Our Next meeting will take place on
30 October 2009 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Engaging Local Communities in Learning Conversations for Sustainability
With guest hosts:
Nancy Southern and Larry Tackett
In bridging the gap between organizations and communities, the question arises “How can we use the principles of organizational learning to create local communities that are capable of engaging citizens, policy makers, government institutions, and non-governmental organizations in the design and creation of sustainable learning communities?”
Citizens and cross-sector organizations are creating new ways of living and working together that protect the environment and foster thriving communities. To do this effectively, they need to increase their capacity for community conversations, planning, and collaborative action.
The purpose of this meeting is to bring SoL resources to a generative conversation to support and enhance the work of creating thriving communities. Through this collaborative engagement we hope to spark interest among SoL members to get involved in local community efforts and bring their knowledge and skills of organizational learning to facilitate conversations, share ideas, address challenges, and create sustainable change.
Integrating some of the work being done by the Pachamama Alliance to foster greater commitment to sustainability, we will share stories of what matters. Larry Tackett and others will share the efforts taking place in San Rafael and Novato to create sustainable, thriving communities and discuss the tensions, challenges and opportunities of this work. Together we will discuss how organizational learning principles can support this important work.
Desired Outcomes:
- Expand your awareness of sustainability efforts in local community development
- Translate learning organization concepts to support community engagement
- Empower you to engage as citizens & facilitators in your local communities
- Learn about Charrettes – collaborative planning and public engagement methodology
Larry Tackett led the People-to-people Initiative in the United States to generate a conversation for taking care of our own. He is currently an “Awakening the Dreamer Change the Dream” facilitator and Development Director for Sustainable Novato. His volunteer work focuses on designing the future to create the world we want by inventing and generating conversations that make a difference.
Suggested pre-reading:
Info Gathering: Clues in the Context www.charrettecenter.net/charrettecenter.asp?a=spf&pfk=7&gk=269
Handbook for High Performance Charrettes www.nrel.gov/docs/fy03osti/33425.pdf
San Rafael Climate Change Action Plan www.cityofsanrafael.org/Assets/CDD/Climate+Change+Action+Plan.pdf
Sustainability: The Five Core Principles http:// bfi-internal.org/SustainabilityPrinciples_MBenEli.pdf
Additional web resources:
Awaken the Dreamer www.awakeningthedreamer.org,
Charrette http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charrette,
Pachamama Alliance www.pachamama.org,
San Rafael www.cityofsanrafael.org/Government/Community_Development/Green_Initiatives.htm
Sustainable Marin www.sustainablemarin.org.
Sustainable Novato www.sustainablenovato.org
Please RSVP to Jim Martin before Tuesday 27 October to reserve your spot.
Filed under: BASoL Meetings
Thanks everyone for a very thought provoking meeting on Friday, especially Nancy and Larry for setting up the topic.
As I mentioned in the meeting, I am still left with a question about the “us and them” issue, and whether there is a divide or perhaps a number of divides we need to work harder to cross to talk openly about more sustainable solutions.
I know for me it feels important to better understand the concern that climate change is a liberal hoax. There are a number of people I otherwise respect who feel that way.
How about you? What are the dimensions of “us and them” you have come across recently? Which of those lines feel important to cross?