This is a good time to remember how much we can learn from the peacemakers among us. Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish In 2008 during an Israeli air strike, two rockets smashed into the bedroom of Dr. Abuelaish’s daughters at their Gaza … Read More
Archives
ABCD is the new E=mc2
I’ve been a community organizer for most of my life. I only began to understand what I could be doing after hearing John McKnight speak about Asset Based Community Development. (ABCD) This led to a lifelong friendship with John and … Read More
Drive a stake through it
As satisfying as your new project or initiative is, there is no rule that states it has to continue. In its current form at least. Not everything is useful forever. Including organizations and coalitions. At some point, you will reach … Read More
You Don’t Need a Weatherman…
You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the winds are blowing. Including the cultural winds. (A nod to Bob Dylan for this tip.) A shift in the cultural winds can affect your outlook and sense of possibility as … Read More
Loving Strangers – A Vital Source of Social Innovation
65,000 Vietnamese boat people were welcomed to Canada in 1979. More than half of them were privately sponsored by community groups.In fact, so strong was the outpouring of caring that the Canadian government had to invent a system for private … Read More
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Advocate
I was asked to present at two different events recently which were organized to discuss major policy reform. Ironically the individuals responsible for ‘encouraging’ the discussion were not in attendance. In answer to ‘why?’ the response was, “They would be too … Read More
Never Again
“Making sure it never happens again” is such a potent source of social innovation. This combination of necessity and love is a force of nature. Particularly when it emerges from the hands and hearts of Moms. I see it all … Read More
Angers I Have Known
There are plenty of good reasons to be angry at the social and environmental state of the world. Here are six types of anger I’m acquainted with. Wounded bird – Anger is camouflaged as weakness. Expects others to play along. … Read More
Never Underestimate the Power of Air Miles in the Hands of an Accidental Activist
Particularly if that person is Donald MacPherson. In the late 1990’s a neighbourhood in Vancouver was known as the Killing Fields because of its high overdose death rate (nearly 200 in 1998 alone.) Starting today (April 19th, 2016) the UN … Read More
Recipe for ‘Unlaunches’ and other Unlikely Gatherings
In answer to the question, “What’s an unlaunch?” here’s a favourite recipe. Find a local sponsor willing to become an alchemist – sharing, blending, experimenting… Choose a room that will enlarge people’s spirits Decorate the room with flowers, branches, boughs, … Read More