NEW podcast: Cormac Russell and The Connected Community. Listen wherever you get your podcasts (search for Village In The City) or at https://shows.acast.com/village-in-the-city/episodes/cormac-russell-and-the-connected-community
Join Mark McKergow and international ABCD guru Cormac Russell as they discuss Cormac’s new book The Connected Community (with John McKnight). They discuss why connecting the community is so important, the critical role of discovering what’s there already, and how to encourage neighbours to enhance their communities. Cormac reveals his ‘tapestry weaving’ metaphor for community development, which isn’t in the book! We have questions from the USA, Ghana and Ireland about the role of local government, how to get involved in ABCD in an international setting, and thoughts on violence reduction (or is it?) with lessons from the USA and Scotland.
Links mentioned during the call:
- Info and buy the book at https://theconnected.community/
- Wellspring Foundation’s work in Rwanda: https://www.nurturedevelopment.org/blog/rwanda-stories-community-action/ and https://thewellspringfoundation.org/stories/abcd/
- Robert Sampson https://scholar.harvard.edu/sampson/publications/when-disaster-strikes-its-survival-sociable (re community safety)
- The Blueprint for Peace https://city.milwaukee.gov/414Life/About
- Lots more resources, podcasts, online connection for community builders and more at http://villageinthecity.net .
About the book:
Find out how to uncover the hidden talents, assets, and abilities in your neighborhood and bring them together to create a vibrant and joyful community. It takes a village!
We may be living longer, but people are more socially isolated than ever before. As a result, we are hindered both mentally and physically, and many of us are looking for something concrete we can do to address problems like poverty, racism, and climate change. What if solutions could be found on your very doorstep or just two door knocks away?
Cormac Russell is a veteran practitioner of asset-based community development (ABCD), which focuses on uncovering and leveraging the hidden resources, Skills, and experience in our neighborhoods. He and John McKnight, the cooriginator of ABCD, show how anyone can discover this untapped potential and connect with his or her neighbors to create healthier, safer, greener, more prosperous, and welcoming communities. They offer a wealth of illustrative examples from around the world that will inspire you to explore your own community and discover its hidden treasures.
