ok... Let the debate begin...
There are a zillion things happening in our culture that impact how communities engage. However, there are a limited number of these cultural "stuff" that seem to make a difference in our field... Here's my token top ten... Please add yours:
1. It's about "place". We live in a three dimensional world... After all is said and done - and respecting the increasing importance of the virtual dimension - the physical location of where we live, play, worship, socialize, and work constitutes the most sustainable venues for people-to-people engagement. (Place rules!)
2. Networking A-New. Facebook; LinkedIn; Tweeter; MySpace... That is the list today, tomorrow it'll be a different list. (The virtual world does matter!)
3. Social entrepreneurship is king. There's a fine line between non-profit and for-profit... Indeed, most of the most amazing work in our field is done by people that do the work without giving a thought to 'profit', institution, or structure. (The world is flat!)
4. Youth Yaks. Txt bk or di... If we don't engage the youth in our work, we are planning for self-obsolescence. (Period!)
5. Accountability. We'd better be good, and be able to prove it... Regardless of how good we are, if we can not account for the measurable, impactful results, others will barely notice. (Bean counters, unite!)
6. It's ok to shoot the breeze. Much to the surprise of many, conversation still matters... Good old fashion conversation, story-telling, and just simply 'hanging out' - without a definitive outcome in mind - is still effective. (Talk Talk Talk!)
7. Diversity is dead. Long live diversity... In our zeal to be inclusive, we may have lost the ability to focus, target, and be definitive. (The absurdity of political correctness?!)
8. They are us. We are them... Some of my best friends are bankers, funders, and some are even rich - yet they understand us, and even fought along side of us! (Partnerships amongst friend is easier than among enemies!)
9. Internationale. "It's a small world after all"... What happens in Pakistan matters in Peoria - and we can learn from each other. (Connecting is easy!)
10. Soccer Moms; Single Moms; Super Moms. The 'feminization' of the field... Women constitute an ever increasing number of participants in community engagement circles. (Viva la femme!)
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1 comment:
I think when you combine #1 and #2 you face the reality of a 4 dimensional world - it is about place, but place is defined more know than ever by geography AND relationships. That spirit connection, relational being that we are as humans is an essential component of successful community engagement.
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