One of the things I am motivated to help all of us get better at is moving away from hurling opinions and ideas at each other and moving toward more reflective inquiry. And I mean "inquiry" as more than just a question, but instead a process that leads toward resolving some challenge or problem. More … Continue reading Inquiry vs. hurling opinions

My interest is in helping develop or improve ways of community listening: How a group listens to the community members it serves. How a group makes sense of what it is hearing from community members. The above three lines are what I wrote as my profile description on a volunteer organizing site for the community … Continue reading Community listening and co-creation

I see the world as a set of overlapping communities with leaky boundaries. The physical communities in which I reside (neighborhood, city). Professional and personal communities that are anchored in the workplace (Northwestern University is one for me) or through shared activities (like working out at the local YMCA). Everyone has their own unique set … Continue reading The value of leaky community boundaries

I asked this question at a meet-the-candidate event yesterday for someone running for my Ward's city council seat in Evanston. The candidate is really solid. An empathetic, self-proclaimed policy wonk whose career includes a rich mix of community roles and work. At this point, he certainly has my support and vote. I asked the question … Continue reading At what point does your spidey-sense tell you that you have the right amount of community input?

I am spending time in 2025 working on two things. Exploring ways my experience might contribute to community, learning and progress at a very local level outside of formal organizations. Think: City, neighborhood, apartment communities.  Digging into my ancestry and family history, I didn't start out with this intention, but damn if the two things … Continue reading A 2025 starter: Community, connections and the things that connect us