Well, I finally decided to go ahead and just do it! This is the flier to promote the very first Community Gathering. Any feedback is welcome!

The Community Gathering

We are gathering to deepen our sense of community in our neighborhoods and our world. Everyone is invited.

Friday, Oct. 5, 6-10PM
Walker Park, Fayetteville, large gazebo near S. College
 Potluck dinner. Please bring your own dishes and utensils. If you don't have food to share, come anyway! Do you best to share what you have.

? Do you need work? Let's network!

? Do you have goals and ideas that you want to share with others? Let's share ideas and resources!

? Do you want to make new friends and deepen old friendships? Let's share an evening together!

You are welcome to bring:
? networking materials to promote your business, or other topics you enthusiastically support
? musical instruments and games,
? things to give away like seeds, clothes, household items.
? your ideas for topics to discuss—we will have fun ways to help people find similar minded people.
? anything else that you think will inspire connection and fun.

Please invite anyone you like to attend, especially already existing groups that have similar values and goals, and also people in the Walker Park neighborhood

If you have any ideas to share, or would like help in sponsoring a Community Gathering in your neighborhood, please contact Patricia Mikkelson, founder and director of the Livable Future Project.

Sponsored by Livable Future Project, helping neighborhoods become thriving, self-reliant communities
For more information: Patricia Mikkelson  community_gathering(at)yahoo.com
Learn more about the larger vision at http://www.communitygathering.blogspot.com

For now, you can find my blog at Community Gatherings for Thriving Neighborhoods

I hope you will visit me there!

The Community Gathering

 An effective, fun way for neighbors and friends to come together to create thriving, self-reliant communities.

The biggest problem with trying to make positive change is getting people involved. The combined aspects of the Community Gathering dissolves the obstacles to participation;, stamps out hopelessness and apathy; gets people excited; and empowers people to work together for a free, just society.

The Community Gathering combines fun, food, music, conversations and child care with a special way of having a town meeting called Open Space Technology which makes it easy for everyone attending to:

*Create and nurture friendships

*Share knowledge

*Strengthen neighborhoods and communities

*Effect positive change

*Be engaged in the job of "civilization building"

Some of the many things that will happen at a Community Gathering include:

*Meetups, Time Banking co-ops,  and other already existing groups can use this as their meeting space.

*A diverse group of people will have a chance to network and cooperate, building trust and connection

*A shared vision and strategy for getting neighbors' needs met will unfold

*People are empowered to get support to follow through with their passionate goals including things like   starting a community garden, getting a neighborhood emergency plan together, elect accountable political candidates, taking care of their family, getting meaningful work, feeding the hungry, and caring for the environment

*Creating communication networks and connections outside the weekly gathering

*Classes of all kinds including reading, art, languages, communication, and grassroots activism

*Fun activities including dance, music, art and games

*On going work groups to help get projects going and enlist help.

Do you want to make a huge difference in your neighborhood and world? Help create an environment where people can effectively address things that matter most to them. Start a Community Gathering in your neighborhood!

For more information, call Patricia Mikkelson  community_gathering@yahoo.com

Learn more and view a slide show here or at  www.myspace.com/communitygathering

--> -->

This is a wonderful description of a five step process for prayer. I think you will enjoy it. Cliff Durfee of Live Love Laugh, a company which I worked for about 25 years ago, wrote this beautiful piece. Thanks, Cliff!
http://www.livelovelaugh.com/praying/index.html

I find that when I imagine the future of what I want to happen, it is more likely to come true. So I created an interview where I had my son role play the part of a talk show host, and we did this intereview together. Any thing that I talk about in this 4 part series that is about my past--is true. Any comments about what happened with the Future of Community Gatherings--is my dream of what could be.

--> -->

Interviewer. Hello Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to the Daily Afternoon Show. I'm your host, Chris Mikkelson, I am pleased to present to you my mom, Patricia Mikkelson, who started the Community Gathering movement which is sweeping the world.

Interviewer: Patricia, thanks so much

for being on our show today. Please tell us what a Community Gathering is.

Patricia: Community Gatherings are exciting, festival-like  events which include childcare, food, music, and meaningful conversations in order to help neighborhoods become thriving, self-reliant communities.

Interviewer: So I understand it has been exactly one year since you were hired by company xyz to promote the Community Gathering concept.

Patricia: Yes! It has been exactly one year now since company xyz decided to promote Community Gatherings,  and the results have been amazing. Thousands of Community Gatherings have sprung up all over the world, and profound changes are happening in neighborhood, organizations, churches, non-profits and government because of the connections that are being made at Community Gatherings.

Interviewer: How are the sales of your book, HOW TO START A COMMUNITY GATHERING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD  going?

Patricia;  HOW TO START  A COMMUNITY GATHERING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD has sold one billion copies and has been on the NY times best seller list for 11 straight months!  Company xyz is getting a lot of publicity from the sale of this book, as well as a portion of the royalties. The step by step instructions make it easy for any one with passion to sponsor a Community Gathering so that it becomes a dynamic meeting place where neighbors make friends, get support, share knowledge, strengthen neighborhoods and families, and effect positive change.

Interviewer: I understand that these Community Gatherings had quite an effect on the presidential election.

Patricia: Yes, you are absolutely right. Because people were meeting face to face talking about the issues and the candidates, we were able to elect representatives that had integrity and were really the people we wanted to get elected--not who big monied interests wanted to be elected. It was so great to see people of all ages involved and come out of their apathy and hopelessness to both vote and campaign.

And best of all, even though people were campaigning for different candidates in the same Community Gathering, people were civil and respectful of differences because of the tone that is set in the gatherings with such influences as Non-violent Communication as taught by Marshall Rosenberg.

--> --> Part 2 of Imagined Interview about Community gatherings. Actually, everything in this part is true!

Interviewer:  So tell me, how did you get the idea of having Community Gatherings in every neighborhood?

Patricia: Developing the concept of the Community Gathering has been an on going process that started when I was a little girl, 8 years old living in Muncie, Indiana. That was 45 years ago! I lived in a great neighborhood where it was easy for me to fulfill my natural talent of having neighborhood  gatherings. Connecting my neighbors was a natural thing.  I also was raised in the Methodist church where gatherings which included food, child care,  music and meaningful conversations were often held.

Then when I was 19, I traveled alone to the East and spent a year living and traveling in wonderful countries such as Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka. I thrived in the atmosphere of family and community connection that was in abundance. Most of the people were so friendly and open. I was invited to stay in many homes, mostly Muslims, and I got to see first hand how they lived in extended family and connected to their larger community. --> --> -->[endif]-->

When I returned to the states at age 20, I had the revelation that my life's mission was to i serve humanity, doing something which I enjoyed doing. I realized that if I did not enjoy doing the service, that I felt drained and depressed. It was the passion and enjoyment that served as fuel to keep me serving.  That is the essence of the community gathering—that we follow our passion, live our dreams, do something of service, and enjoy it at the same time.

Interviewer: It sounds like this has been a life long dream of yours—to do something that really made a difference.

Patricia: Yes, that's true. For the past 33 years I have been on a quest to find something that I could put my whole heart and mind and soul into.  When I came back from my life changing journey to the east, I started researching intentional communities, thinking that by living in a community that was made up of people who shared the same values and goals, this would help me have a feeling of belonging and fulfillment. But about three years ago, I realized that I needed to focus on a project that could serve all people. It was obvious that everyone was not able to move and live in an intentional community. And I truly believe the saying, "no man is an island."

 I reacquainted myself with the book, Creating Community Everywhere.  I came up with the theory—that perhaps it was possible for people to create community right where they were, in their own neighborhoods.

Interviewer: So how did you go about proving your theory to be right?

Patricia: Thanks to the Internet, I was able to do intensive research and I easily came up with many examples of neighborhoods which were doing precisely what I hoped they could do.  I printed out hundreds of pages and I also ordered numerous books. One of the most successful is the Dudley Street Initiative, where one of the worst, most neglected neighborhoods in Boston transformed into a neighborhood that is an example of the kind of neighborhood I envision happening everywhere.

 As I found more and more examples of successful endeavors happening in neighborhoods, I felt drawn to promote this idea.  I continued to research, interview hundreds of people about neighborhood issues, hosted tables at festivals, write, and think deeply about this issue.  I just got more and more excited about the possibilities because of the encouragement I received from my conversations and continued research.

Interviewer: I understand that your visit to the west coast  really inspired you to really go for it—in terms of creating some kind of tangible product which you could offer.

Patricia: Oh, yes, that was the turning point. It was over a year ago , just a few months before companies xyz decided to promote this project. I had the opportunity to attend a  training workshop   where I learned how to be an Open Space facilitator.  I just knew in my heart that this was going to be the key to creating a Community Gathering.

At the very least, Open Space is a fast, cheap, and simple way to better, more productive meetings. At a deeper level, it enables people to experience a very different quality of organization in which self-managed work groups are the norm, leadership a constantly shared phenomenon, diversity becomes a resource to be used instead of a problem to be overcome, and personal empowerment a shared experience. It is also fun. In a word, the conditions are set for fundamental organizational change, indeed that change may already have occurred. By the end, groups face an interesting choice. They can do it again, they can do it better, or they can go back to their prior mode of behavior.

 Once I took the workshop, I was more convinced than ever that this is the change making practice that I was going to focus on.  I saw how organizations could come up with a shared vision and a strategy for carrying it out—and that positive changes were happening in those organizations. I saw that this could be applied to neighborhoods as well.

Interviewer:  And what else happened on your trip? I understand it was quite miraculous for you.

Patricia: I live very simply, and rarely do I have surplus funds. But I just knew I had to get to this Open Space Facilitators workshop, and I also had a strong feeling that I would experience something very profound—as I did when I was nineteen. So when I went to San Francisco on a Greyhound bus with 80 dollars in my pocket, I didn't know exactly how I was going to fund my month long trip. I wanted to visit some of the people and organizations I had researched., including the folks from the Neighborhood Assembly Network in San Francisco.

I kept telling everyone I met that I was on a quest: to find out how neighborhoods could become thriving, self-reliant communities. People would refer me to organizations and people who were working on  some aspect of this question. Almost everyone, including my own siblings, were excited about my search. I was so supported by all the people I met, including my brother and his partner, who live in San Francisco—that people paid for my meals, for bus tickets, for room and board, and even a fun trip to the Oregon Country Fair. When I returned to Arkansas a month later with $30, I was totally enthused!

 I was even able to take a workshop in Community Weaving in Seattle, from Family Support Network. I talked to scores of people who had answers to my question. I visited   various places like a neighborhood inventors workshop and a shared work place, cooperative houses and co-housing communities. All of these experiences just added fuel to the fire that I had burning in my heart—to find a way to help neighborhoods become thriving, self-reliant communities. 

Interviewer. Well, that is pretty good—living on fifty dollars on the west coast for a month! That is a miracle! It seems like you had a lot of support. Tell me, what happened when you got back?

Patricia: I was all fired up to do something, but I still was not completely sure what my next step was to be.  Then three different people who I had met in San Francisco and Seattle urged me to write a grant for the Case Foundation. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to ***write a grant for an organization which wanted to support individuals.  A paper which they commissioned "Citizens at the center: a new approach for civic engagement" gives recommendations for giving citizens the tools they need to identify problems and identify solutions. Their research warns against top-down solutions that require people to to "plug into" existing programs or campaigns.

I was intrigued and pleased to hear of this approach. This had been my lifelong dilemma—I wanted to get involved in bettering my community, but I just never felt drawn to get involved in already existing organizations. If I did, I usually found that my talents were not used effectively—and my contribution was not valued.

As I wrote the grant, answering the specific questions that were asked on the application, the Community Gathering concept became clearer and clearer. I had forgotten that I had developed this idea a year before, and had gotten discouraged for various reasons. But this time, after all the experience I had on the west coast, I knew without a doubt that this was going to be my project, and it was going to work!  Within a few weeks I finished the proposal.

Here is another part of an imagined interview where I put myself in the future and imagine that my dream of promoting and developing Community Gatherings has come true.

Interviewer: What do you think kept you going during those hard times when you were working practically every moment you could on making   an  effective presentation for the Communit y Gathering idea.

Patricia: Partly it was encouragement from the outside. In the process of writing the grant I talked to a number of people in the city I live in, Fayetteville, Arkansas. I realized that I was in the right place to start a pilot project. In my conversations with a number of knowledgeable people including a city planner, the Fayetteville Sustainability Coordinator, and a sociology professor from University of Arkansas, I found a great deal of validation, support and even more ideas. Dr. Kevin  Fitzpatrick, sociology professor at U of A, was really enthusiastic about my ideas. He reminded me about the book, Bowling Alone, which I had been introduced to in San Francisco. And this is listed on the Meetup.com website. I got to a point where I was free to work 10-14 hours a day on this project. Finally, I reached a point where I had a flyer, a slide show, a dvd, a resume, and an outline of the Community Gathering.

--> -->

Another thing that kept me going was faith. My relationship with Jesus Christ was tested—and He came through for me as He always does.

--> -->

Interviewer: It sounds like you felt compelled to complete this project…like it was urgent or something.

--> -->

Yes, that is very true. The urgency increased when I decided to support Ron Paul for president. I knew and trusted Ron Paul because of his 20 year record of voting only for things which supported our constitution. But even more exciting was the fact that a grassroots movement—some still call it the Ron Paul revolution—was spreading like grass fire. I joined a Ron Paul Meetup group, and got to experience first hand the power of the Meetup.com concept.

--> -->

I saw that the community gathering would be the perfect venue for Ron Paul supporters to get involved. But of course not only Ron Paul supporters could gather—but anyone who wanted to help their neighborhood and world be a better place.

--> -->

Interviewer: So how did it feel to have your idea picked up by company xyz.

--> -->

Patricia: It was so thrilling! It was something I had hoped and dreamed about for really all my adult life—to be able to do something that would reach and benefit everyone. Having company xyz get excited about this was an answer to many prayers-the culmination of all my work, experience, study, and informal social experiments. What was most exciting was that the struggle to survive was over, and now I could get paid to do the job I loved the most—promoting the creation of Community Gatherings everywhere, resulting in thriving, self-reliant communities!

--> -->

And best of all, I got to do what I loved best. I got to share the ideas of Community Gathering through large city-wide events similar to the mega meetup. I lead songs, facilitated open space, and just encouraged people. It has been so great to finally do what I love. I mean, I enjoy all this project development—but it  is not my passion.

--> -->

Interviewer: I understand that you immersed yourself in the theory of social capital . Could you tell me more about this theory?

Patricia: Sure. I was so amazed to hear that the theory I had held for really the past thirty three years—that healthy community connections made healthier people—had extensive research to back it up. And I was very happy that Robert Putnam wrote a very well received book about this theory, called BOWLING ALONE and also BETTER TOGETHER.  The Saguaro Seminar: Civic Engagement in America is an organization promoting these books. I am going to read from the Putnam's website about social capital because he phrases it much better than I can:

--> -->

"The central premise of social capital is that social networks have value. Social capital refers to the collective value of all "social networks" [who people know] and the inclinations that arise from these networks to do things for each other ["norms of reciprocity"].

How does social capital work?
The term social capital emphasizes not just warm and cuddly feelings, but a wide variety of quite specific benefits that flow from the trust, reciprocity, information, and cooperation associated with social networks. Social capital creates value for the people who are connected and - at least sometimes - for bystanders as well.

Social capital works through multiple channels:
Information flows (e.g. learning about jobs, learning about candidates running for office, exchanging ideas at college, etc.) depend on social capital norms of reciprocity (mutual aid) are dependent on social networks. Bonding networks that connect folks who are similar sustain particularized (in-group) reciprocity. Bridging networks that connect individuals who are diverse sustain generalized reciprocity. Collective action depends upon social networks (e.g., the role that the black church played in the civil rights movement) although collective action also can foster new networks. Broader identities and solidarity are encouraged by social networks that help translate an "I" mentality into a "we" mentality. What are some examples of social capital? When a group of neighbors informally keep an eye on one another's homes, that's social capital in action. When a tightly knit community of Hassidic Jews trade diamonds without having to test each gem for purity, that's social capital in action. Barn-raising on the frontier was social capital in action, and so too are e-mail exchanges among members of a cancer support group. Social capital can be found in friendship networks, neighborhoods, churches, schools, bridge clubs, civic associations, and even bars. The motto in Cheers "where everybody knows your name" captures one important aspect of social capital."

Interviewer: Wow! That's quite a mouthful. How does the community gathering help create Social Capital?

Patricia: Social capital is built through hundreds of little and big actions we take every day. The community gathering helps people to take these actions. The Saguaro Seminar has on their web site almost 150 ways to build social capital, and I discovered that about 90% percent of these activities could actually happen at a Community Gathering. All of the activities could be planned or initiated at a Community Gathering.

I like to imagine that things are happening in the future in order to help me to manifest these things. I am not attached, but I put this to our Creator as a request for my dream of having a job promoting and developing Community Gatherings.

Interviewer: It must have been exciting for you to find that you were so much in sync with the idea of creating Social Capital.

Patricia:  Yes, I was very excited. I realized that I had discovered a recipe for community building that was going to really work—it was just a matter of getting it to the right people who could see the vision, and then take off with it. When I noticed that company xyz had on their list of books that inspired them, the books Bowling Alone and  Better Together, by Richard Putnam, I was totally stoked!

Interviewer: What kind of response did you get from company xyz?

Patricia: To be honest, I was rather shocked at how easy it was. I submitted my resume and the presentation to company xyz, as if I was applying for a job. This got their attention pretty quickly. They contacted me just a few days later, and the interview process started. They hired me a week after I applied. We worked out a great deal where I would have all rights to promote my book, which I was in the process of writing. Also, anyone could use the ideas. But they would get a head start in being the initiators. It was so great. Every idea I had to promote this idea was utilized—like contacting the saguaro seminar, Robert Putnam, and the countless others who would be happy to help promote this idea.

This meant that company xyz had the perfect marketing situation—lots of people would want to market this idea, and company xyz had the mission which was similar to mine, technology and leadership to help make the Community Gatherings happen. That is how it all happened so quickly.

Interviewer: That all sounds like one of those unbelievable rags to riches stories. I feel very inspired by that. I am really curious now how did the first Community Gathering do?

Patricia: The first gathering was a huge success. I have found that 99% of the time I can conceptualize something and then pull it off successfully because I think ahead of time about all the details. Since I had the help of the companyxyz staff and funding, everything was set up pretty quickly and the feedback was: it works!

We ironed out a few kinks, then I worked with a team to design a work book, video, webinar, and an interactive website so people could share their successes and get support. We were able to get funding to pay community organizers in every city to do the job of finding sponsors in each neighborhood—people who were passionate about the vision.

-->[if !supportEmptyParas]-->  -->[endif]-->

The community organizer worked with each sponsor to build a team of caring, dedicated people from diverse backgrounds so that a wide variety of people were invited.

The key was to make it easy and attractive for people to come Who wouldn't want to come for a free tasty meal, music, free child care, transportation for folks who needed it, and unlimited opportunities to have fun, get support, work on projects, and you guessed it—build social capital! The secret was to motivate people to get into an environment where people could easily and effectively address what matters most to them.

You see, certain conditions increase the likelihood for people to discover and act on their highest potential—resulting in the creation of thriving, self-reliant communities. Some of these conditions include equal access to information, resources, and tools, the ability to connect with others with shared interests, and a sense of ownership over outcomes. The community gathering works to build and sustain such an environment.

What we found happening in the community gatherings was that people started taking ownership of their actions, and a foundation of trust was built. And even more profound was the depth of human connection that was happening. We found that people who were normally on the fringes of society, started feeling a sense of belonging. All kinds of people including mentally ill, disabled, welfare recipient, single parents, elderly, children were starting to be seen, as well as feel, like valuable contributors. Artists, musicians, dancers and creative folks found a place for their talents to be used. Business people, housewives, polititicians, fiath based groups including churches, and non-profit folks found their place—so many opportunities for fulfillment in giving and receiving.

Interviewer: It sounds like it has been a very rewarding time this past year for you. I imagine you must feel very excited about how this has all turned out.

Patricia; Well, excited is one word describing my feelings. Awe is another. Words can not express the joy I feel to see a life long dream of contributing to the well being of every single person on this planet—become true. You know I used to dream, and imagine this moment so many times—yet it took so much longer to happen for some reason. Yet I like to remember this quote: "success is going from perceived failure to perceived failure without giving up." I am so glad I didn't give up!

Since I have not yet organized an "official" Community Gathering with all the ingredients that I intend to have, I have decided to imagine what the outcomes would be by envisioning testimonials: here are things that people could very well say about Community Gatherings:

From a single mother: I was getting to the point of frustration where I never had a moment to myself, and I was feeling so worthless just staying at home with my kids and feeling so tired after a hard day's work. All we would do was watch tv. When we all started coming to the community gathering, just being there was relaxing and invigorating. Then I was able to muster up the courage to start a single parents group (it was so easy) and now we have a support group of 70 people for things like child care, meal prep and we even help each other clean our houses!

From an elderly person: I was on the brink of needing to leave my home and neighborhood of fifty years because my children could no longer take the time to help me around the house. I started attending the Community Gathering, and it wasn't long before I found that I had all kinds of skills and talents to trade and share with others who could help me in every way imaginable. Thanks for the wonderful service you are offering, so I could stay in my beloved home.

From a disabled person: I was going crazy staying home all the time because it was hard to get out. But you guys at the community gathering provided transportation so I could easily get to the gathering, and then I started meeting all kinds of people. Now my home is a gathering place—for the rest of the week, and people who don't have a big home like I do can come here, and have mini community gatherings—and I don' need to go out so much cause it's all happening right here at my place! We plan all kinds of acitvitie to especially help handicapped. I am eternally grateful

From a businessman: I used to be so busy with my business that I spent little time with my family. My marriage was falling apart. When my wife urged me to come to the community gatheirn because our whole family could be together—but no in front of the tv or computer—I begrudgingly said I would go, hoping to placate her. To my surprise, I found that this one evening a week lead to a couple's support group which saved our marriage. I was also able to get support to quit being such a workaholic, and also simplify my life. Now or family works on community projects together instead of going our separate ways—we have taken on the job also of growing a whole garden in our front yard. We are growing so much food. You saved my marriage, and I so appreciate what you are doing

From an activist: I was getting so frustrated with the lack of interest in all my projects. People just kept saying they didn't have time. Yet they could go to bars, watch movies, watch tv and such. But the community gathering changed all that. You got people motivated to get out of their homes, and get involved. With the open space technology you used, I was able to introduce all of my pet projects—the emergency preparedness plan, commuity gardens, neighborhood safety, time banking, and non-violent communication. I couldn't believe how many people were eager to get engaged—and you made it easy for me to use my talents to help people. I can't thank you enough

Political campaigner: We were having a  hard time getting a critical mass of people interested in supporting our candidate. Peple wanted to get involved, but they had issues such as child care and transportation and time. By providing a free meal, childcare, and transportation, you made it easy for people that supported our candidate to come and get involved. And we were able to connect with supporters of opposing candidates—and found that we had a lot in common—we didn't need to hate each other! Thanks and keep up the good work.

Retired teacher: I felt lonely and useless when I retired. But I got to share my talents for teaching various subjects and I was thrilled to see people of all ages who needed help with their reading become proficient readers. Now I feel happy and fulfilled.

Christians: We got to know people in our neighborhoods in a different way than we ever had. Then we were able to invite them to our church in a heartfelt manner, and share jesus in a way that was beyond words. We had the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus, instead of just trying to persuade people to believe. Now people are coming to Christ because they really experience his love through us.

Buddhist: It was nice to meet Christians and people of other religions, and be in harmony. Sure, a lot of Christians think I am going to hell because I don't belive the way they do. But I am hoping that by forging deeper relationships, they can more easily accept people such as myself who are different from them. Thanks for this opportunity to be with a diverse group of people and to share myself with others. Many are becoming buddhists

Property rights activist: You know, I thought most of my neighbors were ignorant fools because they were so much into getting big government to make laws to protect the environment, and thus take away my rights. With opportunities to have meaningful dialogues with these folks, we all learned that we wanted the same thing—healthy environment and freedom. We came up with some amazing and creative ways to solve the problems we face, where everyone wins!

Environmentalist: I really thought that the property rights activists were wacko. It was great to see they are just wanting the same thing—a healthy environment. Because we were in a safe place to have discussions—and we got some help from people who had mediation skills—we discovered ways to have a healthy environment that did not make the government responsible-but which gave us the power to make a difference.

Homeless person: I first came just because there was a free meal. Then I met some people who wanted to help me find a job. Then I found someone through the great networking systems that could rent me an inexpensive room. I am finding that I really like this family and they are like an extended family. I now have a home, a job, a family and a neighborhood. And I found that I could teach art at the Community Gathering and use my talents again. Thanks so much from the bottom of my heart.

Child: I used to feel like I was so little, and I couldn't make a difference with all the big problems in the world. But now I am working on helping clean up some vacant lots so we can have a big garden and feed everyone in our neighborhood. That's a big thing—I feel happy about that, and its fun, too.

Youth: I was on the verge of joining a gang, I just wanted a place where I could belong. Then I started to attend the community gathering. It was really cool. I got to play music with some really great local artists, and hang out with my friends. The food was good, too. Then  I got connected with a band. I feel a sense of belonging both with my band and the Gathering. and now I am on the way to becoming an famous musician. We do a lot of benefit concerts to raise money for the neighborhood. Hey, I don't need a gang!

Caring Parent: I am so thrilled that because of the Community Gathering, we are able to implement the five promises the Colin Powell has urged us to keep: caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, effective education, and opportunities to help others.

Time Banks coordinator: The Community Gathering was the perfect place to easily find a team and get the time banking concept going. Hurray for Community Gatherings!

Non-violent Communication Teacher: I was happy to teach free classes at the communituy gathering because it really enhanced the way people related to each other in my neighborhood. And word has spread about NVC—now all my classes are full!

Open Space Practitioner: It is so exciting to see OS being utilized in this way. Now OS can be more easily accessible to everyone, and we are seeing it being used in all kinds of community activities now.

Minority member: I used to think that all whites were prejudiced against me, and I had really negative feelings towards them. Being with people who are different from me has helped me to accept them better. I appreciate being able to have this new experience.

-->[endif]-->

This is funny--but it is also profound. An entertaining look at how Meetup.com is more down to earth, and how google is somehow....well, google-ish. I am going to apply for a job to Meetup, and I am doing some very intensive research on them. They are an impressive company, with values that I share. I spent about 8 hours studying both the website and looking at links. I love their purposes--check these statements out:

"At Meetup, you're helping people self-organize real groups (Meetups) that give them power to do almost anything: face a health issue, grow a business, learn a language, get fit, get pulled out of poverty, change laws, and make a movement. Using the internet to get people off the internet and forming community is urgently needed."

Every single one of these issues can be effectively addressed in a community gathering—and the people who are often under heard and underserved—and who don't have computers can easily attend a Community Gathering

"At Meetup, you're Organizing the World's People. Actually, helping the World's People Self-Organize."

Open Space Technology is one way to enable all kinds of people, in any kind of organization, to self organize in order to create inspired meetings and events. Over the last 20+ years, it has also become clear that opening space, as an intentional leadership

I got this link from Scott Heiferman, Co-Founder, CEO of meetup's blog. He has a lot of great stuff on there.

I hope you will check out meetup.com  Start a meetup around a topic that is meaningful to you! And laugh as you see this great presentation: Google vs. Meetup

http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dg2z5whw_41cb322p