Late last summer, my boss asked me if I wanted to take a genetic test through 23andMe as part of research for a project we were working on. (Don’t worry: this isn’t a story about workplace health discrimination.) Being something of an introvert, I’m slow to join new online communities and even slower to share …
So you’re trying to build a network to engage your community. Where do you start? And what do you need to be successful? First, define your community. Is it your internal stakeholders? Your customers? Or a group even larger than that? Remind yourself that you’re acting as part of that community; find that all-important intersection …
Recently I was at an Ecotrust convening (resilienceregions.org) where roughly 50 environmental leaders from across the world came together to discuss new models for economic development and conservation. What unfolded was an amazing collection of inspirational stories, shared values and a desire to stay connected. Most of us walked away honored to be part of …
This New Year’s Eve, my wife and I took part in the great American tradition of buying a car. The story goes that auto dealers will make incredible end-of-year deals in an effort to boost their annual sales numbers. Sorely in need of a new car, we decided to give it a shot. What we …
TED’s exclusive “ideas worth spreading” gathering in Long Beach is now so popular that people are willing to pay just shy of $4000 for the privilege of viewing a live simulcast together in the desert resort of Palm Springs. You read that right; the draw to be part of this TED community is so strong …
Roughly a year ago, we started working with Knight Foundation to engage and empower young black males who are working to better their communities. We recently piloted the effort, called BME (Black Male Engagement), in Detroit and Philadelphia utilizing an identity-building methodology. Having learned a ton along the way, we thought we’d share some insights. …
Communities around the world are overthrowing governments. They are releasing political prisoners. They are changing the global debate on important topics. And they are infiltrating big corporations. (Ask Bank of America about those check card fees.) However, when people use the terms “corporation” and “community” in the same sentence, they are usually talking about community …
While suffering through a delay on the Tarmac last week, I caught an article about a new collaboration between Nordstrom and Esquire Magazine called Treasure & Bond. As it says on the website, “every purchase we ring up generates change.” This single-location art and gift boutique (it’s on West Broadway in New York) partners with …
Last night my wife, Tia, and I went to a Flaming Lips concert. Tia had wanted to see them for awhile, so we mustered just enough energy from the scant repository left after dealing with our one-year-old’s sleep training to have a great time. I’m a fan of their music, but the thing that made …
Community is one of those words constantly used yet rarely defined. In some ways that’s good, it allows the idea of community to serve the needs of the people in it without being limited by its definition. But there are times when a common understanding of the word is helpful, if not necessary. Let me …
