One of the most useful books of the past five years in terms of the work I do is Peter Block’s Community: The Structure of Belonging. In it he aggregates the wisdom of those of us who have been practicing participatory process for the last 30 years in North America. The essence of the work is that social fabric, created through conversations that produce relationships, is the foundation for improvement in communities and the fundamental pre-requisite for effective and sustainable problem solving.
This set of videos is a great introduction to Peter’s work. View parts one, two and three.
Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault, Annie Turcotte, and Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz.
- RT @sebpaquet "…in any large organization, any transformation that is to 'stick' must emerge from within." – goes for democracy too, Seb. #
- The absence of the sound of water dripping is deafening. #
- What's Gareth Bale got on the inside of his thighs? Birthmark? #coys #
- Gray air and chilly rain. #
- The clouds are so thick and the rain so heavy that it isn't going to get light today at all methinks. #
- Touring IPS tonight. Missing @braddo. http://yfrog.com/mkkme0j #
- With Pieter del Mundo by Bowen Island's oldest tree, Opa. http://yfrog.com/g1nw60j #
- Open Space listserve needs 2 find a new home. Any1 have an institutional contact that runs listservs that might consider hosting this list? #
- All hail Qatar's rise as a football power! Clearly a world cup in a desert beats one in the USA or Aus. :/ #
- Early morning breakfast at Granville Island. http://yfrog.com/0i8m101j #
- At Granville Island the pigeons feed on YOU! http://yfrog.com/5d669plj #
- One of those days http://post.ly/1HlSU #
- Spurs v Birmingham….Come on you Spurs! Bowen Island v West Vancouver U11s Come on you Bowen Bears! #coys #
- RT @jonhusband: Superbly engaging and interesting lunch w @chriscorrigan today .. <– ditto John…nice to catch up! #
- Clear blustery morning. Venus burns cold in the dawn sky, a pinpoint of brilliant reflective gratitude. http://yfrog.com/3dof50j #
- Fantastic evening lighting up Snug Cove with hundreds of other islanders. True community bringing light in the darkness. #
- A raven gifted me a teaching this morning: stay awake in the present and sing to what is before you and what is behind you. #
- What makes my heart sing http://post.ly/1EJDO #
- Thin silver light of a cold morning snow flurry on the coast The air is still and sharp on the skin. http://yfrog.com/0g88224546j #
- Just lost power again. Will upload a film about this windstorm shortly. #
- Storm force winds now blowing down Howe Sound. Lots of trees down and power out. No snow here though. #
- Carnellian rich sunrise the morning after the storm. The air is like stained glass. http://yfrog.com/3zdeodj #
- Good god… It's only -5 and I feel like I've been cold all day. 14 years on the south coast has made me a wuss. #
- RT @Rezsuperstar: UN Declaration, Proof in the pudding: National Chief http://bit.ly/dKkzDL Signing it isn't leadership esp. 3 yrs late. #
- 4700 miles from White Hart Lane but hoping for a Spurs Champions League win today against Werder to qualify for the knockout stages! #coys #
- Snow on its way but warm air expected later this week too.Expecting a mess on the ground for a few days while the precipitation gets sorted. #
- http://yfrog.com/0gr3s0j 2-0 at the half. We love you Tottenham! Oh yes we do! All the way from British Columbia! #coys #
- http://yfrog.com/n5unod0j 5cms of powdery snow last night. Everything is still and quiet. #
- Snowin' on Bowen http://post.ly/1FWFU #
- Rain. Lovely thick heavy rain. #
- Robbia Keane ur very welcome here in Vancouver. Good striker for the Caps and free space for Spurs! #coys #
- Yay. Stuck in Capilano Mall with a flat tire on a stuck wheel. Still, any time with my kiddies is quality time. #