What are the messages and opportunities needed to create a sense of community?
During a dialogue at the March Art of Hosting Event at the Como Zoo and Conservatory, I am grateful for the following insights during that time.
My question stemmed from the fact that Minnesota seemed to be changing from a state concerned and investing in the Common Good to one of more individualistic/pull yourself by your own bootstraps environment. Below are insights, I hope you will be interested in joining this conversation online:
Caller Insights:
Complex issue
Country and state are going through change
There used to be a generous spirit before
How can we bring complexity down?
What are messages and opportunities to create a sense of community?
Immigration – challenge – joys – choice
Thank you and best regards!
Antonia Apolinario-Wilcoxon
Comments
Thank you!
Thanks for keeping this conversation going online, Antonia! I'm eager to see what others think on this topic.
Creating a stronger sense of community is so important to me too -- especially when so many communities intersect and the state of my existence is tied up in the betterment of them all.
The more individualistic, pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps mindset is such a frustrating American ideal, I feel. How do we promote the realization that we all flourish together when we're truly in it together -- and not against (and in competition with) each other?
The conversation of a lifetime! Let's get into it.
Richard
Antonia and Richard, these
Antonia and Richard, these are such interesting points. I think one of the most misleading things about the "pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstaps" mentality is that it frames us as existing in a vacuum. In reality, we all are interconnected to each other, our environment, our culture, our society, etc. in a variety of ways. For example, taxes are something that a lot of my friends complain about. I often ask them where they think the highways they drive on come from (hint: its taxes). So while on the surface it often seems like taxes are the government taking our money, it's really like our giving back to something that does in fact support our way of life. (Just to be clear, taxes are a really complicated issue and I am HUGELY oversimplifying).
So what I'm trying to say is that we are all interconnected, it is the reality of the human condition but individualistic frames tend to make it seem like that interconnection is a choice and not only a choice, but a weakness. So maybe a message we need to see/hear is making visible all the ways we are connected to each other? Including the ways we are connected in unhealthy and oppressive ways.
Antonia, what do you think?
Antonia, what are your thoughts on what it takes to create a sense of community? I'd love to read what you think on this topic!
I'm sure you have some great insights from leading this discussion in March.
Richard
A community is a group of
A community is a group of people who find happiness and well-being in convening around issues of interest to them. It may be that they share the same language, customs and beliefs. It may be that this is a community of religious people, or communities sharing challenges. As social beings we are generally happiest in one another's company: sharing a meal, a conversation or viewing a production on a stage.
Habermas' theory of communicative action (1984) states that we communicate with each other in order to reach understanding rather than to reach goals. Something we often take for granted. We tend to lead lives that demand results, efficient use of time and a lack of connection. We fail to seek understanding and miss envisioning a "more democratic society."
Antonia
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