Can you imagine a catcher without a pitcher? Lennon without McCartney? A working functional democracy without a responsive, talented public service? I can't. One of the many weaknesses of my early advocacy career was ignorance about the individuals who make … Read More
Blog posts by Al
Unknown Legend – the Women’s Institute – In the Water Supply (2)
One of the most successful social change movements in the world is a well kept secret in Canada – the place of its origins. I am referring to the Women's Institute which began in Stoney Creek Ontario in the 1890's. … Read More
The Keilburger Kids versus Justin Bieber – who’ll win? – Tips for Solution Based Advocacy (31)
When the Keilburger brothers, Craig and Marc, were born they probably fixed the broken cribs in the nursery, persuaded all the mothers to buy some rocking chairs and rallied all the babies into a cry against infant formula. All mere … Read More
What do you get when you cross Will Hunting with Wittgenstein?
It's exhilarating and eerie at the same time – to sit in front of a white board on a rainy Saturday in Toronto with a dozen other adults and master calculus in an hour. Well at least master my fear … Read More
Roundup – NPR/Belonging/Leaking Toilets
Lots of updates on previous posts. Here are three: One: A marvellous National Public Radio (NPR) profile of the ongoing work at PLAN (Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network) was aired Friday October 8th. Journalist Wendy Kaufman has distilled the essence of … Read More
John Lennon’s Tips for Solution Based Advocacy (30)
"You say you got a real solution. Well, you know, we'd love to see the plan. You ask me for a contribution. Well, you know, we're all doing what we can. But if you want money for people with minds … Read More
Stand By Me! For the Belonging Journey
Thanksgiving is in the air in Canada. And 'belonging' was in the air at the launch of the Vancouver Foundation's Vital Signs report. I was pleased with the reaction to my speech. Folks understand that belonging has to be taken … Read More
Why don’t public servants open their windows in the morning? – Tips for Solution Based Advocacy (29)
Ah bureaucracy – the institution we love to make fun of, to ridicule, to denounce. Paradoxically it is attacked for its abuse of power and its bungling inefficiency. Yes there is red tape, yes there is insensitivity, yes there is … Read More
Vital Signs in our social garden
The Vancouver Foundation released it bi-annual, Vital Signs Report today. And guess what? What really matters to Metro Vancouver residents is belonging and the strength of our connections to each other. Not our scenery, money, education, achievements, gender, age, or … Read More
Fingers crossed that Bob Dylan was right
You don't need a weather man to know which way the wind blows. On Friday October 1st the winds across Canada were blowing social innovation. Relative to previous public references and announcements Friday's wind was a hurricane. Three high profile … Read More