Restoration and Reconcilation in Cincinnati, Ohio

All Blog Posts (30)

The World has shifted -

This has been working on me for a while. I left this writing sit to be sure I really believed it. For all of us that have experienced this shift, I feel there is an obligation for us to spread the word - to help others to have eyes and ears to hear this new world order that is evolving. Maybe you've only had a moment where it seemed like the group really came together - lots of energy - no egos - generosity of spirit -love. That is the new way of being in the world. So here are my thoughts on… Continue

Added by Elaine Hansen on November 13, 2009 at 11:00am — No Comments

Teach them to long.....

Hi, All. It was great to be with everyone yesterday. Someone asked me for this quotation. If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea. -Antoine de Saint Exupery Freedom SMc Continue

Added by Steven McLemore on October 25, 2009 at 4:30pm — 1 Comment

Beyond summer's nonsense . . .

Is there really a place for civic engagement in a civil manner? Visit Democracy, Growing Up at Public Agenda, a non-partisan public interest organization founded by social scientist and author Daniel Yankelovich and former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance in 1975. Yankelovich was an early supporter, if not initiator, of a changing the conversation approach familiar to many of us here. Best, John in Cincinnati Continue

Added by John Burik on October 8, 2009 at 10:01pm — 2 Comments

New Report re Deliberative Democracy

I just tweeted:

"Democracy may be increasingly global, but it may also be increasingly local." (p. 4) http://snipurl.com/mcqg4

Continue

Added by John Burik on July 8, 2009 at 5:42am — 2 Comments

What's happening in Cincinnati - great resources to keep you in the know

I don't know what planet I've been on - but after discovering a few new websites - I realize I've missed a lot of "good stuff" that is happening in Greater Cincinnati. Check these sites out: Soapbox Cincinnati Cincinnati Innovation If you already knew about these, why didn't you tell me? Please share these links with others. Thx. :) Continue

Added by Elaine Hansen on July 5, 2009 at 12:46pm — No Comments

What experiences have you had as a result of the ASG Network?

- Click on the video to play, or see it online, courtesy of ScreenToaster.com

You're invited to share experiences you've had as result of your connections with A Small Group.

Peter Block recently asked what might be the best way for ASG members to blog about experiences they have had as a result of the network.

… Continue

Added by Randy Weeks on June 18, 2009 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Open Government Dialogue

At the recent LSOW gathering (Leading in a Self-Organizing World) - I had the chance to briefly meet Tom Atlee. I encourage you to consider the invitation below and participate in this conversation. As I have not had time to read everything on these links, do not assume I agree with everything said. If I actually read everything, I will come back to you and let you know my thoughts. What I have read, I find interesting and worthy of conversation. Either go directly to the link or take time to… Continue

Added by Elaine Hansen on May 25, 2009 at 9:00am — 1 Comment

it is the reality of personal relationship that saves everything

This is not so much a blog - as my way of encouraging the A Small Group community to continue to build relationship where ever we show up...blessings my friends. Thomas Merton wrote, in a letter to a friend he advised: Do not depend on the hope of results… you may have to face the fact that your work will be apparently worthless and achieve no result at all, if not perhaps the opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea, you start more and more to concentrate not on the results b… Continue

Added by Elaine Hansen on May 24, 2009 at 6:06pm — 1 Comment

Seth Godin's Tribes

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/05/the-ted-tribes-talk-is-now-live.html I have been following Seth Godin's Blog for a while. I don't think he has ever heard of John McKnight, Judith Snow or maybe even Peter Block, but he is a kindred spirit. If you listen to the video clip, I think you will find he is talking about many of the same things as A Small Group. He just doesn't know it! Because he comes from a business perspective, some people might finally "get" the message about build… Continue

Added by Mary Ulrich on May 20, 2009 at 10:05am — 2 Comments

Project for Public Spaces - pps.org

I've been enjoying reading and learning about Placemaking at PPS.org for a few months and wanted to share some links to it for anyone interested in having a conversation about placemaking work being done in our neighborhoods. "What if we built our cities around Places?: http://www.pps.org/info/placemakingtools/issuepapers/great_cities_initiative "The Power of Ten"… Continue

Added by Randy Weeks on May 17, 2009 at 11:00pm — No Comments

Leading from a platform of reverence - Chris Corrigan

After reading this on the AoH listserve - I had to share it with everyone. A new world is here, we only need eyes to see, ears to hear, and language to invite it into being... Leading from a platform of reverence Posted by Chris Corrigan - 13/04/09 at 11:04:46 am I am helping to design an interesting gathering in June of next year that will be part of a bigger initiative to shift the values conversation around sustainability. It’s interesting for all kinds of reasons, not the least of… Continue

Added by Elaine Hansen on May 4, 2009 at 4:22pm — 2 Comments

the value, the rightness, the truth of the work - community building

I liked this so much - and how it fits with community building just wanted to share. I see it as an affirmation of the work and an encouragement to you to keep on, keeping on the work of community Thomas Merton wrote, in a letter to a friend he advised: Do not depend on the hope of results… you may have to face the fact that your work will be apparently worthless and achieve no result at all, if not perhaps the opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea, you start more and more… Continue

Added by Elaine Hansen on May 4, 2009 at 12:22pm — 2 Comments

Ohio Elections Conference March 12 & 13

Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner just announced a second Elections Conference March 12–13 in Columbus. I do not at this time have a detailed agenda but can say this will be a non- and bipartisan event working toward better elections. Continue

Added by John Burik on February 13, 2009 at 1:20pm — No Comments

Innovating Innovation

"Innovation Smenovation..." Insights on how to be a catalyst for true change. The ultimate buzzword in business today. Who's implementing it, and who's utilizing it merely as a resource for slogan'ish (esk) corporate propaganda? It's about creating a culture to revitalize and build upon what works, and strategically assess/implement changes in your teams/organization for the better. Refreshingly inspiring, a face lift of sorts. Stop sinking in mud and exhausting yourself in quick sand, and fin… Continue

Added by Brian Siegel on January 22, 2009 at 11:13pm — No Comments

Conversations inviting our invisible assets

Hi, ASG friends! This post is about Asset Based Community, specifically the gifts of the community members of The Phoenix Place, in Amelia, Ohio. It's also about an Asset Experiment, in which we hope to uncover, name and share the sometimes invisible gifts of people in recovery from mental illness. Mag Casarez, Director of The Phoenix Place, asked if I'd help her let everyone know about this workshop event… Continue

Added by Randy Weeks on January 16, 2009 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Walnut Hills CSO Benefit Concert Announcement

Dear friends, FYI: BENEFIT CONCERT TUES JAN 20, 7:30 PM Walnut Hills High School 3250 Victory Parkway MOZART Overture to Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) MOZART Concerto No. 4 DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 8 Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Paavo Järvi, conductor Elizabeth Freimuth, French horn Join Paavo Järvi and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at Walnut Hills High School on Tuesday, January 20 at 7:30 p.m. for a special fundraising concert. Proceeds will help fund a grand piano for Walnut H… Continue

Added by Harry Fry on January 16, 2009 at 1:43pm — No Comments

Open Space with Peggy and Ann - How do we flip the center?

At the recent Open Space gathering with Peggy Holman and Ann (can't remember Ann's last name), I participated in Deborah's conversation around the question, "How do we flip the center – power – dominant culture, systems, establishments?" This question has been working on me since then. I didn't write the question down - so I don’t have the exact wording, but it related to how do we bring more equality and distribution of power into our workplaces and organizations (churches, etc.), our systems… Continue

Added by Elaine Hansen on December 17, 2008 at 4:24pm — No Comments

For Your Better Health

Dear friends in ASG, National Handwashing Awareness Week is almost here. For more information, please click onto the following link: http://www.henrythehand.com . To your health, Harry Fry Continue

Added by Harry Fry on December 3, 2008 at 12:37pm — No Comments

An upcoming event re building community...Embracing the Mosaic, Dec. 5 and 6

Dear friends in ASG, Below is a modified announcement/invitation regarding an important upcoming event: Building Community What is the gift that you bring that comes from the diversity that you are? What is it that unites us amidst our differences? You are invited to… Embracing the Mosaic: Eliminating the barriers that divide us When? Friday, December 5, 6:30-9:00 (light refreshments) Saturday, December 6, 9-3 (includes lunch) Where? The First Christian Assembly of God 220 Wm Howard Taf… Continue

Added by Harry Fry on November 28, 2008 at 12:43pm — 1 Comment

A friend's writing (and reading) featured on NPR today

I'm just posting this to share a friend's wonderful Veteran's Day reading, featured this morning on NPR. Forrest (Woody) Brandt, now a retired lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves and an adjunct professor at Northern Kentucky University, wrote about the day he came home from Vietnam in 1969. Jane and I have come to know Woody through our participation in writing classes at Women Writing for a Change. Hearing a friend on NPR this morning was a fine surprise. Listening to and reading his piec… Continue

Added by Randy Weeks on November 11, 2008 at 12:30pm — No Comments