saratoga springs, new york...usa
Connecting to each other
are there any members living or working in this area of new york?
Forum Activity for @keith-kelley
Connecting to each other
Data About the Effective Use of ABCD by Cities and Non-Profits in the US
Data, Evaluation, and Research
so....how has the work been going on data driven work that you were considering in ths exchange....idid you wok with a community survey?
after the women's march, what?
ABCD - Getting Started/Challenges
friends returned from washington and a local sister march last night....full of the excitement of the gatherings, they felt on the edge of great new beginnings and resistance to the efforts of the new administration. as the conversation headed into the "what's next?"there was talk of pressure on legislators, etc...the talk began to stall when it branched into strategy and tactics available to the everyday world...how to translate the energy and commitment of the march into a small village's daily life where the controversy is about potholes and snow removal. i remember saul alinsky once remarked that some people want revelation..not revolution....hmmm.
Who Are You? Why are you here?
ABCD and Inclusive Communities/People with Disabilities
thanks, deb -
interesting to see friends getting ready to march on washington with not much plans for what to do after it is over....reminded of jack kornfield's title: after the ecstasy; the laundry
Who Are You? Why are you here?
ABCD and Inclusive Communities/People with Disabilities
my name is keith kelley....a few years go, i retired from working with community volunteer groups in new york state through service with the state substance abuse agency and correctional department. it involved mobilizing community volunteers as well as bridging relationships between large agencies and community volunteers and their groups. further, for the past 25 years, i've been teaching community building for leaders of wilderness treks - sort of a "soft" skill in what is often considered a truly "hard" skill environment. my introduction to ABCD came from attending programs conducted by mike greene, henry moore and bob francis.
why am i here? first, it may be mindless momentum; but, it is blended with a sense of my rural area "coasting" along to whatever tomorrow brings - a future that may be short of citizen intention and effort...so, maybe i'm here looking for a spark.
When the Internet generation thinks ABCD is a dinosaur?
ABCD - Getting Started/Challenges
i am instructed when i go into a mcdonald's and see a group of people laughing and talking over coffee - morning after morning...it isn't what i was looking for; but, .......
Building Meaningful Relationships
Tips, Tools, Strategies, and Technology
simple and basic...straight forward...good luck
Building Meaningful Relationships
Tips, Tools, Strategies, and Technology
good morning -
sounds like you have a clear idea about who you want to connect with...couple of thoughts...from work with the Communities That Care process.....there often were two (aren't there always "two" of everything?) distinct groups of key leaders: those who held appointed or elected positions of authority and others who people seemed to naturally listen to but who seemed to rarely hold official positions.
contact with the former seems relatively direct,; but,with the second, i've learned much from the group that has furthered paul wellstone's campaign strategy of going door to door and listening a lot...seems like a lot of work; however, it is manageable of everyone associated with an organization get out and start a lot of conversations -along the lines of "appreciative inquiry" .......building trust by making and keeping promises (small ones that you can fulfill for sure) related to people's stated concerns/interests is also a component of the relationship building process.
its far from rocket science, right? its just getting out into the community, learning what's really important to people and finding ways that you, your organization's membership, and the organization can serve their interests and doing it.
the greater your organization's penetration into the lives of everyday people in your community the more likely you are to change the conversations in the community that happen on front porches, phones, coffee shops, or on email even when you are not in the conversation yourself and that's a sign that you are having an impact and relationships are growing, i think.
time for more coffee...have a good day
Advice needed!
Open Discussions
hi heather -
just a couple of thoughts: if you are a member of this group, you might want to think about just practicing ABCD on sme aspect that is really important to you for a while within the group...when you feel the need for help with what you are doing....ask for help and, there...with someone willing to help you, the sharing of ABCD begins.
i'm feeling that, sometimes, this is more an organic rather than linear or circular process..
clinicians.....i'm with april on this.....but, i'd focus on getting to know them and listen for hints from someone who wants more.....whether it be success with clients or sense of support or exceeding clinical limitations...there may be space for a conversation in there somewhere.
be well
ABCD and Violence!
Open Discussions
you might be interested in the Alternatives To Violence Project supported by Quakers.....from my limited knowledge, this project tries to help people recognize and put into action their peacemaking assets in dealing with the manifestations of violence in their lives.