TEDxDirigo - Zoe Weil - THE WORLD BECOMES WHAT YOU TEACH

THE WORLD BECOMES WHAT YOU TEACH

Zoe Weil is the co-founder and president of the Institute for Humane Education (http://www.humaneeducation.org/) and is considered a pioneer in the comprehensive humane education movement, which provides people with the knowledge, tools, and motivation to be conscientious choicemakers and engaged changemakers for a better world. Zoe created the first Master of Education and Certificate Program in Humane Education in the U.S. covering the interconnected issues of human rights, environmental preservation, and animal protection. She has also created acclaimed online programs and leads workshops and speaks at universities, conferences, and events across the U.S. and Canada. She has taught tens of thousands students through her innovative school presentations, and has trained several thousand teachers through her workshops and programs. Zoe's most recent book, Most Good, Least Harm: A Simple Principle for a Better World and Meaningful Life, won the 2010 Nautilus silver medal in sustainability and green values. She is the author of several other books including Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times for parents; The Power and Promise of Humane Education for educators; and Claude and Medea: The Hellburn Dogs, winner of the Moonbeam gold medal in juvenile fiction, which follows the exploits of two seventh graders who become clandestine activists in New York City, righting wrongs where they find them. Zoe received a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School and a Master of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania.

Creativity Manifesto

By Derek Pettinelli
Creativity + Social Change, University of Connecticut
Waterbury, Connecticut

1. Society places restrictions on people, dictating what they can and cannot do. First and foremost, one must completely disregard such things and concentrate on what they want to do. Rejecting social and societal norms is the first step and also the most difficult one. It’s also important to keep in mind that one should not break any laws or harm others when doing this.
2. Rejecting societal norms is the first step and this includes the capitalist/materialist obsession of mass consumption. A goal that is purely monetary is not one worth obtaining and self-fulfillment is much more important. If one is satisfied with oneself, monetary compensation will follow, but it should not be the main goal.
3. One should be a blank slate by this point, which again is easier said than done. This is a stage in which you should acknowledge nothing except the desire to be creative and achieve enlightenment through creative self-fulfillment.
4. Being creative involves seeking out completely new ways of thinking in order to “rebuild” oneself. New avenues of thought must be explored in order to achieve a higher level of being.
5. Researching think tanks and progressive ways of thought are one part of the equation, but one must also look into classical ways of thinking by learning about classical psychology, existentialism and philosophy through works such as Aristotle, Nietzche, Socrates, Plato, etc.
6. The reading and consumption and processing of information is pivotal. One must devote a large amount of their time to not only seeking out new forms of thought, but to disregarding such useless information such as celebrity gossip, as that only serves to cloud the mind and stifle creativity.
7. Entertainment must be limited, especially TV. Advertisements and marketing are the ultimate forms of quelling creativity, as it is someone else being creative in order to trick and convince the audience into being a consumer.
8. Institutions of higher learning are an excellent place to express creativity, especially compared to pre-college schooling and the business world.
9. Random acts of spontaneity serve to further expand the creative mind. Such acts are difficult to think of and will require work until they become second nature. One must also get rid of any social anxiety by detaching themselves from the physical constraints of the real world and expanding their horizons. Being playful is a great way to accomplish this.
10. Knowing when to take feedback to heart is also important. Some people are negative and only want to bring others down and these people must be avoided.
11. Creativity comes more naturally to some than others and this should not be discouraging as it can be taught and it’s important to remember that this is a process that is constantly working 24/7 as the mind is the most complex and powerful tool in the universe.
12. Expansion of the mind is the penultimate form of creativity, when one is in complete control of the mind, the physical world bears little importance. This is referred to as opening of the third eye, which is almost impossible, almost.

Creativity in Pi(-ku)

March 14 (3/14) was Pi Day (3.14). (March 14 is also Albert Einstein's birthday!) Some celebrate by writing pi-ku -- that, is haiku (17 syllables) about pi and/or a haiku-style poem inspired by pi (3.14, or a three-syllable line, a one-syllable line and a four-syllable line). In my "Creativity + Social Change" course at the University of Connecticut, we begin class each week with a creative thinking warm-up activity. This week, we wrote pi-ku about creativity. Below are the creative outcomes from that experience.

This exercise, of capturing a key idea about creativity in just a few words, is an excellent example of the creative ability of "highlighting the essence," as described by creativity researcher E. Paul Torrance. Highlighting the essence is about identifying what is important or essential.

What's YOUR creativity in pi-ku? Share yours in the comments below!

You and I
merge
image and thoughts.
- Laurie Lukasavage

Let me see
your
creative mind.
- Laurie Lukasavage

Pam and Willy
like
to get silly.
- Chris Filek

Wandering
through
creative minds.
- Chris Filek

Free your Mind
Think
And Then Be Free
- Derek Pettinelli

If You See
Then
You Can Believe
- Derek Pettinelli

Take a Look
See
Outside the Norm
- Derek Pettinelli

From nothing
Flash -
Beauty is there.
- Robert Sireno

Something needed -
What?
Ah-ha it's there.
- Robert Sireno

Apple Pi
Tastes
Most Delicious
Hot
- Ralph Famiglietti

Pi Day is
so
cool. March 14.
- Joan Terry

Creative
work
innovation.
- April Belanger

Love and laugh
Like
Community.
- April Belanger

What is fun?
Fun!
Nothing but fun!
- Shavon Roscoe

An artist
paints
creative waves
- Shavon Roscoe

A picture
drawn
yes, from my mind
- Shavon Roscoe

creating
pie
mix, roll, bake, eat
- Catherine Capuano

Creative
me,
what next for us?
- Steven Dahlberg

Judging much?
STOP!
Yes, and ... Yes, and ...
- Steven Dahlberg

Imagine ...
Why,
what if, what else?
- Steven Dahlberg

Openness.
Think.
Imagine now.
- Steven Dahlberg

Imagine
and
connect, engage.
- Steven Dahlberg

Creativity Manifesto, or A Note to My Young Cousin Regarding Creativity

By Michael Sciarra
Creativity + Social Change, University of Connecticut
Waterbury, Connecticut

• Listen to others' ideas; even, and especially if, you don't like them (the ideas and/or the persons). You may learn something.
• Take the time to read/view often-referenced source materials that interest you. It's quite astonishing when you learn that you have a different interpretation than others before you.
• Creativity involves risk. The alternative is extinction. Learn how to manage the risks, and you will be rewarded.
• Write down and discuss your ideas. This will stimulate other parts of your brain, and lead to additional ideas that were not accessible before.
• If someone is critical of your best ideas, don't let this stop you. See if you can find something of use in the criticism, and move on. Remember, there are many more judges than doers in the world (just like in spectator sports), and a positive thought is said to be five times more powerful than a negative one.
• Be persistent, and don't make excuses that prevent you from trying. Harland Sanders presented his franchise idea involving his chicken recipe to more than a thousand restaurant owners before he closed his first deal. That's how Kentucky Fried Chicken came about, and Colonel Sanders was in retirement when he started this particular venture.
• Find a mentor. Maybe someone who's doing something that you would like to do, or whose style you'd like to emulate. This will be a great way to learn and develop important contacts.
• Remember that it's people that make new products, new political movements, and new projects of all kinds work. Put these people first, because without them, the rest won't happen.
• Alter any of the above, and add to the list, as you see fit. ...
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Creativity Manifesto

By Robert Sireno
Creativity + Social Change, University of Connecticut
Waterbury, Connecticut

 

“For all that has been -- ‘Thanks’

For all that can be -- ‘Yes’”

-- Dag Hammarskjold

 

________

 

 

excitement

 

 

a thought seeking understanding

 

 

emanates

 

 

________

 

creation of thought

 

excitement . . . What we know of creation had begun . . . time and space have appeared from an invisible pinpoint with unbelievable potential . . . forming the cosmos as it flowed and evolved . . . the thought continues outward, as if a fragrance, seeking consciousness for its realization and understanding.

 

According to scientist Stephen Hawkins, many times during this evolving process of “Creation,” things occurred by sheer chance, and without them occurring in this exact way, LIFE could not have been possible. Creation, at all these junctures could have easily gone in another direction, and we would not be here to know. What this indicates is that you and I were “purposefully” put in place, at this time, to be a conscious witness and an aid in the development of the thought.

 

As a species, we can thank our existence to events that have occurred for their adaptive values. Everything has “happened” to bring us to a point in time. We are now at that focal point for realizing our purpose . . . . . the purpose . . . . .

 

As LIFE evolved on the planet that humans inhabit, adaptation was possible -- conditions were right -- all was ready. From the earliest single cell form to early man, “Creation” was proceeding, the thought was continuing on its intended journey toward realization. Even now the cosmos continues to expand until its purpose is realized.

 

Humans began early to intuit the fact that there was something beyond their thinking and objective awareness. Evolution had provided them with senses -- hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch -- to perceive their world. But, “beyond” that . . . what was there . . . perhaps powerful; perhaps eternal; perhaps caring for their wellbeing. Why did this “something” not communicate directly with them ?

 

They knew there was something our senses couldn’t detect -- but, what was it ? From this question arose stories about what this something beyond reality was. Stories appeared of gods, goddesses, evil, good, caring, not caring. Individuals arose among the people claiming contact with this knowledge -- perhaps precursors ? The thought was there, seeking a time when they would understand, expanding through time and space, until such a time would come and “it” could be comprehended by all.

 

What we, as humans, could not know was that this preliminary recognition of our purpose for being here was meant not for some isolated individuals or groups, although their sensitivity may awaken us to the presence of the thought, but was meant for us all as “one.” And to take this one step further, it was meant for the entire universe as “one.” As we sense our surroundings in any “moment” -- and I emphasize “moment” -- the thought is there. Whether we are hearing the wind in the trees, seeing the stars, smelling the wild flowers, tasting the fellowship supper, or feeling the rain on our bodies, we indeed perceive the thought in all its strength, in all its beauty -- not recognizing it. “Creation” involves everything.

 

thought of creation

 

So why does any of this matter ? What can we do about any of this, but to go on with our lives -- business as usual ? Are we inconsequential ? That’s far from the truth ! The thought that began the “Creation” of all, the thought that “is” all, endowed humans with a special power. Our species, on the planet Earth, have evolved with reflexive consciousness. We are the consciousness for the entire universe, and thus, for the thought. The purpose of the thought can only be realized through us -- and perhaps even at some point “by” us. Is this our purpose ? If we accept this and attempt to understand all the implications of it, how are we challenged to proceed ? What is at stake ? What type of individuals must we become ?

 

Scientists attempt to understand all that has happened. They see themselves as a product of a past that we can weigh and measure. We must see ourselves as the future, being drawn toward a point that is ahead. Creation is happening forward. We are being pulled, not expelled.

creativity’s call to action

1. We must begin with “who we are,” concentrating on this moment -- being “in the moment” as much as possible. “Creation” is happening now. Not in the past. Not yet in the future.
2. We must realize that “Creation” is now centered in us. We are “Creation” personified. Our consciousness and ability to create are the object of the thought’s evolution thus far.
3. We must maintain a sustainable way of life for all. We must use our intelligence to monitor our every need, now and future. Our thoughts cannot be only self-serving, but must encompass the entire universe. Harmful actions must be controlled. We must think and feel as the Earth Community.
4. Next, we must leave ourselves open for what the future could hold. We must meet together in groups to exchange ideas, listening to the visionaries among us. But, hearing everyone. Creativity habits and skills should be nurtured from childhood to maturity. Everyone must be involved. The potential of all should be realized as much as possible as one person may have an important key.
   
   These groups should begin as informal social get-togethers for coffee and then these groups should mix or join with other groups. It is important that we learn about and from each other, in enjoyable settings.
   
   There should be brainstorming of all possible “presents” as we see them, and all possible “futures.” The results of these groups should be like listening to a symphony orchestra. Each separate artist’s contribution is necessary in the overall result.
5. The results of all these meetings that circle the earth should be presented for all to hear. Perhaps the meeting site could be the United Nations.

If we are serious about all this, committed without fear or other blocks, the thought may bring our consciousness to another level. Our purpose will become clearer. Our meaning will be before us.

Creativity Manifesto

Shavon Y. Roscoe
Creativity + Social Change, University of Connecticut
Waterbury, Connecticut

As a mother:
Methods to get a child (who’s a fussy eater) to eat his/her vegetables instead of the usual “eat your peas or no dessert.” Turn those “peas” into enemy soldiers who must be gobbled up.

As a daughter:
Letting your parents know that they are still needed, and their words of wisdom mean as much to you today as they did when you were a child. Ask for their assistance by reminding them of a similar situation during simpler times.

As a friend:
Being there even when an upset friend protests how much he/she wants to be alone. Suggest a movie or restaurant that your friend has been dying to see or try. Sometimes we just need to take our minds off of what’s bothering us.

As a letter carrier:
Making sure I can communicate with each and every one of my customers on an individual basis. Treating each of my customers uniquely by being sensitive and understanding to their needs will make them more understanding and compassionate to the job I’m trying to perform for them.

Upon discussion, we know that every one of us is creative in some way. In order to do the things I manifest, I will not be able to paint or draw pictures. Instead, I will use my creative edge to get them done in lieu of the usual reactions and responses.

Ralph's Manifesto

By Ralph A Famiglietti
Creativity + Social Change, University of Connecticut

Waterbury, Connecticut

1. If you say something that you want to sound important, you ought to have some facts to back that statement up. (otherwise see #4)
2. Accept the fact that throughout your life you’re going to make mistakes. Some mistakes are going to be tiny and other more profound. And others are going to be titanic and life changing. Some mistakes will go unnoticed and others will be open to all to see. There’s no one right way to deal with your mistakes. That’s something you’re going to have to figure out as you go along.
3. Don’t be overly impressed with a title. You know, P.h.D. this and Chairman of that. Yeah, show a little extra respect, but not a lot.
4. Another fact you’re going to have to accept is it’s pretty hard to go through life without lying. The only way to get good at lying is to practice.
5. No matter what you do, how well you prepare, bad things will happen to you throughout your life. You’re going to get your ass kicked both figuratively and literally. I can tell you advice like, “Trust no one” or “Expect the unexpected” or “Be Prepared.” None of that will help. Here’s what will help after a bad event. Take a walk, pet a dog, talk to a friend or eat some tasty food. Stuff like that.
6. So as not to depress you too much after #5 I want to say: Good stuff will befall you throughout your life too. No amount of planning or preparation or education will matter. It’s just pure luck. Enjoy it.
7. You should always have a good joke available for different situations. One for your golf four-some. One for the PTA meeting. One for a waitress. And remember, it’s not the content of the joke, but the delivery of the punch line that matters.
8. Don’t be afraid to pay for professional services like electrical, plumbing, snow removal and landscaping. It makes sense. I know there’s a great deal of satisfaction and pride that comes with doing a tough job by yourself. Plus you save money. That makes sense too. I guess I’m saying #8 is something that can go either way.
9. Kids are great but childhood goes by so quickly. Keep being a kid fun. Yeah education and discipline and structure are important but so are video games. Three hours of video games a day is adequate. Forests have been cleared to write books on child raising so there’s nothing I or anyone can say in a paragraph to cover it all. Just don’t screw things up.
10. Know that a tomato is a fruit but realize that it doesn’t belong in a fruit salad. This statement has nothing to do with tomatoes. It’s about knowledge and common sense. Get it?
11. Believe me, your memory isn’t that good. No one’s is. Do you know where your car keys are now? Write stuff down. Everything. Keep a journal or a diary, take pictures. Labeling stuff is good too.
12. Apologies are another tricky thing to work out. Most, but not all the time, they’re necessary. You may owe a guy an apology but he’s such an asshole that your pride prohibits you from saying, “I’m sorry, I was wrong.” That’s a case where you don’t have to apologize. Apologies require just a tiny bit of groveling. A chef would say, “A dash.” Anyway, don’t overdo an apology.
13. Understand that in life there are certain things that can’t be justified. You can condone an unnecessary war and urinating in public but you can’t condone littering or kicking a puppy. Learn which is which.
14. Talking about politics will do you more harm than good. Enough said.
15. “What’s wrong is wrong even if it does you good” and “Happiness comes from comparing ourselves to less successful people and reference groups.” These are quotes from Popeye and Dilbert. Don’t be afraid to watch cartoons and read the funnies.
16. “You only have one chance to make a good first impression.” I hate people who say stuff like that. Everyone does. It’s preachy and they’re trying to appear sophisticated and better than you. Don’t ever let them get away with it. Immediately do or say something to put them down. People will thank you.
17. A lot of times, shorter is better. Extending or dragging things out more than necessary will only antagonize people. This manifesto is one of them times. The end.

Community Is ...

By Chris Filek
Creativity + Social Change, University of Connecticut
Waterbury, Connecticut

I find the best metaphor for community is community as individuals. Before I get into this however, I would like to talk about how different communities are and what a community can be. I live in the town of Cheshire that is, in and of itself, a community. I am also apart of a music community, people who travel all over the country to go to concerts. I am also in a friendship community, a group of really close friends where we talk most everyday and keep in close touch with out friends who have moved away but who are still apart of that community. I am in a community on Xbox in my Madden football league and in Call of Duty with some close friends. I am in a community of students here at UConn Waterbury. Communities come in all shapes and sizes and there is no one singular definition of community.

A community must first and foremost be all about the individuals. If you ever look at a really good movie, each and every character is unique in his or her own way. Take The Godfather, for instance. Sonny was loud, animated and aggressive, while his brother, Michael, was quiet, reserved and relaxed. If a community was all of the same thinking then you end up with a cult or a radical extremist regime like the Nazis. Individualism is very important and is identified with American society. We are probably the first country where being an individual was virtually universally accepted. The idea of community also matters because it can give the individual a sense of self. Although, in my idea of a community, it is predicated around individuals that we also need to have common bonds that keep us together. My community of concert attendees is bonded by our love of either live music in general, or a specific band that is performing. We are all much different on our own but we are bonded by our shared joy of live music.

From living in my hometown for the better part of my life, I can also tell you that community is also a support system. The Petit Family Tragedy took place in our town and now twice a year we do Lights of Hope, once in the fall and another in the summer as a remembrance to their family. The church and Dr. Petit’s family, friends and neighbors have all tried to be there in his time of grief. We put the luminaries up every year and so do all of our neighbors. We never met the man or his family but we are part of this community and that tragedy touched all of us very deeply.

From what I’ve learned about community I can tell you that any community can be successful as long as the people in it legitimately care about each other. If everyone in the town was a hermit then parks would be overgrown by weeds and recreational areas would become extinct. If everyone thought they were the boss then everyone would fight and nothing would get done. A community is a shared experience among individuals and if you get the right group of people it can flourish.

Manifesto (not in order of importance)

By Laurie Lukasavage
Creativity + Social Change, University of Connecticut

Waterbury, Connecticut

1. Accept that you’re not perfect. You never will be, so don’t fight it.
2. Acknowledge that you don’t live in a perfect world. You are here to try to make it better.
3. Become comfortable in your own skin. It doesn’t matter how thin, heavy, attractive or ordinary you are, the people who matter will remember you for your personality.
4. Don’t dwell on what you cannot do, develop what you can do.
5. It’s ok to change your mind/opinion about something. That’s called “growth."
6. When you solve a problem ... spice it up! Use puppets to act it out.
7. Money may not mean that much to you, but it’s everything to some people and you will never change that.
8. Talk to someone you never liked or understood. Try to find out what makes them tick. They will be suspicious of you, but you’ll learn something.
9. Don’t take mean comments from people personally. Some people were born ornery.
10. Find humor in bad situations.
11. Remember when someone does something nice for you. Smile at them often.
12. Reward others with praise as if they are your own children.
13. Avoid snooty self-centered people, they’re not part of the human race.
14. Don’t let others measure your ability. You are infinite.
15. If you don’t like something, change it. If you do like something, build on it.
16. Let yourself feel good.
17. Let yourself feel bad.
18. Learn to recognize an opportunity. This will prevent them from sneaking past you unnoticed.
19. Make your own happiness.(Who knows what you really want, better than yourself?)
20. Forgive yourself and past hurts from others, and then give it to God to tuck it in his pocket.

Creativity Manifesto for Life

By April Belanger
Creativity + Social Change, University of Connecticut
Waterbury, Connecticut

Creativity and Innovation can be seen in everyone.

Creativity can be seen in any light, by anyone individual.

Hands-on Creativity needs to be seen in all realms of life; personal, work, and education.

Continuity and Creativity are essential for the creativity process.

Creativity can be fun yet it offers structured plans for work and in your life. Example: Offering creativity in other disciplines in school can result in more creativity in the community.

Trust yourself when making judgments in your life.

Confidence and enthusiasm can create new ideas and experiences.

Keep yourself open to new ways of learning and showing your creative side.

Community as Individuals

By Derek Pettinelli
Creativity + Social Change, University of Connecticut
Waterbury, Connecticut

Community as individuals is a metaphor that I feel is very relevant as it shows that there is a mass that is made up of smaller parts. Everybody is a part of a community and while many people try and separate themselves into smaller groups, divided by race or class, I think that’s irrelevant as we are all humans and all must work together for the betterment of society. A community without individuals is not a community; it’s just a lot of abandoned space and emptiness has no way of progressing itself unless there are proactive individuals who work together.

Communities include the people in them, because the people make everything else -- the businesses, the parks, the newspapers, the TV news, etc. Without individual people to keep the “wheels turning,” society will grind to a halt and be left barren, in literal and figurative senses. From a basic perspective, people, who are hopefully individuals, are the community, or rather the facet that binds the community together. They are the wheels on the bicycle that allow for movement, forward movement.

Having the idea of community as individuals is a viewpoint that touches base with everybody involved and conversely, everybody who isn’t involved. Individuals are part of a community whether they like it or not -- from a community being a man-made one, with boundaries and taxes, to a community being one of like-minded individuals who, for example, enjoy watching sports. All of these people are a part of a community and the ultimate goal is to have them be active members working for the benefit of the community, instead of passively and even selfishly watching the world pass them by. The idea of community matters because people are a part of something cohesive, something that is bigger than them. It is imperative that people “get involved” and that helps not only promote individuality and creative, progressive thinking, but it strengthens the community.

The implications of viewing a community as a group of individuals is one that puts responsibility on the individual. Taking responsibility for one’s own actions and using that to focus on societal betterment is important, because I think that is what people should be doing. Everyone has an effect on the world around them, whether they like it or not, and that’s why I feel that people should use energy to be pro-active. The golden rule is something that is almost ageless, a ubiquitous sense of “the proper way to act.” Treating others the way you wish to be treated is unfortunately a foreign concept in many ways and viewing the community as individuals helps hammer home that concept, making people aware of their actions and subsequently the consequences that follow.

Changes made as a result of this have overwhelming potential to be positive for the community and thus individuals. Simply being pro-active in such a way that affects somebody else is incredibly important. I firmly believe in the concept of “paying it forward,” where I do good things for people in the hopes that they will reciprocate positive actions for other people in the hopes of creating a butterfly effect of positivity. The greatest change starts with the smallest action and even the smallest acts of positivity have the potential for great ramifications. With this information, one can be proactively positive, which is the best that we can be, because to quote Gandhi: “We need to be the change we wish to see in the world.”

Community is ...

By Laurie Lukasavage
Creativity + Social Change, University of Connecticut
Waterbury, Connecticut

Communities are smaller groups of people living, working and playing together within a larger one. In each small community, there seems to be an even smaller group of individuals that affect the entire aura or atmosphere within their own community. They are the people who have the ability to express their thoughts and ideas to others, which in turn motivates others to participate. These gifted people have the ability to make everyday seem fun. The mundane everyday life can become spiritual. When a person experiences a transformation in his or his life from a lonely, repressed, methodical existence ... to a creative, vibrant, “in-the-moment” manifestation of joy, then life suddenly becomes exciting and worthwhile. There is instantly much to look forward to. There is now a solution for a void that was created by a need.

My seven-year-old child inside of me makes me feel like ... I want to drive through my own town and be proud that it is my hometown. I want it to look beautiful and safe and clean. I want people to wave to me and say hello as they go about their business. I want to have conversations with people and exchange ideas about where to hang out. Who has the best coffee in town? What’s new within town? Are there any new businesses coming in? Is there any cool music I can go listen to? How about bands? Local plays? Are there any new trails to walk or ride a bike on? Do I have something I don’t want or need anymore? Like clothes, food, old dishes or furniture that someone else would be grateful to receive? I want to hear my comrade’s suggestions or recommendations. Do they know of any places to visit that they’ve seen that I may also enjoy? And, if my neighbor needs help, I want them to feel free to call me.

Every person has the desire to feel connected to someone or something. However, authority figures within society have tried to govern communities through cookie-cutter rules and regulations. Not every answer is a perfect solution or fit for everyone. Sometimes the resolution needs to be modified for it to be the best possible outcome for that individual. When that happens, then the person experiences personal growth.

Many people do share common interest and traditions. If they are allowed to have close interactions with each other and can do so at a common meeting ground, then good things start to happen. Their immediate circle of family and friends becomes larger. During bad economic times, this can be a life-saving event. It’s very difficult to reach out and help others when you feel desperate and downtrodden from economic woes. If you cannot provide for your family, or even yourself, then nothing else seems to matter.

Unfortunately, there are also individuals who create communities out of their own greed and need for control. This kind of community breeds social decay. It pulls down everyone in that community. Everyone, young and not-so young, needs to know that if a friend is pressuring you to do something that doesn’t feel right or that may cause you harm or emotional damage, then no matter how many times you’ve spoken with them, they are not a friend. There will always be people like this among us in society. Gravitate toward the ones that make you feel good. In return, good, caring people will gravitate toward you.

Community as People

By April Belanger
Creativity + Social Change, University of Connecticut
Waterbury, Connecticut

Community offers many different concepts to people’s eyes to what could be: community as a process, compost, place, creativity, people, individuals, performance, work of art, and a playground (Dahlberg). Most of all, I believe the most relevant concept to be ‘Community as people.’ According to Wikipedia, “Traditionally a 'community' has been defined as a group of interacting people living in a common location” (Wikipedia 1). Over the past few weeks' worth of readings, I have opened my eyes up to many new ideas about what a community means to me. I think now, what communities do I belong to? I’m still unsure of that answer but I know that I want to expand my learning of what kinds of communities are out there and how I can help make them better. The one thing that any community has in common is people. Without having individuals in it to make up groups, sociologically there wouldn’t be communities. Wikipedia states, “In human communities, intent, belief, resources, preferences, needs, risks, and a number of other conditions may be present and common, affecting the identity of the participants and their degree of cohesiveness” (Wikipedia 2). In theory, the perfect community would have all the best creations of a person, cohesion of a group, and creativity. Before this class, I never quite understood the importance that creativity can have on a community and society as a whole.

Presently, close-knit communities aren’t seen as often as they should be. A community to me is made up of people, concepts, dwellings, desires, creativity and cohesion. People within each community represent what it is they stand for and what they see happening for that community. In some of the readings, one person started a community where people were able to express their artistic abilities openly and freely, and for that reason that community lasted. It took one individual's desire to create an atmosphere, a community that people could be themselves in. The type of person you allow in your community can affect it altogether. Every individual in your community should represent what it is you stand for and why that community matters. Every person has a voice and each of those voices should be heard. Who knows ... down the line I could create a community that is invested in helping out animals without homes. To me every animal has the right to food, shelter and water. Hopefully, one day I have the resources to make that happen. The idea that community relies on people would be very important to my project. I would need the help of the city, volunteers and others to make it happen. In our present day society, we need to re-examine what a community is and how we can learn how to create more of them. If one person had an idea and developed it into a community, the changes are endless. We can learn how to be a better society, a safer one, a more-inspired one. In turn, we could become a better self. If you had the power and resources like the president, the possibilities for a strong community could be incredible.

Community as Salad

By Michael Sciarra
Creativity + Social Change, University of Connecticut
Waterbury, Connecticut

Characteristics of community can be illustrated with many different metaphors, but I have yet to find the metaphor that encompasses all the different characteristics of community that I can come up with. We've all heard of the United States as being a “melting pot,” a community where people of different backgrounds come together and create something new. Perhaps, but I see that all the elements have not combined to become a homogenous new creation. Instead, different people have different points of connection to others in their social group, and those others have still more connections to different others, in a sort of six degrees of separation that unites all of us, through the bridges of language, and traditions of culture, religion, food and so on. These bridges are like the dressing on a salad, bringing together the different elements to form a heterogeneous whole. The elements of a salad, like the people in a community, are different in limited ways, and are more alike than different: we may find vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains and a variety of other ingredients in a salad, but they are all foodstuffs (though I've seen the occasional gold leaf or flower petal in a salad, they were for decoration ...). With community as salad, the participants need to get in the mix ...

Whatever the cultural, religious, genetic, political, etc., background of the people in a society, all of these people are, well, people. I can recognize the differences, rather than denying or acknowledging these differences, while connecting through similarities. When I am making a salad, I don't ask the tomato to become like the cucumber. I check the freshness of the ingredients, and aim to create a balance among the different ingredients. As the available ingredients change, so does the type of salad that I can create. I use what I have available, and make the best salad I can given the available ingredients. As the members of a community change, the community can collectively redefine itself, rather than segregating and pining for what once was. If each community member is able to continuously respond to changes in the community, the community will remain fresh. Of course, the “community as salad” metaphor cannot convey all, or even most of the aspects of community. Unlike vegetables and other such foodstuff, people have the ability and desire to manifest their creative selves. We may submit to governance to avoid chaos, obtain the benefits of cooperative, lawful behavior, and find support through various social programs; however, the new governance is changing. No longer the chefs in the kitchen creating and serving up what they think is best (and not always what's best for the diners), the new governance is a responsive one, in which an unprecedented number of individuals are empowered with a means to influence the decisions of their government.

With access to the internet and other relatively inexpensive and pervasive tools for social communication, the model of social communication is no longer a hub-and-spokes model. I don't need to own a printing press, radio tower, etc. to broadcast my opinions. I can just log on at home or at the library, or pick up my cell phone, and start typing or speaking. It is because of these technological changes that society and government are able to become truly dynamic entities, not attempting to conform to some unchanging, unachievable ideal, but instead constantly changing in response to new input from constituents. Though I chose “community as salad” as my point of departure, I am thankful for all the metaphors for community, because no one metaphor is sufficient to convey all of what community is to each of us.

No one member or sub-group can contribute to a community as much as a group of members can contribute when the opportunity, ability and desire to contribute is present. Opportunity is systemic, and technology has changed the system. Ability is assumed (we each have something to contribute). Desire requires an object. The desire to live in the type of community in which I want to live motivates me to participate in it's creation, along with the supportive belief that I can participate. Thus, far from being an element in a salad, or the chef that creates the salad, I am becoming a member of a new community of thoughtful, vocal, responsive participants, empowered by technology to influence community leaders and connect with other community members to initiate changes to my community.

Community as Belonging

By Robert Sireno
Creativity + Social Change, University of Connecticut
Waterbury, Connecticut

Thinking About Community ... Community as Belonging
(ideas about the concepts of “Community”)

Looking back over my life, I have used the word community, or heard it used, many times, and seemed to recognize what was referred to each time. First, a community is usually made up of individuals with common interests and/or values -- the Italian community; the scientific community, the Christian community. A community can be made up of individuals of all possible descriptions, backgrounds, hopes, needs, potentials. Or in some cases a specific knowledge is needed.

The community can have a common location -- the East Side, the Senior Center, or in some instances, it can come together at various locations -- People for Change, interfaith organizations. The internet has created a virtual community with an electronic location. Whether this is true community is in question. A community usually occupies space.

A community usually has significant social interaction. Members of a community can relate to one another on certain levels, discussing things, deciding things, enjoying one another’s company, envisioning the future. Members usually follow agreed upon rules for their community.

Bringing all this together I see that community has a definite structure behind it. It is a group of individuals, occupying space in a specific location, and following agreed upon rules to continue their existence as a community.

These individuals have some sort of common interests or values that draws them to the community where they can take part in significant social interactions, possibly envisioning the future.

__________

Why community ? “Belonging” is a human need (see Maslow’s Hierarchy). Human beings are social creatures. We grow as humans through relationship with others and their acceptance of us, and caring for us. Without this relationship, we cannot realize our self-worth and become contributing members of society.

Through our interactions and sharing with others in community we are able to see meaning in our lives and arrive at an understanding of our overall purpose. Our individual lives take on worth as a part of the whole of human existence. We have reason for living. Without this feeling of worth by our citizens, our overall society would suffer from the lack. Future growth and progress would be limited to our governmental city planning and maintenance. There would be no citizen input or even interest. Social Change would be non-existent.

We as citizens must take the initiative to insist on the incorporation of spaces for meeting and community in present and future projects. Places where individuals could fulfill that need as human beings for belonging. Spaces where they could get to know one another and exchange ideas. Through community we would begin to be heard. To create a society in which we can belong. To sculpt society to our own vision and needs.

Community as ...

By Catherine Capuano
Creativity + Social Change, University of Connecticut
Waterbury, Connecticut

Community Metaphors:

• Community as quilt.
• Community as cornerstone.
• Community as embrace.
• Community as power plant.
• Community as symphony.
• Community as expedition.
• Community as vine.
• Community as language.