The Stuck Community

At previous gatherings of A Beloved Community we discussed Chapter 1 (Insights into Transformation) and Chapter 2 (Shifting the Context for Community) in Peter Block's book Community: The Structure of Belonging.

On December 4, 2013 Jim reviewed Chapter 3 - The Stuck Community. Here is a brief summary:

"The existing community context is one that markets fear, assigns fault, and worships self-interest.  This context supports the belief that the future will be improved with new laws, more oversight, and stronger leadership Possibility thinking and associational life are marginalized, relegated to human interest and side stories in the media.  The corporate model is the modern ideal, and the economy is the center story. The story in the stuck community defines the role of the media as framer of the debate.  In community building, we need to realize that what the media reports is a reflection, not the cause of the conversation that citizens currently hold.”

We discussed the questions:

1. What is the current community story of Shasta County?  
2. Of the Beloved Community? 
3. What is the “hidden agenda” found in every story? 
4. What is meant by a retributive agenda?

We reviewed some sample front pages of the Record Searchlight (particularly the articles Homeless Camps Raising Ire, Fear and Americans Lose Trust in Neighbors from Associated Press, published on December 1, 2013) and it was clearly illustrated what is meant by "marketing fear and fault."

We asked ourselves "What role does the media play in defining and telling the story of a community?" The illusion is that legislating laws, more oversight, and stiffer penalties will improve society.

What are some actual effects of more government involvement in community life?

Jim pointed out that the value of “associational life” (per John McKnight) is a key force in building community - that's what we are building at our ABC gatherings. "The stuck community essentially discounts associational life and instead values, and even glorifies, the system life, especially the private decor and corporate mindset." Here are some ways in which we discount associational life (the place where the social fabric is built):

• The only true measure of community is economic prosperity.
• We name social service and institutions that serve the public good "not for profit."
• Associations are under constant pressure to be more corporate; to merge, become more efficient, submit to external oversight, measure harder, and submit to greater accountability
• The public benefit sector makes front page news only when there is a scandal.
• We marginalize compassion in the public conversation.

The point is: Citizens have the capacity to change the community story. One of the goals of a Beloved Community is to figure out how to do this and to collectively discern the possibilities for "our story."

Rick pointed out how the Winter 2013 edition of Good Magazine has a feature on "Celebrating Possibility" with the Good City Index that measures 8 factors:

1. Hub For Progress - Where in the city do new ideas capitalize?
2. Civic Engagement - What ongoing project best show citizens involved in their city's improvement?
3. Local Vibes - What traditions capture the distinctiveness and uniqueness of city life?
4. Signature Moment - What time of the year brings out the best in the city?
5. Transportation - How do locals move around?
6. Green Space - Where's the best outdoor spot in?
7. Diversity - How do people of different backgrounds come together in the city?
8. Work/Life Balance - How do locals kick back and slow down?

These are good questions to ponder for our communities in Shasta County. We don't live in a stuck community. We are changing the conversation and the community story. 

Interested? Join us January 16, 2014 at 6 PM as Ellen leads a review Chapter 4: The Restorative Community. A Beloved Community is now gathering each month on the first and third Thursday evenings at 6 PM at the Fireside Room in Redding Public Library. There are no gatherings planned for December 18th and January 2nd.

A Beloved Community will participate in Redding's Winter Celebration Friday, December 6th from 4-8 PM and the Annual Lighted Christmas Parade Saturday, December 7th at 6 PM.

What is Community?

The following is a summary of the Beloved Community Conversation for the November 20, 2013, 6 PM gathering.  Lynne, Rick, Vanessa, Nathan, Terry, Jan, Eddie, Jim, and Ajen were present. 

During this evening's conversation, Rick reviewed Peter Block's book Community: The Structure of Belonging. He offered an overview of Chapter 2 which provides a discussion on how the "Context of Community" can be shifted by looking "beyond the future" towards possibilities and existing capabilities, resources and expertise of a community rather than focusing on the community's past, its perceived limitations or its perceived problems. 

Chapter 1 of Block's book is entitled Insights into Transformation. Earlier in November, at the November 7th gathering, Ajen reviewed Chapter 1 and discussed how restoring community means building "social capital" or social fabric based on:

• Gifts 
• Associational life
• Power of language - conversations 
• Power of context - possibility, generosity and gifts 
• Power of possibility 
• Aliveness and wholeness 
• Transformation and unfolding 
• Appreciating paradox 
• Choosing freedom and accountability 

Chapter 2 of Block's book is entitled Shifting the Context for Community, with the following highlights:

• "The context that restores community is one of possibility, generosity, and gifts rather than one of problem solving, fear and retribution.
• A new context acknowledges that we have all the capacity, expertise, and resources that an alternative future requires.
• Communities are human systems given form by conversations that build relatedness. The conversations that build relatedness most often occur through associational life, where citizens show up by choice and rarely in the context of system life, where citizens show up out of obligation,
• The small group is the unit of transformation and the container for the experiencing of belonging.
• Conversations that focus on stories about the past become a limitation to community; one that are teaching parables and focus on the future restore community."

Further, as Principles of Strategy:

• "The essential work is to build social fabric, both for its own sake and to enable chosen accountability among citizens.
• Strong associational life is essential and central.
• Citizens who use their power to convene other citizens are what creates an alternative future
• The small group is the unit of transformation.
• All transformation is linguistic, which means that we can think of community as essentially a conversation."

We then spent the rest of the time talking about the meaning of community.

Rick then recounted his experience of 2 1/2 days with Extravagance UCC in Cleveland, Ohio the first week in November. There a group of about 40 strangers met several times in small groups to answer the question "What is Church?" and how to build a virtual, online spiritual community. The immediate community building process was facilitated by eating all meals together; sharing ritual (worship) experiences; listening to an outside keynote speaker; celebrating; continuing the conversation and community building through social media connections (Twitter; Facebook pages; bios; blog links; videos; photos); and working together on a new, online, spiritual community to be launched in summer 2014.

Using that experience as a model, which incidentally closely follows what Block outlines in his book, we asked the question: What is your definition of community (when you felt you "belonged" and are "at home")? The responses to which are noted on the picture of the whiteboard above.

From this discussion, we talked about the nature of the community in general and specifically about the community-group that met tonight. Lynne shared her recent experience with the local Artists Gathering. 

Given the questions raised by Jan and Rick, we addressed if this is group is something formal where we called it a "meeting" which comes with minutes and agendas or is it something where a group of people come together to hold a conversation on specific and general topics.  With those present, it seemed as if we were leaning towards the latter.  

In addition to this, the frequency of our gathering times was also discussed. 

Looking forward, Jim will be offering a review of Chapter Three in December. 

Rick drew our attention to 211.org, which maps agency connections in Shasta County.

Rick also expressed his personal 2020 vision in an effort to further "shift the context" of our conversation: 

• Greater sense of inter-relatedness among all citizens – all of life is sacred.
• Greater connectedness and cooperation between organization, agencies and groups 
• Sustainable local systems – local jobs for all skill levels 
• Day Center for homeless 
• Employment opportunities for college graduates to return to Redding and find good jobs. 
• Coding taught in schools 
• Vitality and beauty in downtown Redding 
• Connected trail system 
• Shasta Forward land planning renewal

Subsequently, both Rick and Nathan offered similar suggestions that it would be worthwhile for each of us to share our passions with the rest of the group. The discussions that followed highlighted the fruitful possibilities of such sharing.

At the close of our gathering, we read and reflected on the following closing statement provided by Vanessa:

"We gather here today in a spirit of gratitude to further empower and embody the message of love, hope, and humility in Shasta County. May we, together, dwell and live with peace, generosity, and courage for we truly are a Beloved Community."

The Structure of Belonging

Peter Block's book Community: The Structure of Belonging will be discussed at the gathering of A Beloved Community at 6 PM on the 6th and 20th of November 2013 at Redding Public Library. For those that cannot make the evening meeting a group will also be meeting on the 7th and 21st at 4 PM.

Join the conversation.

Join Us

Click here for a link to a Record Searchlight article Oct. 20, 2013.

What Can We Create Together?

The Knight Soul of the Community 2010 study of "Why People Love Where They live and Why It Matters: A National Perspective" concluded that what attaches resident to their communities doesn't change much from place to place:

• Social Offerings - Places for people to meet each other and the feeling that people in the community care about each other.
• Openness - How welcoming the community is to different types of people, including families with young children, minorities and talented college graduates, and
• Aesthetics - the physical beauty of the community including the availability of parks and green spaces.

Peter Block's book Community: The Structure of Belonging encourages us to focus on the possibilities and ask the question, "What can we create together?"

Questions are more transforming than answers - they create the space for something new to emerge. Some other questions are:

• What is the commitment you hold that brought you into this room?
• What is the price you or others pay for being here today?
• How valuable do you plan for this effort to be?
• Whom would we like to join us?

What is Your 2020 Vision

What is your "2020 Vision" for Shasta County communities?

What steps can we take today to create A more Beloved Community in 6+ years?

Here are some ideas (some of which we are already working on):

• Agree on core principles 
• Mapping our existing group connections
• Collaboration and community outreach - extending our connections for the common good
• Refining broad focus goals (i.e. education; sustainability; vibrant local economy; attractive, safe and downtown; mental health; etc.)
• Set up planning teams

At a Wednesday evening meeting, one of our new participants has a vision for "making their Shasta County community so attractive that their daughter will want to and be able to return after college."

What is your vision?

Collaboration

Four Stages of Collaboration 

Collaboration provides an opportunity and a challenge to bring people together in ways that are more than the sum of individuals.

Stage 1: Envision Results by Working Individual-to-Individual 

• Bringing People Together (challenge 1A) - You need to have an initiator; choose potential members; invite participation. It takes time. 
• Enhancing Trust (challenge 1B) - Choosing a convener; holding effective meetings; involving everyone in the meetings; disclose self-interest.
• Confirming Our Vision (challenge 1C) - Writing a vision statement that captures the focus 
• Specify Desired Results (challenge 1D) – thinking strategically and taking strategic action. 

Stage 2: Empower ourselves by working Individual-to-Organization 

• Confirming Organizational Rolls (challenge 2A) - Documenting progress; obtaining authority within the home organization; secure letters of commitment; clarify authority within collaboration. 
• Resolving Conflicts (challenge 2B) – Expect conflicts; clarify the issues; create a conflict resolution process; resolve the unresolvable. 
• Organize the Effort (challenge 2C) – Form a structure; determine roles;decide about staffing; secure resources. 
• Support the Members (challenge 2D) – Establish a decision-making protocol; create a communications plan; reward members in the collaboration; reward other people. 

Stage 3: Ensure success by working Organization-to-Organization 

• Manage the Work (challenge 3A) – Review the vision and desired results; lay out an action plan; create accountability standards; build collaborative work habits. 
• Create Joint Systems (challenge 3B) - decide degree of closeness; create and approve joint agreements; make needed organizational changes. 
• Evaluate the Results (challenge 3C) – value evaluation; create an evaluation plan; continually improve the work. 
• Renew the Effort (challenge 3D) – promote adaptability and flexibility; retire appropriate members; add new members; celebrate. 

Stage 4: Endow Continuity by working Collaboration-to Community 

• Create Visibility (challenge 4A) - Convey an image; promote the results. 
• Involve the Community (Challenge 4B) – teach the value of collaboration; bring diverse interests together; build leadership; hold public forums. 
• Change the System (Challenge 4C) – Understand the present system; plan changes in the system; begin to change the system. 
• End the Collaboration (challenge 4D) – understand the need for an ending;create ending rituals. 

Source:Collaboration Handbook; Creating, Sustaining, and Enjoying the Journey. By Michael Winer and Karen Ray (2012)

Why Social Media?

One week ago we set up this blog for A Beloved Community, along with a new Facebook page and Meetup service. Today we sent out our first email to 31 subscribers through MailChimp service.

A few are asking "Why do we need all this and why can't we just use the telephone, printed flyers and email with Reply All?"

The simple answer is that we hope to grow too large for just those forms of communication. Secondly, we are no longer living in a mass-market, broadcast, push-marketing world and therefore are making a conscious effort to reach out to younger generations, who are more digital-native that some of us. Smartphones and tablets are changing everything. Much communication is now done on the fly in real time.

The longer answer is that the very substance of A Beloved Community is about community building that is transparent, open source, interactive, engaging and fun. New organizations are more organic and fluid; the are more participatory and less hierarchical. Everyone's voice is important.

Although it is not always optimally used, social media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other digital services) are potentially great tools for networked collaboration. Everyone can participate and add their voice and unique contribution. Good ideas can quickly become "viral", catch on and spread fast. I read one today from Aaron Hatch about "offering a student loan forgiveness program to entice college-grads to move back to Redding to spend time helping to solve some of the areas most pressing problems" - brilliant! Spread this.

A good website is no longer a static "billboard" to push something. Blogspot is a free service and also has the benefit of enabling easy reader comments to start a conversation. Hopefully we will not have to moderate or block commenters who don't understand our ethos of positive, respectful dialogue - we don't want nasty controversy like the Record Searchlight has to deal with.

Be sure to add your comment to this website whenever you agree or have something to add for the benefit of the common good. Open the underlined links in a post and in your comments on this blog include those good links you find too.

In one week our Facebook page already has 43 "Friends" and 28 are "talking about it." Likes, Comments and Shares help spread the word to friends of friends of friends and thus awareness and support grows geometrically. The key is for everyone to do their part and be engaged rather than just a passive reader.

Facebook also had events and groups, which we have not fully used. But we believe that the potential for A Beloved Community is beyond events, marches and giving support by showing up - important as they are.

When we use social media, most of us don't listen enough - we think it is all about broadcasting posts. To use the LACE acronym of Elisabeth Drescher, "appropriate practices of Listening, Attending and Connecting ground meaningful Engagement in social media..."

The RSVP function of Meetup helps in our planning. In addition to benefits such as reminders and follow-up feedback opportunities, Meetup also helps us get to know one another better and put a face with the name of someone we just met. People from other Redding Meetups may decide to join us or we may see an area where we can collaborate with their Meetup group.

MailChimp is a opt-in email service similar to Constant Contact, Vertical Response and others. It helps solve a future problem of "email fatigue" that results when too many people click the "reply all" button and we become so inundated that we stop paying attention. Nobody wants more emails in their inbox! MailChimp will allow us to easily sort emails to go just to specific groups of people.

See those little icon buttons below? Push one now and share this.

Five Core Principles

From Jan Lopez:

The five core principles of A Beloved Community are:

1.       Purpose:                      Work for the betterment of the world (includes the community)

2.       Relationship:              Set the common good above private interest

3.       Conduct:                      Consciously adhere to human virtues

4.       Sustainability:            Do what will profit you and others

5.       Decision Support:    Consult as the means of decision making

Don Brown in his book To Build Anew, explains how these core principles work (substituting “A Beloved Community” for “enterprise” ):

·         They set a worthwhile purpose for the Beloved Community (to work for the betterment of the world) – a clear worthy direction contributes to the pivotal principle of unity and to the overall objective of the whole societal system.

·         They specify the fundamental relationship between the Beloved Community and society and between those working within the Beloved Community and the Beloved Community (to set the common good above private interest).  This principle defines who and what comes first, directly reflecting the unity principle of the relationship of the parts to the whole.

·         They provide the standard of conduct for all the affairs of the Beloved Community and its members (to consciously adhere to human virtues – truthfulness, trustworthiness, honesty, justice, moderation, etc.) – how to pursue the objectives of the Beloved Community in a way that contributes directly to the goal of the societal system.  In this system, the ends do not justify the means.

·         They define the essential standard of sustainability and reciprocity between the Beloved Community and all its stakeholders (do what will profit you and others) including the environment.  In this context profit, or benefit, is measured by the value that is being added to the benefit of all.  Profit or benefit is one key visible, measurable effect of the unity principle.

·         They provide the process and structure for the most significant, prevalent and pervasive activity of every Beloved Community – decision support (consult as the means of decision making).  Consultation itself is a participative process that fosters unity and consensus as well as giving effect to the second fundamental condition of unity – an authoritative means by which decisions will be taken.

·         They provide the common unifying standards and guidelines for making consistent decisions for the direction and operation of the enterprise at all levels, contributing directly to the unity, peace and well-being of humanity.

Interdependence and Connectedness

Accelerating changes and increasing complexity (societal, economic, political and technological) is prompting greater interdependence and connectedness.

As we collectively process how A Beloved Community should best organize to become effective in bringing about positive, collaborative actions in Shasta County, it is useful to understand some of the latest trends in how non-profits are managing this change.

Shasta Family YMCA has done a good job in strategic planning, based on a model by La Piana Consulting. This non-profit consulting firm just uploaded a group of interesting videos around the theme of Doing Good in the 21st Century.

These short (5-6 minute) videos contain some jargon, as they were designed specifically for formal, non-profit organizations and philanthropies, but they also contain some nuggets to stretch our thinking. The video titles are: New Realities (the video above), Sector Blur, Diversity and Power, Generational Shift, Technology, Business Models, and Philanthropy’s Role.

How does this apply? What do you think?

Collaboration

"In this prescient 2005 talk, Clay Shirky shows how closed groups and companies will give way to looser networks where small contributors have big roles and fluid cooperation replaces rigid planning."

As A Beloved Community is being conceptualized, it must remain open source to highlight the good ideas of the many and promote them to flourish. Not every idea will take root, but the process of encouraging initiative, originality, experimentation and even failures (as well as successes) is vital. It requires collaborative, non-institutional thinking and actions.

Although it is not framed as such, I believe Redding Soup is a grass-roots expression of innovative ideas to build A Beloved Community.

Collaboration is all about using the tools of connections for the common good. 

To use a phrase from the Recent TEDxRedding, we need to start by "Mapping our Connections." What groups do you already belong to? How do they overlap in terms of people and perspectives? How can people and ideas from those groups be brought together for the common good?

A Feast For Good

From http://worldwide.feastongood.com

Creating community is about shared values and relationships.

Relationships can be initiated by meeting people through gatherings, through introductions by friends and somewhat more superficially online through Twitter. Acquaintances can become so called "friends" through Facebook, which adds another layer of familiarity, to the degree that one is transparent and is not trying to project an idealized persona - Facebook is not the medium for meaningful dialogue. However, in my opinion, to become true friends requires small, face to face meetings, particularly having conversations over coffee or a meal. Doing something together helps reveal even more of true personality.

A Beloved Community is just getting going in Redding, CA, so it seems like a worthy short term goal to spend time first nurturing relationships before rushing to get concurrence on a vision or mission statement.

One suggestion is for people to participate inThe Feast Worldwide Dinner Party, such as we are doing in our home with some new friends on October 18, 2013. I suggest this primarily because the idea of The Feast For Good focuses on talking about solutions instead of talking about problems. They have three "challenge" tracks: Learning, Health and Veterans. Last year the challenge topics were: Data; Open Design; Health; Poverty; or Eco.

The Feast Worldwide is "about creating a global dialogue to discuss, imagine, and build a better future. It's about bringing together community and we're building tools to help."

Of secondary interest is the notion that others around the world are having similar conversations at the same date and time and there is some connection through sharing your thoughts on Twitter with hashtag #feast2013 and connecting with @feastongood.

A spin on The Feast For Good isThe Virtual Dinner Guest Project, introduced to me today on Facebook by friend Rachel Hatch. The idea is that "people from universities, NGO’s and media centers in two countries engaged in conversation from two dinner tables that have been connected by a virtual link." They are launching an IndieGogo (online fundraising) campaign on October 1, 2013.

What are you doing on October 18, 2013?

Community Alchemy

TEDxRedding presenter Andy Stoll, a media producer and social entrepreneur, is working to grow the grassroots entrepreneurial & creative community in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area. He "believes in the power of stories and connections to influence people, inspire action and affect positive change."

His Model for Building An Entrepreneurial Ecosystem he refers to as Community Alchemy (a graphic is shown on the link.)

Shasta County could use some alchemy - that "power or process that changes or transforms something in a mysterious or impressive way."

You can be part of that process. Come add your voice on October 2nd. As Andy puts it "tell a story and create conversations that share a positive vision, focusing on the opportunities of the future, not rehashing the past problems and limitations of the past."

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March for Peace and Unity

On Saturday, September 21, 2013 a group of interested citizens gathered to discuss specific actions that are appropriate for immediate action as A Beloved Community. 

They also marched to Redding, CA City Hall, made announcements and sang songs as part of a Global March for Peace and Unity organized by Shasta County Citizens Advocating Respect (SCCAR).

Among the participants was a high school exchange student from Yemen who recounted an incidence of racism and profiling on September 19th at a gas station on Eureka Way near Shasta High. Members of A Beloved Community were moved to write letters to the owner of the business asking for an apology.

The next gatherings will be at Redding Public Library on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 6:30 PM and also on the following Thursdays at 1:30 PM, for those who cannot make the Wednesday evening meeting. That's Oct. 2 or 3 and Oct. 16 or 17, 2013 for your calendars.
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Nurturing A Beloved Community in Shasta County

On August 24, 2013, a gathering took place in Redding, CA, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech. Dinner discussion was about how to take actions to make the various cities and towns in Shasta County A Beloved Community. Future gatherings will be at the Redding Public Library.

A Beloved Community is a grass-roots movement rather than a formal organization or institution. It's intent is to act as a bridge, bringing together many diverse voices in the community around the idea of the common good. It's vision will be expressed by its actions.

A Beloved Community is non-partisan and non-sectarian! Participants included members of diverse faith community traditions plus many people of good-will with no faith traditions at all. Open-minded listening, civility and respect are expected of all. Interrelatedness is a foundation.

Input about visions and actions was received from participants about the following Beloved Community themes:

• Interrelatedness
• Inclusivity
• Respect for All People
• Justice
• Compassion
• Love
• Non-violence
• Shared power
• Responsibility

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