and s a t th eir p lig ht. A t th is m om ent w e a re p ro je cti n g o ur

ow n v uln era b ility o nto th e p oor. I t i s a d efe nse a gain st n o t o nly m y o w n v uln era b ility , b ut a ls o

my c o m plic ity i n c re ati n g p overty .

If w e to ok b ack th is p ro je cti o n, w e w ould s to p d enyin g th at e ach o f u s p la ys a r o le i n

cre ati n g p overty — by o ur w ay o f l iv in g, b y o ur i n d iffe re nce, b y o ur l a b elin g th em “ p oor” a s i f

th at i s w ho th ey a re , b y o ur c ho ic e n o t to h av e th em a s n eig hb ors a nd g et to k no w th em . P art o f

th e r e d uce-ta xes d eb ate i s th e b elie f th at w e a re w asti n g m oney o n “ th o se p eo ple .” I t i s n o t th at

th e p eo ple w e p ro je ct o nto d o n o t h av e s o m e o f th e q ualiti e s w e s e e; i t i s th at th e m eanin g w e

giv e to w hat w e s e e— in th is c ase , th e l a b el a nd c ate go riz a ti o n— is j u st p ro je cti o n. I t’ s th e

sa m e w ith th e u nem plo yed , w ith b ro ken h o m es, n eig hb orh o ods, y o uth o n th e s tr e et, a nd a ll th e

oth er s y m pto m s w e l iv e w ith .

“Y ou p ush ed m y b utto ns.” “ I k no w , b ut I d id n’t i n sta ll th em .”

Auth or u nknow n

The p ro je cti o n i s th e a ttr ib uti o n w e m ake, th e c o nclu sio ns w e d ra w , a nd th e f a ct th at a ll w e

se e i n th em i s w hat i s m is sin g. W hen w e b elie v e th at th e “ o th er” i s th e p ro ble m a nd th at

tr a nsfo rm ati o n i s r e q uir e d o f th em a nd n o t o f u s, w e b eco m e th e b enefic ia rie s o f th eir s u ffe rin g

in th e w orld . S om e o f u s m ake a l iv in g o ff o f th eir d efic ie ncie s. W e s tu d y th eir n eed s, d ev is e

pro fe ssio ns to s e rv ic e th em , c re ate i n sti tu ti o ns d ep end ent o n th e e xis te nce o f th ese

defic ie ncie s. A ll d one w ith s in cere i n te nt a nd i n th e n am e o f v ir tu e.

In o ur p hila nth ro py, th is m in d se t th at th e “ o th er” i s th e p ro ble m m eans th at w e n eed to w ait

fo r th em to c hange b efo re th e c hange w e w ant i n th e w orld c an c o m e to p ass. A nd u nti l th ey

change, w e n eed to s ta y d is ta nt a nd c o nta in th em . T his d iv erts u s f r o m th e r e aliz a ti o n th at w e

hav e th e m eans, th e to ols , th e th in kin g to c re ate a w orld w e w ant to i n hab it, a nd to d o i t f o r a ll.

If w e s a w o th ers a s a no th er a sp ect o f o urs e lv es, w e w ould w elc o m e th em i n to o ur m id st. W e

would l e t th em k no w th at th ey b elo ng, th at th ey a re n eig hb ors , w ith a ll th eir c o m ple xity .

• • •

To c o nti n ue, a s a c o m munity , to f o cus o n th e n eed s a nd d efic ie ncie s o f th e m ost v uln era b le i s

no t a n a ct o f h o sp ita lity . I t s u b sti tu te s l a b elin g f o r

welc o m in g. I t i s i s o la ti n g i n th at th ey b eco m e

a s p ecia l c ate go ry o f p eo ple , d efin ed b y w hat th ey c anno t d o. T his i s o la te s th e m ost

vuln era b le . D esp ite o ur c are f o r th em , w e d o n o t w elc o m e th em i n to o ur m id st, w e s e rv ic e

th em . T hey b eco m e o bje cts . T his m ay b e w hy i t i s e asie r to r a is e m oney f o r s u ffe rin g i n d is ta nt

pla ces o r to c ele b ra te th e h is to ry o f s la v ery ’s e nd th an i t i s to r a is e m oney f o r o ur n eig hb ors o n

th e m arg in w ho a re s ix b lo cks a w ay. T heir p ro xim ity s ta nd s i n th e w ay o f o ur c o m passio n.

Exam ple : I n C in cin nati w e h av e s p ent $ 11 0 m illio n to c o nstr u ct a m agnific ent F re ed om C ente r

to c ele b ra te th e e nd o f s la v ery . S ix b lo cks a w ay w e h av e c iti z e ns l iv in g i n v ery d iffic ult

co nd iti o ns— and th ere i s g re at r e lu cta nce to s e e th e r e la ti o nsh ip b etw een th e tw o. W e a re

willin g to a ccla im th e v ic to rie s o f th e p ast; a nd y et, c aught i n o ur p ro je cti o n o nto th e p oor, w eBlock, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

su sta in a r a th er n egati v e a tti tu d e to w ard th e s u ffe rin g o f p eo ple d ow n th e s tr e et.

To b e e v en m ore s p ecific a b out p ro je cti o n, i t s h o w s u p i n c o m muniti e s th ro ugh th e

co nv ers a ti o ns th at f o cus o n a ny o f th e n eed s, p ro ble m s, a nd d ia gno sti c c ate go rie s th ro ugh

whic h w e l a b el o th ers . F or e xam ple , w e l im it o ur f u tu re w hen w e f r a m e c o nv ers a ti o ns i n th e

fo llo w in g w ays:

• Y oung p eo ple o n th e c o rn er o r o ut o f s c ho ol b eco m e “ yo uth a t r is k .”

• P eo ple w ho s e rv ed th eir ti m e i n j a il b eco m e “ ex-o ffe nd ers .”

• P eo ple w ho l iv e o n th e s tr e et b eco m e “ ho m ele ss” o r “ v agra nts .”

• T ho se w ith p hysic al o r m enta l c halle nges b eco m e “ hand ic ap ped ” a nd “ b ip ola r.”

• I m mig ra nts b eco m e “ ille gals .”

And th e l is t g o es o n b ase d o n th e m ood o f th e ti m es.

This l a b elin g, a nd th e s e rv ic es th at f lo w o ut o f i t, i s th e “ co m merc ia liz a ti o n o f n eed s” th at

Jo hn M cK nig ht h as w ritte n a b out. I t b eco m es th e j u sti fic ati o n f o r th e f e ar a nd f a ult

co nv ers a ti o n th at i n tu rn j u sti fie s th e c o nte xt o f r e tr ib uti o n. W hic h i n tu rn d riv es a ll th e

pro gra m s, e xp erti s e , a nd p olic y th at w e th o ught w ere g o in g to m ake th e d iffe re nce. W hen th e

pro je cti o n i s r e cla im ed a nd th e l a b els a b and oned , th e j u sti fic ati o n d is a p pears a nd s p ace i s

cre ate d f o r a w elc o m in g, g ift- o rie nte d r e sto ra ti o n.

Tak in g B ack t h e P ro je ctio n

Resto ra ti o n a nd r e co ncilia ti o n b egin th e m om ent w e ta ke b ack o ur p ro je cti o n a nd r e d uce th e

la b elin g i n th e n am e o f s e rv ic e. T his i s a k ey to tr a nsfo rm ati o n. T he m om ent w e c ho ose to

change th is c o nv ers a ti o n, th e m om ent w e c ho ose to e nd th e p ro je cti o n-a nd -la b elin g c ycle ,

tr a nsfo rm ati o n h ap pens.

One th in g s e em s c erta in : W hen w e s ta y i s o la te d , th ere i s n o w ay to ta ke b ack th e c o m munal

pro je cti o n. N o a m ount o f i n ner w ork o r h ealin g a s i n d iv id uals w ill b e p ow erfu l. P ro je cti o n

su sta in s i ts e lf i n th e a b se nce o f r e la te d ness, i n p la ces w here w e h av e n o s e nse o f b elo ngin g. I t

canno t b e ta ken b ack b y a cti n g a lo ne. I t d oes n o t d is a p pear n o m atte r h o w m uch d ata i s

pre se nte d , n o m atte r h o w m uch m ora l s u asio n o r g uilt w e tr y to p ro duce. “ W hy c an’t w e a ll

ju st g et a lo ng?” w as a p oig nant p le a, b ut i t h ad n o p ow er to j o in u s to geth er.

Com munal tr a nsfo rm ati o n, ta kin g b ack o ur c o lle cti v e p ro je cti o ns, o ccurs w hen p eo ple g et

co nnecte d to th o se w ho w ere p re v io usly s tr a ngers , a nd w hen w e i n v ite p eo ple i n to

co nv ers a ti o ns th at a sk th em to a ct a s c re ato rs o r o w ners o f c o m munity . I t o ccurs w hen w e

beco m e r e la te d i n a n ew w ay to th o se w e a re i n te nd in g to h elp . T his m eans w e s to p l a b elin g

oth ers f o r th eir d efic ie ncie s a nd f o cus o n th eir g ifts .

Exam ple : E le m entz Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

One e xam ple w here y o uth a re v alu ed r a th er th an l a b ele d i s a c ente r i n C in cin nati n am ed

Ele m entz . A g ro up o f y o ung p eo ple h av e c re ate d a h ip -h o p c ente r w here 1 4- to 2 4-y ear-

old s c an s p end th re e n ig hts a w eek l e arn in g a b out w riti n g, p erfo rm in g, d is c j o ckeyin g, a nd

pro ducin g h ip -h o p m usic . T heir m usic . T hey a ls o l e arn a b out g ra ffiti a s a n a rt f o rm a nd

bre ak d ancin g a s a f o rm o f e nte rta in m ent. E le m entz ta kes th e v ery th in gs th at b oth er m any

ad ults — th e m usic , th e d ancin g, th e g ra ffiti — and tr e ats th em a s g ifts . T his i s n o t a

re cre ati o n c ente r; i t i s a l e arn in g s p ace w here y o uth h av e to a tte nd p ro gra m s i n o rd er to b e

in th e b uild in g.

E le m entz w as c o nceiv ed b y y o ung p eo ple a nd y o ung p eo ple r u n i t, s o th at w hen y o uth

fr o m th e s tr e et w alk i n to th e b uild in g, th ey s e e a r e fle cti o n o f th em se lv es a nd k no w th ey a re

welc o m e. T he s ta ff o f th e p la ce a re n o t p ro fe ssio nally tr a in ed “ yo uth w ork ers ,” th ey a re

yo ung p eo ple tw o s te p s

fu rth er d ow n th e r o ad w ho h av e m ad e a c o m mitm ent a nd s a crific e

to c are f o r th o se c o m in g b ehin d th em .

T he g o al o f E le m entz i s n o t s p ecific ally to p ro vid e c are ers i n th ese e nte rta in m ent f ie ld s

—th at w ould b e m akin g a p ro m is e th at i s u nre al. T he g o al i s to g iv e to y o uth a n e xp erie nce

of w hat th ey c an c re ate , a s e nse o f th e v alu e th ey h av e i n sid e o f th em . T he u lti m ate g o al i s

to o ffe r th em a n ew p ossib ility f o r th eir l iv es.

Noth in g g uara nte es th at a y o ung p ers o n w ill s e e a n ew p ossib ility , b ut w e c an c re ate th e

co nd iti o ns w here th at c ho ic e i s m ore l ik ely . T he tr a nsfo rm ati o n w e s e ek o ccurs w hen th ese

tw o c o nd iti o ns a re c re ate d : w hen w e p ro duce d eep er r e la te d ness a cro ss b ound arie s, a nd w hen

we c re ate n ew c o nv ers a ti o ns th at f o cus o n th e g ifts a nd c ap aciti e s o f o th ers .

This a llo w s u s to f o cus o n o ur c o nnecte d ness r a th er th an o n o ur d iffe re nces. W e n o l o nger

need to ta ke o ur i d enti ty f r o m b ein g r ig ht a b out “ th em ” o r f r o m c o nti n uin g to s e e “ th em ” a s

in d iv id uals w ith n eed s o r a s p eo ple s o m eho w l e ss th an u s. I t p uts a n e nd to o ur n eed to d ecla re

vic to ry . T he d iffe re nces, i n ste ad o f b ein g p ro ble m s to s o lv e, b eco m e a s o urc e o f v ita lity , a g ift.

In th e l a nguage o f c o m munity tr a nsfo rm ati o n, th is i s w hat i t m eans to b e a cco unta b le . A t th ese

mom ents , w e b eco m e o w ners , w ith th e f r e e w ill c ap ab le o f c re ati n g th e w orld w e w ant to

in hab it. W e b eco m e c iti z e ns. Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

CH APT ER 6

What I t M ea n s t o B e a C it iz e n

Choosin g t o b e a cco u nta ble

f o r t h e w hole , c re a tin g a c o nte xt o f h osp ita lity a nd

co lle ctiv e p ossib ility , a ctin g t o b rin g t h e g ifts o f t h ose o n t h e m arg in i n to t h e c en te r—

th ese a re s o m e o f t h e w ays w e b eg in t o c re a te a c o m munity o f c itiz e n s. T o r e cla im o ur

citiz e n sh ip i s t o b e a cco unta ble , a nd t h is c o m es f r o m t h e i n versio n o f w hat i s c a use a nd

what i s e ffe ct. W hen w e a re o pen t o t h in kin g a lo ng t h e l in es t h at c itiz e n s c re a te l e a ders,

th at c h ild re n c re a te p are n ts , a nd t h at t h e a udie n ce c re a te s t h e p erfo rm ance, w e c re a te

th e c o nditio ns f o r w id esp re a d a cco unta bility a nd t h e c o m mitm en t t h at e m erg es f r o m i t.

This i n versio n m ay n ot b e t h e w hole t r u th , b ut i t i s u se fu l.

• • •

I f w hat h old s t h e p ossib ilit y

o f a n a lte rn ati v e f u tu re f o r o ur c o m munity i s o ur c ap acity to f u lly

c o m e i n to b ein g a s a c iti z e n, th en w e h av e to ta lk a b out th is w ord

citiz e n

. O ur d efin iti o n h ere

i s th at a c iti z e n i s o ne w ho i s w illin g to b e a cco unta b le f o r a nd c o m mitte d to th e w ell- b ein g o f

t h e w ho le . T hat w ho le c an b e a c ity b lo ck, a c o m munity , a n ati o n, th e e arth . A c iti z e n i s o ne

w ho p ro duces th e f u tu re , s o m eo ne w ho d oes n o t w ait, b eg, o r d re am f o r th e f u tu re .

The a nti th esis o f b ein g a c iti z e n i s th e c ho ic e to b e a c o nsu m er o r a c lie nt, a n i d ea th at J o hn

M cK nig ht a gain h as b een s o i n str u cti v e a b out. C onsu m ers g iv e p ow er a w ay. T hey b elie v e th at

t h eir o w n n eed s c an b e b est s a ti s fie d b y th e a cti o ns o f o th ers — wheth er th o se o th ers a re

e le cte d o ffic ia ls , to p m anagem ent, s o cia l s e rv ic e p ro vid ers , o r th e s h o ppin g m all. C onsu m ers

a ls o a llo w o th ers

to d efin e th eir n eed s. I f l e ad ers a nd s e rv ic e p ro vid ers a re g uilty o f l a b elin g

o r p ro je cti n g o nto o th ers th e “ need s” to j u sti fy th eir o w n s ty le o f l e ad ers h ip o r s e rv ic e th at th ey

p ro vid e, c o nsu m ers c o llu d e w ith th em b y a ccep ti n g o th ers ’ d efin iti o n o f th eir n eed s. T his

p ro vid er-c o nsu m er tr a nsa cti o n i s th e b re ed in g g ro und f o r e nti tl e m ent, a nd i t i s u nfr ie nd ly to o ur

d efin iti o n o f c iti z e n a nd th e p ow er i n here nt i n th at d efin iti o n.

The M eanin g o f C it iz ensh ip

T he c o nv enti o nal d efin iti o n o f c iti z e nsh ip i s c o ncern ed w ith th e a ct o f v oti n g a nd ta kin g a v ow

t o u p ho ld th e c o nsti tu ti o n a nd l a w s o f a c o untr y . T his i s n arro w a nd l im iti n g. T oo m any

o rg aniz a ti o ns th at a re c o m mitte d to s u sta in in g d em ocra cy i n th e w orld a nd a t h o m e h av e th is

c o nstr a in ed v ie w o f c iti z e nsh ip . C iti z e nsh ip i s n o t a b out v oti n g, o r e v en a b out h av in g a v ote .

T o c o nstr u e th e e sse nce o f c iti z e nsh ip p rim arily a s th e r ig ht to v ote r e d uces i ts p ow er— as i f

v oti n g e nsu re s a d em ocra cy. I t i s c erta in ly a f e atu re o f d em ocra cy, b ut a s F are ed Z akaria p oin ts

o ut i n h is b ook

The F utu re o f F re ed om ,

th e r ig ht to v ote d oes n o t g uara nte e a c iv il s o cie ty , o r i n

o ur te rm s a r e sto ra ti v e o ne.

When w e th in k o f c iti z e ns a s j u st v ote rs , w e r e d uce th em to b ein g c o nsu m ers o f e le cte d

o ffic ia ls a nd l e ad ers . W e s e e th is m ost v iv id ly a t e le cti o n ti m e, w hen c and id ate s b eco m eBlock, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

pro ducts , i s su es b eco m e th e m essa ge, a nd th e c am paig n i s a m ark eti n g a nd d is tr ib uti o n s y ste m

fo r th e s e llin g o f th e c and id ate . G re at c am paig n m anagers a re g re at m ark ete rs a nd p ro duct

managers . V ote rs b eco m e ta rg et m ark ets , d em ogra p hic s, w ho se m ost i m porta nt r o le i s to m eet

in f o cus g ro up s to r e sp ond to th e n uances o f m essa ge. T his i s th e p ow er o f th e c o nsu m er, w hic h

is n o p ow er a t a ll.

Thro ugh th is l e ns, w e c an u nd ers ta nd w hy s o m any p eo ple d o n o t v ote . T hey d o n o t b elie v e

th eir a cti o n c an i m pact th e f u tu re . I t i s p artl y a s e lf- c ho se n s ta nce a nd p artl y a n e xp re ssio n o f

th e h elp le ssn ess th at g ro w s o ut o f a r e tr ib uti v e w orld . T his w ay o f th in kin g i s n o t a n e xcuse n o t

to v ote , b ut i t d oes s a y th at o ur w ork i s to b uild th e c ap acity o f c iti z e ns to b e a cco unta b le a nd

to b eco m e c re ato rs o f c o m munity .

• • •

We c an s e e m ost c le arly h o w w e m arg in aliz e th e r e al m eanin g o f

citiz e n

w hen th e w ord

beco m es p oliti c iz e d a s p art o f th e r e tr ib uti v e d eb ate . W e a rg ue o ver u nd ocum ente d w ork ers ,

im mig ra ti o n, a nd th e r ig hts o f e xfe lo ns— and e v en th eir c hild re n. W e p oliti c iz e th e i s su e o f

Englis h a s th e o ffic ia l l a nguage a nd b uild in g a n ew w all o n th e R io G ra nd e th at w e w ill h av e

to te ar d ow n s o m ed ay.

Citi z e nsh ip a s th e w illin gness to b uild c o m munity g ets d is p la ced b y i s o la ti o nis m i n a ny

fo rm . I t i s n o t b y a ccid ent th at th e l o ud est a cti v is ts f o r f in d in g a nd d ep orti n g u nd ocum ente d

work ers a re s o m e o f th e l e ad ers o f th e f e ar, o vers ig ht, s a fe ty , a nd s e curity a gend a. T hey a re th e

key b enefic ia rie s o f th e r e tr ib uti v e s o cie ty . I f w e w ant c o m munity , w e h av e to b e u nw illin g to

allo w c iti z e nsh ip to b e c o -o pte d i n th is w ay.

The i d ea o f w hat i t m eans to b e a c iti z e n i s to o i m porta nt a nd n eed s to b e ta ken b ack to i ts

more p ro fo und v alu e. C iti z e nsh ip i s a s ta te o f b ein g. I t i s a c ho ic e f o r a cti v is m a nd c are . A

citi z e n i s o ne w ho i s w illin g to d o th e f o llo w in g:

• H old o nese lf a cco unta b le f o r th e w ell- b ein g o f th e l a rg er c o lle cti v e o f w hic h w e a re a

part.

• C ho ose to o w n a nd e xerc is e p ow er r a th er th an d efe r o r d ele gate i t to o th ers .

• E nte r i n to a c o lle cti v e p ossib ility th at g iv es h o sp ita b le a nd r e sto ra ti v e c o m munity i ts o w n

se nse o f b ein g.

• A ckno w le d ge th at c o m munity g ro w s o ut o f th e p ossib ility o f c iti z e ns. C om munity i s b uilt

no t b y s p ecia liz e d e xp erti s e , o r g re at l e ad ers h ip , o r i m pro ved s e rv ic es; i t i s b uilt b y g re at

citi z e ns.

• A tte nd to th e g ifts a nd c ap aciti e s o f a ll o th ers , a nd a ct to b rin g th e g ifts o f th o se o n th e

marg in i n to th e c ente r.

The I n versio n o f C ause

To c re ate c o m muniti e s w here c iti z e ns r e cla im th eir p ow er, w e n eed to s h ift o ur b elie fs a b out Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

who i s i n c harg e a nd w here p ow er r e sid es. W e n eed to

in v ert o ur th in kin g a b out w hat i s c ause

and w hat i s e ffe ct. T his i s w hat h as th e c ap acity to c o nfr o nt o ur e nti tl e m ent a nd d ep end ency.

Bein g p ow erfu l m eans th at m y e xp erie nce, m y d is c o very , e v en m y p le asu re a re m in e to

cre ate . T his v ie w h as u s s e e h o w a ud ie nces c re ate p erfo rm ances, c hild re n c re ate p are nts ,

stu d ents c re ate te achers , a nd c iti z e ns c re ate l e ad ers .

It i s n o t th at th is s h ift o f c ause i s n ecessa rily tr u e, b ut i t g iv es u s p ow er. I n e v ery c ase i t p uts

cho ic e i n to o ur o w n h and s i n ste ad o f h av in g u s w ait f o r th e tr a nsfo rm ati o n o f o th ers to g iv e u s

th e f u tu re w e d esir e . I f o ur i n te nti o n i s to c re ate th e p ossib ility o f a n a lte rn ati v e f u tu re , th en w e

need a f u tu re f o rm ed b y o ur o w n h and s. A h and cra fte d f u tu re .

The c h ic k en is t h e e gg’s w ay o f r e pro ducin g it s e lf .

Pete r K oeste nbaum

In v erti n g o ur th in kin g d oes n o t c hange th e w orld , b ut i t c re ate s a c o nd iti o n w here th e s h ift i n

th e w orld b eco m es p ossib le . T he s h ift i s th e i n v ers io n i n o ur th in kin g. T he s te p f r o m th in kin g

of o urs e lv es a s e ffe ct to th in kin g o f o urs e lv es a s c ause i s th e a ct o f i n v ers io n th at c re ate s a

cultu re o f c iti z e n a cco unta b ility . T his i s th e p oin t u p on w hic h a cco unta b ility r e v olv es.

A n o te : T he c ause -a nd -e ffe ct, C arte sia n c lo ckw ork v ie w o f th e w orld n o t o nly o vers ta te d

th e m echanic al n atu re o f th e w orld , b ut i t a ls o p ut c ause a t th e w ro ng e nd o f th e e q uati o n.

Doub le i n d em nity .

This i n v ers io n c halle nges c o nv enti o nal w is d om th at b elie v es th ere i s o ne r ig ht w ay. A nd b y

“in v ers io n” I m ean a r e al i n v ers io n: 1 80 d egre es, n o t 1 79 d egre es. T his i s n o t ti m e f o r

co m pro m is e o r b ala nce. I n v erti n g o ur th in kin g a b out c ause a nd e ffe ct g iv es s u p port to r e ally

challe nge “ th e w ay th in gs w ork .” T his i s n o t to s a y th at th is w ay o f th in kin g i s 1 00 p erc ent

accura te 1 00 p erc ent o f th e ti m e, b ut i t c an g iv e a d ded p ow er to o ur w ay o f b ein g i n

co m munity . T he q uesti o n to b egin to r e cla im o ur p ow er a s c iti z e ns i s , “ If y o u b elie v ed th is to

be tr u e, i n w hat w ays w ould th at m ake a d iffe re nce, o r c hange y o ur a cti o ns? ”

This m eans th at th e p ossib ility o f a n a lte rn ati v e f u tu re c ente rs o n th e q uesti o n, “ H av e w e

cho se n th e p re se nt o r h as i t b een h and ed to u s? ” T he d efa ult c ultu re w ould h av e u s b elie v e th at

th e p ast c re ate s th e f u tu re , th at a c hange i n i n d iv id uals c ause s a c hange i n o rg aniz a ti o ns a nd

co m munity , a nd th at p eo ple i n a uth o rity c re ate p eo ple i n a s u b ord in ate p ositi o n. T hat w e a re

dete rm in ed b y e v ery th in g a sid e f r o m f r e e w ill. T hat c ultu re , h is to ry , g eneti c s, o rg aniz a ti o ns,

and s o cie ty d riv e o ur a cti o ns a nd o ur w ay o f b ein g.

All th is i s tr u e, b ut th e o pposite i s a ls o tr u e.

The s h ift to w ard c iti z e nsh ip i s to ta ke th e s ta nce th at w e a re th e c re ato rs o f o ur w orld a s

well a s th e p ro ducts o f i t. F re e w ill tr u m ps g eneti c s, c ultu re , a nd p are nta l u p brin gin g.

The U tilit y o f T his I n versio nBlock, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

The f ir s t i n v ers io n I r a n i n to y ears a go w as th e th o ught th at th e i n m ate s r u n th e p ris o n. I w as

sk ep ti c al u nti l I w ork ed w ith s o m e c o rre cti o ns p eo ple , w ho s a id th ere i s tr u th i n th is . H ere a re

so m e i m plic ati o ns o f s w itc hin g o ur th in kin g th is w ay:

In versio n:

T he a ud ie nce c re ate s th e p erfo rm ance.

Im plic a tio ns:

R ed esig n th e a ud ie nce e xp erie nce. S to p p utti n g s o m uch e nerg y i n th e ta le nt

and m essa ge o f th o se o n s ta ge. L im it P ow erP oin t p re se nta ti o ns to f o ur s lid es. P ete r B ro ok

im mers e d th e s ta ge i n th e c ente r o f th e a ud ie nce; J o hn C age h eld c o ncerts w here th e

ru m blin g, c o ughin g s o und s o f th e a ud ie nce

were t h e s h ow .

When w e m eet, m ake i t p ossib le

fo r th e a ud ie nce to b e e ngaged w ith o ne a no th er. E very a ud ito riu m , a lm ost e v ery c hurc h,

alm ost e v ery c o nfe re nce r o om a nd c la ssro om w ould b e r e d esig ned . C hair s w ould b e

mobile ; th e a ud ie nce w ould h av e s ig ht o f o ne a no th er a nd k no w th at n o m atte r w hat

occurre d o nsta ge, th ey w ould n o t b e a lo ne.

In versio n:

T he s u b ord in ate c re ate s th e b oss.

Im plic a tio ns:

L earn in g, d ev elo pm ent, a nd g o al s e tti n g a re i n th e h and s o f th e s u b ord in ate .

We w ould s to p d oin g s u rv eys a b out h o w p eo ple f e el a b out th eir b osse s, th e r e su lts o f

whic h n o o ne k no w s w hat to d o w ith a nyw ay. T he a tte nti o n w ould tu rn f r o m th e b oss to

peers , w hic h i s th e r e la ti o nsh ip th at p ro duces th e w ork .

In versio n:

T he c hild c re ate s th e p are nt.

Im plic a tio ns:

P are nts c o uld s le ep th ro ugh th e n ig ht. T he c o nv ers a ti o n a nd i n d ustr y o f

in culc ati n g v alu es a nd f o rc in g c o nse q uences o nto k id s

would q uie t d ow n. W e w ould f o cus

on th e g ifts , te achin gs, a nd b le ssin gs o f th e y o ung i n ste ad o f s e ein g th em a s p ro ble m s to b e

managed . W e w ould l is te n to th em i n ste ad o f i n str u cti n g a nd te achin g th em a gain a nd a gain .

This w ould a llo w p are nts to r e la x th eir j a w s a nd i n d ex f in gers , a s e co nd ary h ealth b enefit.

In versio n:

T he c iti z e n c re ate s i ts l e ad ers .

Im plic a tio ns:

O ur d ep end ency a nd d is a p poin tm ent a b out l e ad ers w ould g o d ow n. T he

med ia w ould h av e to c hange th eir th in kin g a b out l e ad s to rie s. W hat c iti z e ns a re d oin g to

im pro ve th eir c o m munity w ould n o l o nger b e h um an-in te re st s to rie s b ut a ctu al n ew s. T he

co st o f e le cti o ns w ould b e r e d uced b y 9 0 p erc ent, f o r th e q uesti o n o f w ho m w e e le ct

would b e l e ss c riti c al. C and id ate s f o r e le cte d o ffic e c o uld b e p oor.

A bove a ll, o ur l e ad ers w ould b e c o nv eners , n o t r o le m odels a nd c o nta in ers f o r o ur

pro je cti o ns. M ore o n th is l a te r.

In versio n:

A r o om a nd a b uild in g a re c re ate d b y th e w ay th ey a re o ccup ie d .

Im plic a tio ns:

W e w ould b e i n te nti o nal a b out h o w w e s h o w u p . W e w ould s p end ti m eBlock, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

desig nin g h o w w e s it i n th e r o om , a nd n o t b e m ere c o nsu m ers o f th e w ay th e r o om w as

in te nd ed to b e u se d , o r d ep end ent o n w hat th e c usto dia ns o r l a st g ro up u sin g th e r o om h ad

in m in d .

W e w ould r e d esig n th e p hysic al s p ace a ro und u s— ro om s, h allw ays, r e cep ti o n a re as— in

a w ay th at a ffir m ed c o m munity , s o th at i t h ad a w elc o m in g f e elin g a nd g av e th e s e nse th at

yo u h ad c o m e to th e r ig ht p la ce. M ost o f a ll, w hat w e i n herite d w ould b e a s e rio us s u b je ct

of d is c ussio n.

In versio n:

T he s tu d ent c re ate s th e te acher a nd th e l e arn in g.

Im plic a tio ns:

E ducati o n w ould

be d esig ned m ore f o r l e arn in g th an f o r te achin g. ( T his a lr e ad y o ccurs i n m any p la ces u nd er

th e h ead in g o f i n d iv id ualiz e d l e arn in g. M onte sso ri e d ucati o n h as f o re v er o pera te d a lo ng

th ese l in es.) T he s o cia l c o ntr a ct i n th e c la ssro om w ould b e r e nego ti a te d to w ard a

partn ers h ip b etw een te acher a nd s tu d ent. S tu d ents w ould s e t g o als f o r th em se lv es a nd b e

re sp onsib le f o r th e l e arn in g o f o th er s tu d ents . S im ple i d eas, p ow erfu l i d eas, s ti ll r a re i n

pra cti c e.

In versio n:

Y outh c re ate a d ults .

Im plic a tio ns:

A dulti s m w ould b e c o nfr o nte d . A dults w ould d ecid e to g et i n te re ste d i n th e

exp erie nce o f y o uth i n ste ad o f a lw ays i n str u cti n g th em . W hen th ere w ere m eeti n gs a nd

co nfe re nces a b out y o uth , th e v oic es o f y o uth w ould b e c entr a l to th e c o nv ers a ti o n. Y outh

would b eco m e a p ossib ility , n o t a p ro ble m . I f w e r e ally b elie v ed th is , w e w ould m ove o ur

belie f i n th e n ext g enera ti o n f r o m l ip s e rv ic e to p erv asiv e p ra cti c e.

In versio n:

T he l is te nin g c re ate s th e s p eaker.

Im plic a tio ns:

L is te nin g w ould b e c o nsid ere d a n a cti o n s te p . F or m ost o f u s, l is te nin g i s

ju st w aiti n g u nti l w e g et a c hance to s p eak. T here m ig ht e v en b e a p erio d o f s ile nce

betw een s ta te m ents , a nd th is s ile nce w ould b e e xp erie nced a s p art o f th e c o nv ers a ti o n, n o t

dead s p ace. W e w ould a ls o l e arn w hat s p eakin g i n to th e l is te nin g o f th e r o om m eans. O nce

again , w e w ould tr e at th e l is te nin g a s m ore i m porta nt th an th e s p eakin g.

You g et th e p oin t— th e l is t c o uld g o o n. I n e ach c ase , w hen w e i n v ert o ur th in kin g, th e f o cus

of a tte nti o n a nd e ffo rt g ets r e d ir e cte d .

The p ow er i n e ach o f th ese s h ifts i s th at i t c o nfr o nts u s w ith o ur o w n f r e ed om . I t i s o ut o f

th is f r e ed om , w hic h a ll o f u s h av e w ays o f e sc ap in g, th at a uth enti c a cco unta b ility i s b orn . I

will b e a cco unta b le f o r o nly th at w hic h I h av e h ad a h and i n c re ati n g, m y l ife a nd c o m munity

in clu d ed .

The i n v ers io n o f c ause r e fo cuse s m y a tte nti o n f r o m th at p ers o n i n a uth o rity — le ad er,

perfo rm er, p are nt, w ard en— to th at p ers o n w ho to geth er w ith o th ers a ls o h o ld s th e r e al p ow er.

Not to o verd o th is p ers p ecti v e, f o r l e ad er, p erfo rm er, p are nt, w ard en a re c riti c al p artn ers i n

co m munity ; i t’ s j u st th at th ey a re n o t th e p rim ary o r s o le p ro prie to rs w e h av e c o nstr u ed th em to

be. W e w ill n ev er e lim in ate o ur n eed f o r g re at l e ad ers a nd p eo ple o n th e s ta ge; w e j u st c anno tBlock, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

affo rd to p ut a ll o ur e xp erie nce a nd f u tu re i n th eir h and s.

• • •

There i s n o n eed to a rg ue a b out th is i d ea o f i n v ers io n, o nly to p la y w ith i ts u ti lity . I t m ay n o t b e

tr u e, b ut i t i s u se fu l i n th e w ay i t g iv es u s p ow er to e v oke th e k in d o f c iti z e n w e h av e d efin ed

as c ru cia l to a tr u e c o m munity .

Anyo ne w ho w ork s i n th e c iv ic a re na h as a c erta in c ynic is m

ab out c iti z e ns. F or e xam ple , th ey ta lk a b out h o w h ard i t i s to g et p are nts i n v olv ed i n th eir

child ’s s c ho ol. H ow f e w p eo ple s h o w u p a t c o uncil a nd b oard m eeti n gs u nle ss th ey a re a ngry .

How s u ch a s m all n um ber o f p eo ple a re r e ally a cti v e i n th eir c o m munity . T here i s tr u th to th is

vie w ; i t i s n o t j u st c ynic is m , i t i s p re tty a ccura te o bse rv ati o n. W hat r e sto re s c o m munity i s to

belie v e th at w e p la y a r o le i n c o nstr u cti n g th is c o nd iti o n. I t i s n o t i n th e n atu re o f p eo ple to b e

ap ath eti c , e nti tl e d , a nd c o m pla in ers .

To s ta te th e i s su e s im ply , a s l o ng a s w e s e e l e ad er a s c ause , w e w ill p ro duce p assiv e,

enti tl e d c iti z e ns. W e w ill p ut o ur a tte nti o n, o ur tr a in in g, a nd o ur r e so urc es w here v er w e th in k

cause r e sid es. W hen w e s e e c iti z e n a s c ause , th en th is w ill s h ift o ur a tte nti o n a nd o ur w ealth ,

and th e e nerg y a nd c re ati v ity th at g o w ith i t.

This w ay o f th in kin g ta kes b ack o ur p ro je cti o ns a nd l a b elin g o f “ o th ers .” P lu s i t c o unte rs th e

exp ecta ti o n th at a uth o rity f ig ure s a re e sse nti a l a nd c entr a l— whic h n o t o nly d is e m pow ers

stu d ents , c iti z e ns, a ud ie nce, b ut a ls o i s a w eig ht to o h eav y f o r l e ad ers to c arry .

This s h ift i n th in kin g a b out c ause a nd e ffe ct c re ate s th e c o nd iti o ns f o r a s h ift i n c o nte xt. T he

la rg er i m port i n th is l in e o f th in kin g i s th at i n e ach c ase , c ho ic e a nd d esti n y r e p la ce a ccid ent

and f a te . N o s m all th in g.

A W ord A bout E ntit le m ent a nd A cco unta bilit y

One c o st o f th e r e tr ib uti v e c o nv ers a ti o n i s th at i t b re ed s e nti tl e m ent. E nti tl e m ent i s e sse nti a lly

th e c o nv ers a ti o n, “ W hat’ s i n i t f o r m e?” I t e xp re sse s a s c arc ity m enta lity , a nd th e e co no m is t

te lls u s th at o nly w hat i s s c arc e h as v alu e. E nti tl e m ent i s th e o utc o m e o f a p atr ia rc hal c ultu re ,

whic h I h av e d is c usse d to o o fte n i n o th er b ooks. B ut f o r th is d is c ussio n, I ’ ll s im ply s a y th at i f

we c re ate a c o nte xt o f f e ar, f a ult, a nd r e tr ib uti o n, th en w e w ill f o cus o n p ro te cti n g o urs e lv es,

whic h p la nts th e s e ed o f e nti tl e m ent.

The c o st o f e nti tl e m ent i s th at i t i s a n e sc ap e f r o m a cco unta b ility a nd s o ft o n c o m mitm ent. I t

gets i n th e w ay o f a uth enti c c iti z e nsh ip .

What i s i n te re sti n g i s th at th e e xis ti n g p ub lic c o nv ers a ti o n c la im s to b e to ugh o n

acco unta b ility , b ut th e l a nguage o f a cco unta b ility th at o ccurs i n a

re tr ib uti v e c o nte xt i s c o de f o r

“co ntr o l.” H ig h-c o ntr o l s y ste m s a re u nb eara b ly s o ft o n a cco unta b ility . T hey k eep s c re am in g f o r

ti g hte r c o ntr o ls , n ew l a w s, a nd b ig ger s y ste m s, b ut i n th e s c re am , th ey e xp ose th eir w eakness.

The w eakness i n th e d om in ant v ie w o f a cco unta b ility i s th at i t th in ks p eo ple c an b e

held

acco unta b le . T hat w e c an f o rc e p eo ple to b e a cco unta b le . D esp ite th e f a ct th at i t s e lls e asily , i t

is a n i llu sio n to b elie v e th at r e tr ib uti o n, i n centi v es, l e gis la ti o n, n ew s ta nd ard s, a nd to ugh

co nse q uences w ill c ause a cco unta b ility . Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

This i llu sio n i s w hat c re ate s e nti tl e m ent— and w ors e , i t d riv es u s a p art; i t d oes n o t b rin g u s

to geth er. I t tu rn s n eig hb or a gain st n eig hb or. I t d enie s th at w e a re o ur b ro th er’s k eep er. E very

co lo nia l a nd a uto cra ti c r e gim e r is e s to p ow er b y tu rn in g c iti z e ns a gain st e ach o th er.

To s e e o ur c o nv enti o nal th in kin g a b out a cco unta b ility a t w ork , n o ti c e th e c o nv ers a ti o ns th at

dom in ate o ur m eeti n gs a nd g ath erin gs. W e s p end ti m e ta lk in g a b out p eo ple n o t i n th e r o om . I f

no t th at, o ur g ath erin gs a re d esig ned to s e ll, c hange, p ers u ad e, a nd i n flu ence o th ers , a s i f th eir

change w ill h elp u s r e ach o ur g o als . T hese c o nv ers a ti o ns d o n o t p ro duce p ow er; th ey c o nsu m e

it.

Acco unta bilit y , C om mit m ent, a nd t h e U se o f F orc e

Com mitm ent a nd a cco unta b ility a re f o re v er p air e d , f o r th ey d o n o t e xis t w ith o ut e ach o th er.

Acco unta b ility i s th e w illin gness to c are f o r th e w ell- b ein g o f th e w ho le ; c o m mitm ent i s th e

willin gness to m ake a p ro m is e w ith n o e xp ecta ti o n o f r e tu rn .

The e co no m is t w ould s a y th is s m acks o f a ltr u is m , a nd s o b e i t. W hat c o m munity r e q uir e s i s

a p ro m is e d ev oid o f b arte r a nd n o t c o nd iti o nal o n a no th er’s a cti o n. W ith o ut th at, w e a re

co nsta ntl y i n th e p ositi o n o f r e acti n g to th e c ho ic es o f o th ers . W hic h m eans th at o ur

co m mitm ent i s c o nd iti o nal. T his i s b arte r, n o t c o m mitm ent.

The c o st o f c o nsta ntl y r e acti n g to th e c ho ic es o f o th ers i s i n cre ase d c ynic is m a nd

help le ssn ess. T he u lti m ate c o st o f c ynic is m a nd h elp le ssn ess i s th at w e r e so rt to th e u se o f

fo rc e. I n th is w ay th e b arte r m enta lity th at d om in ate s o ur c ultu re h elp s c re ate a p ro life ra ti o n o f

fo rc e. N ot n ecessa rily

vio le nce, b ut th e b elie f th at f o r a nyth in g to c hange, w e m ust m and ate o r

use c o erc io n.

The u se o f f o rc e i s a n e nd p ro duct o f r e tr ib uti o n, w hic h r e je cts a ltr u is m a nd a p ro m is e m ad e

fo r i ts o w n s a ke. I t r e je cts th e i d ea th at v ir tu e i s i ts o w n r e w ard .

Com mitm ent i s th e a nti th esis o f e nti tl e m ent a nd b arte r. U nco nd iti o nal c o m mitm ent w ith n o

th o ught to “ W hat’ s i n i t f o r m e?” i s th e e m oti o nal a nd r e la ti o nal e sse nce o f c o m munity . I t i s

what s o m e c all i n te grity ; o th ers , “ ho no rin g y o ur w ord .”

Com mitm ent i s to c ho ose a p ath f o r i ts o w n s a ke. T his i s th e e sse nce o f p ow er. M oth er

Tere sa g o t th is . W hen a sk ed w hy s h e w ork ed w ith p eo ple o ne a t a ti m e r a th er th an c arin g m ore

ab out h av in g i m pact o n a l a rg er s c ale , s h e r e p lie d , “ I w as c alle d b y f a ith , n o t b y r e su lts .” I f

yo u w ant to a rg ue w ith M oth er T ere sa , b e m y g uest. Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

CH APT ER 7

The T ra n sfo rm in g C om munit y

Con ve n tio n al t h in kin g a bou t

c o m munal t r a nsfo rm atio n b elie ves t h at f o cu sin g o n l a rg e

sy ste m s, b ette r l e a ders, c le a re r g oals , a nd m ore c o ntr o ls i s e sse n tia l, a nd t h at

em phasiz in g s p eed a nd s c a le i s c ritic a l. T he c o nven tio nal b elie f i s t h at i n div id ual

tr a nsfo rm atio n l e a ds t o c o m munal t r a nsfo rm atio n. O ur e xp lo ra tio ns t o t h is p oin t l e a d

in ste a d t o t h e u ndersta ndin g t h at t r a nsfo rm atio n o ccu rs w hen w e f o cu s o n t h e s tr u ctu re

of h ow w e g ath er a nd t h e c o nte xt i n w hic h t h e g ath erin gs t a ke p la ce; w hen w e w ork h ard

on g ettin g t h e q uestio ns r ig ht; w hen w e c h oose d ep th o ver s p eed a nd r e la te d ness o ver

sc a le . W e a ls o b elie ve t h at p ro ble m s o lv in g c a n m ake t h in gs b ette r b ut c a nnot c h ange

th e n atu re o f t h in gs.

Com munity t r a nsfo rm atio n c a lls f o r c itiz e n sh ip t h at s h ifts t h e c o nte xt f r o m a p la ce o f

fe a r a nd f a ult, l a w a nd o versig ht, c o rp ora tio n a nd “ sy ste m s,” a nd p re o ccu patio n w ith

le a dersh ip t o o ne o f g ifts , g en ero sity , a nd a bundance; s o cia l f a bric a nd c h ose n

acco unta bility ; a nd a sso cia tio nal l ife a nd t h e e n gagem en t o f c itiz e n s. T hese s h ifts o ccu r

as c itiz e n s f a ce e a ch o th er i n c o nversa tio ns o f o w nersh ip a nd p ossib ility . T o b e m ore

sp ecific , l e a ders a re h eld t o t h re e t a sk s: t o s h ift t h e c o nte xt w ith in w hic h p eo ple g ath er,

nam e t h e d eb ate t h ro ugh p ow erfu l q uestio ns, a nd l is te n r a th er t h an a dvo ca te , d efe n d, o r

pro vid e a nsw ers.

• • •

T he m in dse t t h at

w e c an p ro gra m a nd p ro ble m -s o lv e o ur w ay i n to a v is io n d oes n o t ta ke i n to

a cco unt th e c o m ple xity a nd r e la ti o nal n atu re o f c o m munity . I t u nd erv alu es th e i m porta nce o f

c o nte xt a nd th e l in guis ti c , c o nv ers a ti o nal n atu re o f c o m munity . I f w e w ant to s e e a

change i n

o ur c o m muniti e s, w e m ust l e t g o o f th e c o nv enti o nal o r r e ceiv ed w is d om a b out h o w c hange

o ccurs . T his m eans w e r e je ct o r a t l e ast s e rio usly q uesti o n th e b elie fs th at c o m munal c hange

w ill o ccur i n th e f o llo w in g c ir c um sta nces:

•

We c o unt o n a n a ggre gatio n o f in div id ual c h anges.

W e h av e s e en th is i n a tte m pts b y

la rg e o rg aniz a ti o ns tr y in g to c hange th eir c ultu re th ro ugh l a rg e-s c ale tr a in in gs a nd c hange

effo rts . C om muniti e s i n iti a te l a rg e-s c ale d ia lo gue p ro gra m s a nd b ook c lu b s w here m any

are s im ulta neo usly r e ad in g th e s a m e b ook. N o m atte r h o w w ell i n te nti o ned , th ese e ffo rts

la rg ely f a ll s h o rt o f th eir g o als . W hy? B ecause i n d iv id ual l iv es a re to uched , b ut th e

org aniz a ti o nal c ultu re a nd th e c o m munity a re u nm oved .

What’ s m is sin g i s th at th ese e ffo rts d o n o t r e co gniz e th at th ere i s s u ch a th in g a s a

co lle cti v e b ody. A s h ift i n c o m munity b enefits f r o m s h ifts i n i n d iv id ual c o nsc io usn ess b ut

need s a c o m munal c o nnecte d ness a s w ell, a c o m munal s tr u ctu re o f b elo ngin g th at p ro duces

th e f o und ati o n f o r th e w ho le s y ste m to m ove. T his i s w hy i t i s s o f r u str a ti n g to c re ate h ig h

perfo rm ance a nd c o nsc io usn ess i n i n d iv id uals , a nd i n i n d iv id ual i n sti tu ti o ns, a nd th en f in d Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

th at th ey h av e s o l ittl e i m pact o n th e s o cia l c ap ita l o r f a b ric o f th e c o m munity .

•

We t h in k in t e rm s o f s c a le a nd s p eed.

A s D av id B orn ste in h as s o c le arly p oin te d o ut,

so m eth in g s h ifts o n a l a rg e s c ale o nly a fte r a l o ng p erio d o f s m all s te p s, o rg aniz e d a ro und

sm all g ro up s p ati e nt e no ugh to l e arn a nd e xp erim ent a nd l e arn a gain . S peed a nd s c ale a re

th e a rg um ents a gain st w hat i n d iv id ual a nd c o m munal tr a nsfo rm ati o n r e q uir e . T hey a re a

hallm ark o f th e c o rp ora te m in d se t. W hen w e d em and m ore s p eed a nd s c ale , w e a re

makin g a c o ded a rg um ent a gain st a nyth in g i m porta nt b ein g a ny d iffe re nt.

•

We s ta y f o cu se d o n la rg e s y ste m s a nd t o p le aders t o im ple m ent b ette r p ro ble m

so lv in g, c le are r g oals a nd v is io n, a nd b ette r c o ntr o ls o f t h e p ro ce ss.

L arg e s y ste m

change i s a u se fu l w ay to th in k, b ut tr a nsfo rm in g a cti o n i s a lw ays l o cal, c usto m iz e d ,

unfo ld in g, a nd e m erg ent. T he r o le o f l e ad ers i s n o t to b e b ette r r o le m odels o r to d riv e

change; th eir r o le i s to c re ate th e s tr u ctu re s a nd e xp erie nces th at b rin g c iti z e ns to geth er to

id enti fy a nd s o lv e th eir o w n i s su es.

Com munal tr a nsfo rm ati o n d oes o ccur w hen w e a ccep t th e f o llo w in g b elie fs :

•

We f o cu s o n t h e s tr u ctu re o f h ow w e g ath er a nd t h e c o nte xt in w hic h o ur g ath erin gs

ta k e p la ce .

C olle cti v e c hange o ccurs w hen i n d iv id uals a nd s m all d iv ers e g ro up s e ngage

one a no th er i n th e p re se nce o f m any o th ers d oin g th e s a m e. I t c o m es f r o m th e k no w le d ge

th at w hat i s o ccurrin g i n o ne s p ace i s s im ila rly h ap penin g i n o th er s p aces, e sp ecia lly o nes

where I d o n o t k no w w hat th ey a re d oin g. T his i s th e v alu e o f a n etw ork , o r e v en a

netw ork o f n etw ork s, w hic h i s to day’s v ers io n o f a s o cia l m ovem ent. I t h o ld s th at i n

la rg er e v ents , s tr u ctu re d i n s m all c ir c le s, w ith th e c erta in c o nv ers a ti o ns th at I w ill d efin e

la te r, th e f a ith i n r e sto ra ti o n i s e sta b lis h ed . A ll th is n eed s to b e f o llo w ed u p w ith th e u su al

acti o ns a nd p ro ble m s o lv in g, b ut i t i s i n th o se m om ents w hen c iti z e ns e ngage o ne a no th er,

in c o m munio n a nd th e w itn ess o f o th ers , th at s o m eth in g c o lle cti v e s h ifts .

K eep in g th is f o cus i s e sp ecia lly c riti c al w hen i n d iv id uals a nd i n sti tu ti o ns m eet a cro ss

bound arie s. T he k ey i s to s tr u ctu re a w ay o f c ro ssin g b ound arie s w here p eo ple b eco m e

co nnecte d to th o se th ey a re n o t u se d to b ein g i n th e r o om w ith . E very g ath erin g, i n i ts

co m positi o n a nd i n i ts s tr u ctu re , h as to b e a n e xam ple o f th e f u tu re w e w ant to c re ate . I f

th is i s a chie v ed i n th is g ath erin g, th en th at f u tu re h as o ccurre d to day a nd th ere i s n o th in g to

wait f o r. P re tty Z en.

•

We w ork h ard o n g ettin g t h e q uestio ns r ig ht.

T his b egin s b y r e aliz in g th at th e q uesti o ns

th em se lv es a re i m porta nt, m ore i m porta nt th an th e a nsw ers . T he p rim ary q uesti o ns f o r

co m munity tr a nsfo rm ati o n a re “ H ow d o w e c ho ose to b e to geth er? ” a nd “ W hat d o w e

want to c re ate to geth er? ” T hese a re d iffe re nt f r o m th e p rim ary q uesti o ns f o r i n d iv id ual

tr a nsfo rm ati o n, w hic h a re “ H ow d o I c ho ose to b e i n w hate v er s e tti n g I f in d m yse lf i n ?”

and “ W hat a m I c alle d to d o i n th is w orld ?”

•

We c h oose d epth o ver s p eed a nd r e la te dness o ver s c a le .

T he q uesti o n “ W hat d o w e

want to c re ate to geth er? ” i s d ecep ti v ely c o m plic ate d . I t i m plie s a l o ng j o urn ey c ro ssin g

so cia l, c la ss, a nd i n sti tu ti o nal b ound arie s. D ep th ta kes ti m e a nd th e w illin gness to e ngage. Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

Belo ngin g r e q uir e s th e c o ura ge to s e t a sid e o ur u su al n o ti o ns o f

acti o n a nd m easu rin g

su ccess b y th e n um bers to uched . I t a ls o m eans th at w hile w e k eep o ur o w n p oin t o f v ie w ,

we l e av e o ur s e lf- in te re st a t th e d oor a nd s h o w u p to l e arn r a th er th an to a d vocate . T hese

are th e c o nd iti o ns w here b y w e f in d n ew p la ces w here w e b elo ng.

To s ta y w ith th is th in kin g— th at c o m munal tr a nsfo rm ati o n i s a b out th e s tr u ctu re o f g ath erin g,

le tti n g th e r ig ht q uesti o ns e v olv e, a nd g o in g s lo w w ith f e w er n um bers o f p eo ple th an w e w ould

lik e— we h av e to c o nti n ue to s h ed c erta in c o nv enti o nal n o ti o ns. F or e xam ple , th e d om in ant

belie f i s th at b ette r o r m ore l e ad ers h ip , p ro gra m s, f u nd in g, e xp erti s e , s tu d ie s, tr a in in g, a nd

maste r p la ns a re th e w ay to b uild c o m munity . U nfo rtu nate ly , tr y in g h ard er a t th ese th in gs g iv es

us j u st a l ittl e m ore o f w hat w e a lr e ad y h av e. T hey a re th e p ath to i m pro vem ent b ut n o t

tr a nsfo rm ati o n.

Bette r l e ad ers h ip , f u nd in g, tr a in in g, a nd th e l ik e a re a b out f ix in g a s e t o f s y m pto m s o r

pro ble m s, w hic h i s th e c o nv enti o nal c o nv ers a ti o n. W hat w e w ant to e xp lo re i s th at w ay o f

th in kin g a nd b ein g i n c o m munity th at a llo w s o ur g o od w ill to m ake a r e al d iffe re nce. T hese a re

ways o f th in kin g a nd b ein g th at c an h elp u s c ho ose a n ew c o nte xt a nd f in d m ore e ffe cti v e w ays

to i m pro ve o ur s tr u ctu re o f b elo ngin g.

Choosin g P ossib ilit y o ver P ro ble m S olv in g

Cre ati n g a f u tu re i s d iffe re nt f r o m d efin in g a f u tu re . I f o ur g o al i s to b uild s o cia l c ap ita l a nd to

change th e w ay th at c iti z e ns a re e ngaged w ith e ach o th er, th en w e h av e to s h ift o ur th in kin g

ab out th e r o le s th at tr a d iti o nal s tr a te gy a nd p ro ble m s o lv in g ta ke. W e ta lk ed e arlie r a b out

valu in g g ifts a nd p ossib ility o ver n eed s a nd p ro ble m s. N ow w e c an b e m ore d eta ile d a b out

what th is l o oks l ik e.

Our ty p ic al w ay o f c re ati n g a f u tu re i s b y s p ecify in g th e v is io n, th e g o als , a nd th en d efin in g

a b lu ep rin t to a chie v e i t. T his i s c alle d a d esti n ati o n s tr a te gy f o r s o lv in g p ro ble m s. H ere a re

th e s tr a te gic e le m ents o f tr a d iti o nal p ro ble m s o lv in g:

•

Id entif y a n eed.

F in d a p ro ble m , n eed , o r d efic ie ncy th at w e w ant to f ix o r i m pro ve.

•

Stu dy a nd a naly ze t h e n eed.

D o r e se arc h, a sse m ble f a cts , s u rv ey p eo ple , o rg aniz e

su rv ey r e su lts a nd d ata to m ake a c o m pellin g c ase f o r c hange.

•

Searc h f o r s o lu tio ns.

B ra in sto rm a lte rn ati v es. B enchm ark w here o th ers h av e s o lv ed th is

defic ie ncy. B rin g i n e xp erts , c o nsu lta nts , a cad em ic s, f o rm er l e ad ers , a nd e x— pub lic

offic ia ls to p ro vid e g o od a p pro aches.

•

Esta blis h g oals .

S et r e alis ti c a nd a chie v ab le g o als , b ase d o n th e v is io n. D efin e o utc o m es,

narro w th e e ffo rt to w ard r e su lts th at c an b e a chie v ed ; th e q uic ker a nd l o w er th e c o st th e

bette r. S earc h f o r th e l o w -h angin g f r u it. M ayb e i n iti a te a p ilo t p ro je ct to p ro ve th e

via b ility o f th e s tr a te gy. L am in ate th e v is io n, m is sio n, a nd g o als to d em onstr a te th e

perm anence o f th is i n te nti o n.

•

Brin g o th ers o n b oard .

S ell to k ey l e ad ers , m eet w ith c iti z e ns to d efin e th e e ffo rt a nd Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

nam e th e p la yin g f ie ld . E nlis t o rg aniz a ti o ns a nd i n d iv id uals to c re ate a n a llia nce f o r

change. P ub lic iz e th e b urn in g p la tf o rm a nd s tr e ss th e u rg ency a nd th e n eed f o r q uic k

re su lts . G iv e w id e d is tr ib uti o n to th e l a m in ate .

•

Im ple m ent.

L aunch th e p ro gra m a nd d riv e i t f o rw ard . S ta y o n m essa ge a nd m easu re a t

fr e q uent i n te rv als . H old p eo ple a cco unta b le f o r r e su lts , f u lfillin g p ro m is e s, a nd s h o w in g

outc o m es. D ecla re to o th ers h o w a cco unta b le w e a re .

•

Loop b ack .

W hen th e w orld i n te rv enes a nd c re ate s a b um p i n th e r o ad , b egin th e p ro ble m

so lv in g a new , i d enti fy in g w hat w ent w ro ng a nd w ho w as r e sp onsib le , a nd i n iti a ti n g a

cle ar o vers ig ht p ro cess s o th at th is w ill n o t h ap pen a gain .

The e sse nce o f th ese c la ssic p ro ble m -s o lv in g s te p s i s th e b elie f th at th e w ay to m ake a

diffe re nce i n th e w orld i s to d efin e p ro ble m s a nd n eed s a nd th en r e co m mend a cti o ns to s o lv e

th o se n eed s. W e a re a ll p ro ble m s o lv ers , a cti o n o rie nte d , a nd r e su lts m in d ed . I t i s i lle gal i n

th is c ultu re to l e av e a m eeti n g w ith o ut a to -d o l is t. W e w ant m easu ra b le o utc o m es a nd w e w ant

th em n o w . A nd th is a ll h as s u ch f a ce v alid ity th at i t s e em s f o olis h to a rg ue i n a ny w ay a gain st

it.

Als o , th is w ay o f th in kin g d oes i n d eed w ork f o r m any th in gs, e sp ecia lly f o r th e m ate ria l

world . I t d oes n o t w ork w ell w ith h um an s y ste m s o r w hen th e d esir e i s to c re ate s o m eth in g o ut

of n o th in g. I n f a ct, i t i s th is v ery m in d se t, o ne b ase d o n c le ar d efin iti o n, p re d ic ti o n, a nd

measu re m ent, th at p re v ents a nyth in g f u nd am enta l f r o m c hangin g. W e s ti ll b elie v e th at i n

build in g a c o m munity , w e a re i n e ffe ct b uild in g a nd o pera ti n g a c lo ck. O nce a gain , p ro ble m

so lv in g m akes th in gs b ette r, b ut i t c anno t c hange th e n atu re o f th in gs. T his i n sig ht i s a t th e

cente r o f a ll th e th in kin g a b out c o m ple x a d ap ti v e s y ste m s, e m erg ent d esig n, a nd th e o rg anic a nd

se lf- re gula ti n g n atu re o f th e u niv ers e .

The l im ita ti o ns o f a c lo ckw ork s tr a te gy f o r th e f u tu re c an b e s e en i n o ne o f th e m ost p opula r

fo rm s o f c o m munity p ro ble m s o lv in g: c re ati n g a v is io n. M ost c o m muniti e s h av e a t s o m e p oin t

desc rib ed a v is io n f o r th em -s e lv es— th ese v is io ns a re d ev elo ped a s a w ay o f d efin in g th e

desti n ati o n. ( T he n ew m ille nniu m w as a g re at o ccasio n f o r th is .) T hese ty p es o f v is io ns h av e

valu e i n th at th ey b rin g m any p eo ple to geth er f o r th e s a ke o f d ev elo pm ent a nd th ey g iv e f o rm to

th e o pti m is m w e h o ld f o r o urs e lv es. B ut th ey a re l im ite d i n th e p ow er to tr a nsfo rm b ecause

th ey a ssu m e th at a d efin ed d esti n ati o n c an b e r e ached i n a l in ear p ath f r o m w here w e a re to day.

This i s th e f u nd am enta l a ssu m pti o n o f th e p ro ble m -s o lv in g m odel.

Most v is io ns a re b ase d u p on th e b elie f th at w e k no w a l o t a b out w hat c o nsti tu te s a n i d eal o r

health y c o m munity , w hic h i s tr u e. T here a re m any w ond erfu l b ooks th at d esc rib e w hat a g re at

co m munity l o oks l ik e. J a ne J a co bs c ry sta lliz e d o ur th in kin g a b out th e p ow er o f s tr e et l ife .

Robert P utn am r a is e d o ur c o nsc io usn ess a b out th e c entr a lity o f s o cia l c ap ita l. J o hn M cK nig ht’ s

work h as b uilt w id e s u p port f o r a sse t- b ase d c o m munity d ev elo pm ent.

A c o m munity w ill ta ke w hat i t b elie v es to b e th e th in kin g o f p eo ple l ik e th ese to p ro duce a

vis io n f o r i ts e lf, u su ally w ork in g th ro ugh th e c ity m anager’s o r m ayo r’s l e ad ers h ip o r w ith

gro up o f c o m munity l e ad ers . O fte n th is p ro duces, i n tu rn , a n eig hb orh o od-b y-n eig hb orh o od

maste r p la n f o r tr a nsla ti n g th at v is io n i n to s tr e ets , b uild in gs, s e rv ic es, a nd p ub lic s p aces.

Ele cte d o ffic ia ls , c o rp ora te s u p porte rs , a nd p ub lic l e ad ers th en g o o n r e co rd s u p porti n g th e Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

vis io n a nd p la n.

The c halle nge f o r c o m munity b uild in g i s th is : W hile v is io ns, p la ns, a nd c o m mitte d to p

le ad ers h ip a re i m porta nt, e v en e sse nti a l, n o c le ar v is io n, n o r d eta ile d p la n, n o r c o m mitte d

gro up l e ad ers h av e th e p ow er to b rin g

th is i m age o f th e f u tu re i n to e xis te nce w ith o ut th e

co nti n ued e ngagem ent a nd i n v olv em ent o f c iti z e ns. I n m ost i n sta nces, c iti z e n e ngagem ent e nd s

when th e p la n i s i n p la ce. T he i m ple m enta ti o n i s p ut i n th e h and s o f th e p ro fe ssio nals . I n

co ncep t, th e m aste r p la n p ro vid es s o m e p ara m ete rs f o r d ev elo pm ent a nd th e u se o f s p ace, b ut

in r e al l ife i t u su ally i s a c all to l e t th e a rg uin g b egin . F or a ll i ts u ti lity , i t r a re ly b uild s

in te rd ep end ence o r s tr e ngth ens th e s o cia l f a b ric o f a p la ce.

What b rin gs a f r e sh f u tu re i n to b ein g i s c iti z e ns w ho a re w illin g to s e lf- o rg aniz e . A n

alte rn ati v e f u tu re n eed s th e i n v estm ent o f c iti z e ns— le ad ers n o t i n to p p ositi o ns— who a re

willin g to p ay th e e co no m ic a nd e m oti o nal p ric e th at c re ati n g s o m eth in g r e ally n ew r e q uir e s.

There fo re , th e c halle nge f o r e v ery c o m munity i s n o t s o m uch to h av e a v is io n o f w hat i t

wants to b eco m e, o r a p la n, o r s p ecific ti m eta b le s. T he r e al c halle nge i s to d is c o ver a nd c re ate

th e m eans f o r e ngagin g c iti z e ns th at b rin gs a n ew p ossib ility i n to b ein g. T o s ta te i t m ore

pre cis e ly , w hat g iv es p ow er to c o m munal p ossib ility i s th e i m agin ati o n a nd a uth o rs h ip o f

citi z e ns l e d th ro ugh a p ro cess o f e ngagem ent. T his i s a n o rg anic a nd r e la ti o nal p ro cess. T his i s

what c re ate s a s tr u ctu re o f b elo ngin g. T his i s m ore c riti c al th an th e v is io n a nd th e p la n.

Exam ple : C ovin gto n

In C ovin gto n, K entu cky, s e v era l c ity i n sti tu ti o ns to geth er c ho se to u se c iv ic e ngagem ent a s

a w ay o f d ev elo pin g a s tr a te gic p la n f o r i ts c iv il s e rv ants a nd c iti z e ns. C ity M anager J a y

Fosse tt, C ente r f o r G re at N eig hb orh o ods h ead T om D iB ello , a nd th e h ead o f th e l o cal

busin ess a sso cia ti o n, G in a B re yfo gle , a sk ed f o r h elp w ith a s e rie s o f c iti z e n g ath erin gs to

cre ate th e a gend a f o r th e c ity f o llo w in g th e p ro to co l s u ggeste d i n th is b ook. U nd er th e

le ad ers h ip o f J e ff S te c, a v ery ta le nte d l o cal c o m munity b uild er, w e i n v ite d th e c iti z e ns o f

Covin gto n to f o ur p ub lic g ath erin gs. N ot to a d vis e th e l e ad ers , b ut to d efin e th e p rio riti e s

of th e p la n a nd to c o m mit to m akin g th e s tr a te gic p la n w ork . F iv e h und re d p eo ple i n a to w n

of 4 4,0 00 s h o w ed u p to d o j u st th is . A t th e e nd o f th e p ro cess, th e c ity h ad i ts s tr a te gic p la n

—and m ore i m porta nt, i t h ad th e c o m mitm ent o f a s ig nific ant g ro up o f c iti z e ns s ig ned u p to

make th e p la n w ork . P lu s, p erh ap s m ost i m porta nt, th ey s tr e ngth ened th e f a b ric o f th eir

co m munity i n th e p ro cess.

Tra nsfo rm ati o n i s a b out a lte rin g th e n atu re o f o ur r e la te d ness a nd c hangin g th e n atu re o f o ur

co nv ers a ti o n, a s i n th e c o m munity -b uild in g e ffo rt i n iti a te d b y l o cal l e ad ers a nd g o vern m ent i n

Covin gto n. T he p ro ble m -s o lv in g m in d se t tr e ats r e la te d ness a nd l a nguage a s m eans r a th er th an

th e e nd i ts e lf. T here fo re , i t i n str u m enta liz e s r e la te d ness a nd c o nv ers a ti o n, k eep in g p ro ble m

so lv in g th e p oin t.

What c re ate s a n a lte rn ati v e f u tu re i s a cti n g o n th e b elie f th at c o nte xt, r e la te d ness, a nd

la nguage a re th e p oin t, a nd th at tr a d iti o nal p ro ble m s o lv in g n eed s to b e s u b ord in ate d a nd

postp oned u nti l c o nte xt, r e la te d ness, a nd l a nguage h av e s h ifte d . I n th is th in kin g, p ro ble m Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

so lv in g b eco m es a m eans, a nd n o t a n e nd i n i ts e lf.

We c anno t p ro ble m -s o lv e o ur w ay i n to f u nd am enta l c hange, o r tr a nsfo rm ati o n, o r

co m munity . T o s ta te i t o ne m ore w ay: T his i s n o t a n a rg um ent a gain st p ro ble m s o lv in g; i t i s a n

asse rti o n th at th e p rim ary w ork i s to s h ift th e c o nte xt a nd l a nguage a nd th in kin g a b out

possib ility w ith in w hic h p ro ble m s o lv in g ta kes p la ce.

Pro ble m s o lv in g l e ad s to a n a lte rn ati v e f u tu re o nly w hen i t i s e m bed ded i n a r e sto ra ti v e

co nte xt, o ne b ase d o n r e la te d ness, g enero sity , a nd a f o cus o n g ifts . T hese a re th e c o nd iti o ns f o r

a n ew p ossib ility a nd a s h ift to s h are d a cco unta b ility , a nd th is i s w hat c re ate s a c hance f o r

auth enti c c o m munal tr a nsfo rm ati o n. T his s h ift r e q uir e s u s to c hange o ur i d ea o f w hat

co nsti tu te s a cti o n, s o th at w hat w as o nce s e en a s a m eans to a n e nd n o w i s v alu ed i ts e lf a s

acti o n. A no th er k ey i n sig ht f r o m J im K eene, w ho h as s p ent h is l ife i n th e p ub lic a re na, i s ,

“P erh ap s th e p urp ose o f p ro ble m s i s to g iv e u s a n e xcuse to c o m e to geth er.”

Expandin g O ur I d ea o f A ctio n

Of c o urs e , j u st c o m in g to geth er h as to p ro vid e s o m e m ovem ent to w ard th e f u tu re . E very ti m e

we m eet, w e w ant to f e el th at w e h av e m oved th e a cti o n f o rw ard .

The q uesti o n i s , w hat q ualifie s a s a cti o n? T ra d iti o nally , w e w ant a s tr a te gy, a nd a l is t o f

next s te p s a nd m ile sto nes, a nd th e k no w le d ge o f w ho w ill b e r e sp onsib le f o r th em i n o rd er to

be s a ti s fie d th at w e h av e s p ent o ur ti m e w ell w hen w e a re to geth er. A ny c hange i n th e w orld

will, i n f a ct, n eed th is

kin d o f a cti o n. T o s a y, h o w ev er, th at th is i s a ll th at c o unts a s a cti o n i s

to o n arro w .

If w e a re to v alu e b uild in g s o cia l f a b ric a nd b elo ngin g a s m uch a s b ud gets , ti m eta b le s, a nd

bric ks a nd m orta r, w e n eed to c o nsid er a cti o n i n a b ro ad er w ay. F or e xam ple :

Would a m eeti n g b e w orth w hile i f w e s im ply s tr e ngth ened o ur r e la ti o nsh ip ?

Would a m eeti n g b e w orth w hile i f w e l e arn ed s o m eth in g o f v alu e?

Sup pose i n a m eeti n g w e s im ply s ta te d o ur r e q uests o f e ach o th er a nd w hat w e w ere

willin g to o ffe r e ach o th er. W ould th at j u sti fy o ur ti m e to geth er?

Or, i n th e g ath erin g, w hat i f w e o nly d is c usse d th e g ifts w e w ante d to b rin g to b ear o n th e

co ncern th at b ro ught u s to geth er. W ould th at b e a n o utc o m e o f v alu e?

Sayin g y es to th ese q uesti o ns o pens a nd w id ens th e s p ectr u m o f w hat c o nsti tu te s a cti o n, a nd

th is i s th e p oin t. R ela te d ness, l e arn in g, r e q uests , a nd o ffe rs o f g ifts a re o utc o m es a s v alu ab le a s

agre em ents a nd n ext s te p s.

It i s n o t th at w e a re g ath erin g j u st f o r th e s a ke o f g ath erin g. O r g ath erin g to g et to k no w e ach

oth er. W e c o m e to geth er f o r a n e xchange o f v alu e a nd to e xp erie nce h o w r e la te d ness, g ifts , Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.

le arn in g, a nd g enero sity a re v alu ab le to c o m munity . W hen w e n am e th ese a s o utc o m es, i t

allo w s u s to g et c o m ple ti o n f o r th e i n v estm ent w e m ad e w ith o ut h av in g to l e av e w ith a l is t f o r

th e f u tu re .

With th is e xp and ed n o ti o n o f a cti o n, w e c an b rin g v is io nin g, p ro ble m s o lv in g, a nd c le arly

defin ed o utc o m es i n to th e r o om — and i n f a ct w e n eed th em to s u sta in u s. P eo ple w ill m eet to

le arn a nd c o nnect f o r o nly s o l o ng, a nd th en a ta sk i s n eed ed . T he ta sk d oesn ’t h av e to b e th e

main p oin t o f th e g ath erin g, b ut i t i s a n e sse nti a l p oin t. Block, Peter. Community : The Structure of Belonging, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/psu/detail.action?docID=407840.

Created from psu on 2019-06-05 23:05:26.