Community: The Structure of BelongingThis book is written to support those who care for the well-being of their community. It is for anyone who wants to be part of creating an organization, neighborhood, city, or country that works for all, and who has the faith and the energy to create such a place. I am one of those people. Whenever I am in a neighborhood or small town and see empty storefronts, watch people floating aimlessly on the sidewalks during school or working hours, pass by housing projects, or read about crime, poverty, or a poor environment in the places where our children and our brothers and sisters live, I am distressed and anguished. It has become impossible for me to ignore the fact that the world we are creating does not come close to fulfilling its promise. Along with this distress comes the knowledge that each of us, myself included, is participating in creating this world. If it is true that we are creating this world, then each of us has the power to heal its woundedness. This is not about guilt, it is about accountability. Citizens, in their capacity to come together and choose to be accountable, are our best shot at making a difference. This book is for all who are willing to take a leadership role that affirms the conviction that without a willingness to be accountable for our part in creating a strong and connected community, our desire to reduce suffering and increase happiness in the world becomes infinitely more difficult to fulfill. It is also based on the belief that in some way the vitality and connectedness of our communities will determine the strength of our democracy. ----From 'Community' |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - zappa - LibraryThingIn-speaking gobbledygook written in breathy prose, reimpregnating normally comprehensible words with new meaning, this tome comes dangerously close to proving George Orwell right. I should have taken the author's advice on page 32, and read no further. Read full review
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User Review - paulsignorelli - LibraryThingPeter Block shows, in his work and his presentations, that it doesn’t take much effort to initiate the process of building and strengthening communities—just a few people willing to gather and cross ... Read full review
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Common terms and phrases
accountability and commitment action alternative future answers authentic Barry Lopez become belief belonging Berrett-Koehler Publishers bring building community capacity Center choice choose Christopher Alexander Cincinnati citizens city manager communal transformation community building convening conversation create an alternative culture declaration define difference dissent Elementz engage example experience focus gathering generosity gifts give Grameen Bank Hip Hop hospitality human ideas important individual insight invitation Jane Jacobs Khaled Hosseini Landmark Education large group leaders leadership learning listening lives margin means meeting ment mindset Nature of Order neighborhood occurs organizations Over-the-Rhine ownership people’s person possibility problem solving programs promise questions restorative community restorative justice retributive Robert Putnam shift the context small group social capital social fabric space story strategy structure talk thinking tion voice well-being Werner Werner Erhard whole words youth
Bibliographic information
| Title | Community: The Structure of Belonging |
| Author | Peter Block |
| Publisher | ReadHowYouWant.com, 2009 |
| ISBN | 1442964812, 9781442964815 |
| Length | 392 pages |
| Subjects | › Social Science / Customs & Traditions |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |