I put together a list of resources that can help me and others create a training program for “Neighborhood Facilitators.” I am calling myself a neighborhood facilitator, and everything I learn I will implement, and teach others to do as I learn from my successes and mistakes in my own neighborhood. Being a neighborhood facilitator just means that I am here to support the neighborhood in what the neighbors want to do. I have no more power than any neighbor–except the power of initiative!
I publish this in my Wellspring Community blog because even though I am designing an intentional community on the land I (and eventually the community will) own, I think it is essential that I help the entire neighborhood to thrive.
I have not read every document and article completely in this resource guide. However, I scanned them all and determined that there were nuggets of information that would be very useful. There may be suggestions that go completely against my (and your) values. But I am not going to throw the baby out with the bathwater. (ouch!)
So here are the resources. I would love to hear from you what you think about these resources, and additional ideas you have to share about this topic.
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Community: Connect is an event that I designed using a multitude of ideas and experiences that others have taught me, including Open Space Technology. Many of the ideas shared in this article can be initiated, implemented, planned, or taught during this amazing event. I designed a handbook on a blog I have published.
The original name of Community: Connect! was Community Gathering. This blog documents the history of this event which was held every week in Walker Park, South Fayetteville, for 2 or 3 months. It was a very successful experiment, and only failed because I failed to prioritize finding a team of people who could get behind the event, and design conflict resolution policies. You can get an idea of the wide variety of activities that can take place at this event in a neighborhood.
Self-Reliance individually and together
This article gives ideas about how a person can be come self-reliant in a suburban neighborhood, which includes connecting with neighbors.
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“Sure, we could all sit here and think up excuses. Our living arrangements, time restraints, budget, health all keep us from reaching our goals and living a more self-sufficient life. But that’s all they are, excuses. If you want something bad enough, you can find a way. Nothing can stop you, as long as you put your mind to it. There are ways to work around just about anything holding you back.”
Read 41 ways to become more self-sufficient in this article. This can help both vegans and non-vegans. The last paragraph advises “never be afraid to ask for help.” Let’s start giving and asking for help in our neighborhood.
Tool Lending Library
“Tool sharing can range from the very informal, where you share tools with a neighbor or two, to a formal membership in a tool “library.” How much or little you want to share is up to you.
To start sharing tools with others in your neighborhood, begin by talking to those closest to you. Mention some of the tools you have that you might be willing to lend, and ask what they might have. Perhaps you own a snow blower they’d like to use in heavy snows, while you’d like to borrow their extra-long extension ladder for some high-up painting. Once a few neighbors get involved, you’ll find that you’ll need to buy less equipment and won’t need to replace some of your tools when they wear out.”
Read more here.
Start a crop swap
Shareable has so many great articles about cooperation. I was able to go to an event in Oakland, California, and it was great. I also attended the Berkeley crop swap many times. Sometimes the produce I got was my main diet for the week, for I was living on a very minimal income.
I can see incorporating this event into a weekly Community: Connect! event. Here is an excerpt from the article.
“These barters may begin online or at a local park or community space, no money changes hands, and everyone can go home with different fruits, vegetables, or herbs to eat. While the actual cash-free transactions can take place in mere minutes, in some cases, people linger long after the produce exchanges have taken place to visit with new friends, hang out with old pals, and pick up some pointers on cooking the goodies they scored.”
Here is more from the article.
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This E-book called “Build it Together” contains a lot of details about how to get a neighborhood association organized. I don’t agree with everything in here, but I think it is very comprehensive, and can be helpful when thinking about how to organize your neighborhood. Although completely focused on one neighborhood in a large city, Portland, I got ideas about how to help our rural neighborhood get organized. Here is the E-book.
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Learning how to protect your rural home is important. Sharing and helping other neighbors do things like put up gates and install motion detector lights is something we can do. Here are 6 tips for protecting your rural home.
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Drug Abuse Prevention: This comprehensive guide Rural Community Action Guide: budding stronger, healthier, drug-free rural communities. Read it here.
I glanced over this and look forward to reading it in the future. Looks like prevention is as important as identifying drug-use in this manual.
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How to organize a work party. Here is some good advice in this article
Health Care Cooperative book:
health democracy: liberating people from health care insurance
| “No one in the world has done a better job in defining local solutions– that are simple, empowering, and fun– for seemingly intractable global problems than Paul Glover. “Health Democracy” offers powerful, proven, and participatory tools for communities to begin solving their piece of the national health-care crisis.” —Michael Shuman, author of “Going Local,” “Technology for the Common Good,” “The Small-Mart Revolution,” and other books. He is co-director of the Institute for Policy Studies. |
I own this book , https://www.paulglover.org/hdbook.html I met Paul when I was in Philadelphia 3 years ago and heard him speak in Fayetteville about 18 years ago. Very innovative guy.
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Prayer walking in your neighborhood. This article. gives some tips.
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I will be writing a series of posts on this topic. This is not comprehensive. I hope this is helpful. Let me know your ideas.
