In January when I started this journey to connect more deeply with my local community, I could not have imagined we'd be where we are today. In my little space in the world, everyone feels the impact of ICE immigration kidnappings and the collateral damage it leaves. People you know disappearing, masked agents with weapons … Continue reading Monthly update (November) Building off of 2025: Ties to community and resistance.
Author: Jeff Merrell
Retired lecturer and administrator at Northwestern University's Master's Program in Learning & Organizational Change.
What I learned about paying attention to details in community listening. From an AI product team.
My former teaching partner and friend Teresa Torres is off on a new venture - the Just Now Possible podcast, where Teresa takes a dive deep with folks who use AI as part of the digital products they design and build. A recent episode focused on ZenCity, which provides an AI-supported technology platform to help … Continue reading What I learned about paying attention to details in community listening. From an AI product team.
“If this were in place, what would it do for you?”
Last night I attended the 4th (and final) workshop that is part of Evanston's Environmental Equity Investigation (EEI). (See past post about EEI: The limitation of relying on a single style of community meetings) I'm thinking about this event in terms of lessons to be learned for future community engagement activities. In all, the final workshop … Continue reading “If this were in place, what would it do for you?”
Folks who know this isn’t right. And they have your back.
Today was No Kings protest day. Evanston folks showed up, once again. What I saw and heard at this event was a little different from past protests. Not that the speeches or the signs were different, But what I personally saw when I looked out at the 1000+ folks gathered in Fountain Square, and what … Continue reading Folks who know this isn’t right. And they have your back.
What organizations forget: Building relationships matters.
I was reminded of this lesson about how organizations often overlook their most powerful lever - building relationships - in the span of a few hours this past week. The power comes when folks get to know other folks, and importantly know what those folks know and care about. Those relationships and that knowledge are … Continue reading What organizations forget: Building relationships matters.
Jeff Merrell 