Author: Jeff Merrell

Retired lecturer and administrator at Northwestern University's Master's Program in Learning & Organizational Change.

How do you know you are making progress toward inclusive community engagement?

Northwestern campus at night
~ Jeff Merrell ~ 1 Comment

I originally wrote about this question in At what point does your spidey-sense tell you that you have the right amount of community input? The question is coming back again in a slightly different context. But it is the same fundamental challenge. How do you assess progress toward a vision of inclusive community engagement? The new … Continue reading How do you know you are making progress toward inclusive community engagement?

How baseball reminds us to pay attention to things that make us human

~ Jeff Merrell ~ 1 Comment

This is offroad a bit from thinking about community listening. But...it's really not. It's about paying attention to human moments. Stay with me here as I connect these dots. I am not a huge baseball geek but am slowly growing to appreciate the sport's unique complexity. And - like some of my other sports-enthusiastic friends … Continue reading How baseball reminds us to pay attention to things that make us human

Monthly update (May): Evanston stories and community listening

Evanston skyline
~ Jeff Merrell

100 Evanston Stories Project "When Fred Rogers was overwhelmed by the suffering of the world, his mom would tell him to 'look for the helpers.' I see helpers everywhere in Evanston.  "The businessman who shares his sandwich with an unhoused person in front of Jewel. The volunteer cleaning cat litter boxes at Paws & Claws. … Continue reading Monthly update (May): Evanston stories and community listening