Last week I hosted a training on ABCD at DePaul University in Chicago with a team of ABCD Faculty Members and Fellows. The team was very intentional about building on the talents of the participants from diverse backgrounds across the US. We spoke about ...
Author: Joseph Erpenbeck
Hospitality on Bus 50

Hospitality on Bus 50 … The driver noticed me sitting down in the seat gingerly and getting my legs positioned just right and asked if i was ok? I said I just had hip surgery but was doing well. He then seemed careful to stop and start at each sto...
Treasures That Vanish

As I drove into Ravenna, Ohio I saw this drive-in movie theater. I was nostalgic thinking of places in our communities that are treasures but disappear. Often there are buildings, gathering places, parks and businesses that are replaced with something new. It...
A Community Effort

I was walking in San Francisco and saw a crowd outside of a federal building. I leaned that everyone was gathered to see the release of Fernando Carrillo. He was being reunited with his family after being held for six months outside of the city on depo...
Trusted Partners

Recently I spent a couple of days with groups of veterans in Chicago. Each of them are exploring how to build a supportive community around veterans.There were so many things that struck me from this trip and the conversations that I had with them. I am deeply...
Borrow A Human

“Borrow A Human” I have been learning so much about how libraries are helping to build connected caring communities. I was at a writing workshop at my local library and saw that I could have borrowed a human. I had heard about this but had never ac...
Born and Raised in Brooklyn

This was the dreary scene as I listened to the flight attendant introduce himself as the plane was leaving Newark. He said he was born and raised in Brooklyn and was very committed to making sure that each and every one of us had a good flight. He went beyond...
The Porch

I have been noticing some great community spaces recently. One of the most inspiring was The Porch at Boulevard. I discovered “The Porch” while hiking around Bellingham, WA. It was created by friends of Mark Witter. Mark loved his slow bike ...
A Room Full of Gifts and Possibility

When you are talking gifts and about the things you care about, know a lot about and like to do, it’s pretty hard not to smile! The conversations in Pembroke, ON were inspiring and so exciting to see new partnerships formed and plans made. Thank you Communit...
Where Will We Post The Great Photos?

Where Will We Post The Great Photos? At one of the recent conversations focusing on innovation, we discussed planning backwards. Our journey may seem difficult and there will be challenges but as we plan, let’s start at the end. Our great “hikeR...