Gifts

Drafted by neighbors on a small stretch of Mead Street in Southeast Seattle. It's still a work in progress as you can see. People all over the country lament the loss of community, neighborhoods, local culture.  "Nobody knows their neighbors...

Our intent here is to reconstruct what is considered news. The traditional news is about extraordinary people working in systems and institutions doing special things. We especially call it news when those extraordinary things are illegal or titillating. What the...

Notes on the Gifts and Assets That People Who Are Vulnerable to Rejection Commonly Bring to Community by Judith Snow Hospitality making people feel happy listening Grounding slowing people down, reorienting people to time and place leading people to appreciate simple things ...

Everyone has heard of the African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child.” We find that not only is the saying universally known, it is universally agreed to with enthusiasm. But when we ask most neighborhood people about...

Written for Paradise Post, Hakalau, HI Early this year while scrolling through my usual volume of email messages, there was one that caught my attention.  It was from Peter Block, writer-speaker-consultant, who lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Peter, as some on the...

Al Etmanski is one of North America's best social inventors. He has looked beyond traditional institituions and their failures to create new means of achieving a better life. His analysis of the forms of organization that enable local communities...

Most of us belong to lots of different kinds of clubs, groups and associations.  Each is held together by a common gift, skill, interest or passion.  Choirs are associations that magnify the gifts of people who sing well.  Basketball...

Recently, I created an opportunity to make a difference in my community. I ran for city council and won! Although political campaigning and holding public office is not on my resume, I have marketing experience, enthusiasm and passion. Add...