“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
—African Proverb
The contributors of this book believe that strong local communities are the foundation - the tap roots - of a healthy participatory and resilient society. In this age of ever-changing technology, mega-corporations and economic globalization, livelihoods are at risk; natural resources are being depleted and climate change is damaging the very planet on which we all depend. National leaders and global corporations are failing to address this growing crisis. However, throughout the United States and many other nations, local communities are finding innovative ways to thrive while protecting natural resources, enhancing the livelihood of community members and growing social vitality. Perhaps rather than looking to national governments and corporations, or hoping for new technologies to solve our environmental and social problems, we should look to strong communities to learn how to make a difference in finding paths to a more sustainable future.
This book is written to support those trying to enhance the quality of their community. There are over 30 contributing authors and practitioners from around the world from places with developed, developing, and transitional economies. If building healthy and thriving communities is something you are passionate about, actively involved in, or have a future aspiration to pursue, our hope is that you will be able to use this book as a DYI (do-it-yourself) guide. I have found that this challenging role is somewhat like building or renovating a house. Many of the guiding leadership principles that we discuss are critical for establishing and reinforcing the existing foundation of a community. Without a strong and reinforced foundation, future gains can easily collapse. The principles also address ways to improve the plumbing and wiring system of a community including information sharing and dissemination, feedback loops, and energy flows. You know what happens in a house when the sewer pipe is blocked! Every community (and home) needs a viable structure that is strong and resilient, one that can be modified when needed. Homes (and communities) most importantly provide shelter for all within, one that can weather difficult times. One that also breeds trust, collaboration, justice, and gives space for conflicts and disagreements to be resolved amiably.
This book will share research and reflections on each of the 12 Guiding Principles. It will include a collection of brief stories, 24 Case Studies, and Notes from the field (lists of practical dos and don’ts). We hope that it may provide practical leadership and collaboration tools that may guide you in your important work of helping to build a community that people can truly call home.
This book is written to support those trying to enhance the quality of their community. There are over 30 contributing authors and practitioners from around the world from places with developed, developing, and transitional economies. If building healthy and thriving communities is something you are passionate about, actively involved in, or have a future aspiration to pursue, our hope is that you will be able to use this book as a DYI (do-it-yourself) guide. I have found that this challenging role is somewhat like building or renovating a house. Many of the guiding leadership principles that we discuss are critical for establishing and reinforcing the existing foundation of a community. Without a strong and reinforced foundation, future gains can easily collapse. The principles also address ways to improve the plumbing and wiring system of a community including information sharing and dissemination, feedback loops, and energy flows. You know what happens in a house when the sewer pipe is blocked! Every community (and home) needs a viable structure that is strong and resilient, one that can be modified when needed. Homes (and communities) most importantly provide shelter for all within, one that can weather difficult times. One that also breeds trust, collaboration, justice, and gives space for conflicts and disagreements to be resolved amiably.
This book will share research and reflections on each of the 12 Guiding Principles. It will include a collection of brief stories, 24 Case Studies, and Notes from the field (lists of practical dos and don’ts). We hope that it may provide practical leadership and collaboration tools that may guide you in your important work of helping to build a community that people can truly call home.
Why might this book be of interest to you?
Mainstream books and publications on improving local communities frequently give expert advice on what to do but pay far less attention to how this can be accomplished. Today, many people seem to have lost faith in the value of our democratic traditions and citizen empowered change and instead favor a top-down—more time-efficient approach, frequently stating that we need to “run local communities as a business.” In my 35 years of experience, I have not found this approach to be successful in helping communities thrive.
After successfully serving in local government leadership roles for over a decade and working the next decade as a professor and as an international community consultant, I asked the question: “How can local communities thrive?” I believe that any useful answer to this question should include:
1) improving local environmental and ecological conditions;
2) enhancing the livelihood of community members; and
3) growing the social vitality, empowerment, justice, and trust within the community.
It was this key question that guided my doctoral dissertation. Reviewing the methods and strategies of successful programs from 27 countries in five continents, led to the identification of 12 guiding principles of successful communities’ efforts that could be shared across cultures. These leadership and community change principles have now been published in a range of journals, applied in local communities in US and overseas, and taught to graduate students. The book will have an emphasis on how local elected, appointed and volunteer leaders can help their community thrive by providing specific guidance on each of these guiding principles and how to apply the requisite adaptive leadership and collaboration skills. It will include clear illustrating case studies under each of the principles.
Over the past 25 years, I have been fortunate to be able to work with people who have similar aspirations of supporting healthy and vital local communities. These groups of committed individuals have included faculty at different universities, the International Association for the Study of the Commons, The Council for Environmental, Economic and Social Policy of IUCN, The Council of Environmental Deans and Directors, and many other dedicated progressive organizations. Case studies for this book have been solicited from these knowledgeable and dedicated individuals.
My students, colleagues, and I believe that this book could be a valuable, practical and useful guide for those courageous individuals who support local democratic and collaborative approaches to help communities thrive.
After successfully serving in local government leadership roles for over a decade and working the next decade as a professor and as an international community consultant, I asked the question: “How can local communities thrive?” I believe that any useful answer to this question should include:
1) improving local environmental and ecological conditions;
2) enhancing the livelihood of community members; and
3) growing the social vitality, empowerment, justice, and trust within the community.
It was this key question that guided my doctoral dissertation. Reviewing the methods and strategies of successful programs from 27 countries in five continents, led to the identification of 12 guiding principles of successful communities’ efforts that could be shared across cultures. These leadership and community change principles have now been published in a range of journals, applied in local communities in US and overseas, and taught to graduate students. The book will have an emphasis on how local elected, appointed and volunteer leaders can help their community thrive by providing specific guidance on each of these guiding principles and how to apply the requisite adaptive leadership and collaboration skills. It will include clear illustrating case studies under each of the principles.
Over the past 25 years, I have been fortunate to be able to work with people who have similar aspirations of supporting healthy and vital local communities. These groups of committed individuals have included faculty at different universities, the International Association for the Study of the Commons, The Council for Environmental, Economic and Social Policy of IUCN, The Council of Environmental Deans and Directors, and many other dedicated progressive organizations. Case studies for this book have been solicited from these knowledgeable and dedicated individuals.
My students, colleagues, and I believe that this book could be a valuable, practical and useful guide for those courageous individuals who support local democratic and collaborative approaches to help communities thrive.