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.
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
- "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.
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:
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
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."
