” I saw a platypus on my way to school” were the words as the smiling child walked on past the animal farm on her way to school. I created the farm with little plastic animals several months ago as an experiment to see what would happen. I have got...
Immersed In a Culture of Connection
I was staying at a airbnb in a small town just outside of Cincinnati. Work commitments kept me busy most of the day during the week and during the evening I would walk or bike around town taking in the sights. Early one morning I walked up to a coffee shop and...
Birds Of A Feather
I stopped my bike on the bridge to look at the ducks gathered on the ice and saw a man walking through the woods on the other side of the bridge. As he made his way up to the bridge I noticed he had two cameras hanging on straps around his neck, both with larg...
There’s An Abundance
“Good morning Pontiac!” was the enthusiastic greeting by Rick to one of the guys waiting in line at the neighbourhood soup kitchen. The place is sort of a breakfast soup kitchen that does in fact serve soup and coffee to anyone during the morning h...
Our Community Is So Much Richer
These were the words of Dayton City Commissioner Matt Joseph at The ENACT Closing Ceremony at the Dayton Metro Library on December 4th as he shared his appreciation for the contributions of the participants or Fellow in ENACT 937. The goal of ENACT (Emerging N...
A Welcoming Place To Be
Neighbourhood Week was a festival of the people and places that make Brantford, ON a great place to be. There were community conversations each day and I was able to visit with neighbourhood groups, and meet many passionate community builders. One of the vibra...
A Map For The Missing
Asset mapping is an intentional focus on the assets in a community. Many groups utilize this process to increase knowledge and pride, foster connections, address community issues and to build stronger neighbourhoods. Sometimes the map will be comprised of all ...
A Delightful Mess
A month or two ago I started a version of the Neighbourhood Zoo that I call the Gifford Street Animals. It has been interesting to see kids and families interact with it each day. I often place a question with the animals to prompt conversations such as “...
Has Anyone Invited You To Join Yet?
On a morning walk in St.Petersburg, Florida, I stopped by the baseball field where I knew there were games that included players who were all over 50 and some in the 60s, 70’s and 80s. I had visited years before and knew it was a place of radical hospita...
It’s A Sign
There are over 200 “Happiness” signs in trees all over St. Petersburg Florida. They are made of aluminum and fiberglass and placed up high. The creator of the signs believes words have energies and “happiness” resonates more than most. Recently...