Lessons in Community Change
Howard Mason, Metro United Way, Louisville, USA
l Change always starts within us—in our hearts—then in our organizations and communities.
l Vision powers and unites everything. We must be able to vision from a quiet place.
l It takes people with a passionate commitment to a vision to ignite progress. But it does not take a lot of them in the beginning.
l If we want new results, we have to do new things.
l Acting on the vision begins with a “What if we…?” question. Discovering one’s personal role in the vision begins with a “What if I…?” question.
l People support what they create. Local ownership and a meaningful role in decision making are necessary for energy, creativity and commitment.
l When partnerships are united by common vision and values, the whole becomes greater than the sum of the parts. The effort will look and act more like a social movement than a chain of command.
l When committed people self-organize to solve common problems, new solutions emerge. But we cannot control or predict what those solutions will be or when they will happen. Prepare to be surprised.
l Small actions produce enormous results. The most important, global, systematic actions and changes are also the most personal, local and human in scale.
l Results can come surprisingly quickly once a tipping point is reached.
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Lessons in Community Change
Howard Mason, Metro United Way, Louisville, USA
l Change always starts within us—in our hearts—then in our organizations and communities.
l Vision powers and unites everything. We must be able to vision from a quiet place.
l It takes people with a passionate commitment to a vision to ignite progress. But it does not take a lot of them in the beginning.
l If we want new results, we have to do new things.
l Acting on the vision begins with a “What if we…?” question. Discovering one’s personal role in the vision begins with a “What if I…?” question.
l People support what they create. Local ownership and a meaningful role in decision making are necessary for energy, creativity and commitment.
l When partnerships are united by common vision and values, the whole becomes greater than the sum of the parts. The effort will look and act more like a social movement than a chain of command.
l When committed people self-organize to solve common problems, new solutions emerge. But we cannot control or predict what those solutions will be or when they will happen. Prepare to be surprised.
l Small actions produce enormous results. The most important, global, systematic actions and changes are also the most personal, local and human in scale.
l Results can come surprisingly quickly once a tipping point is reached.
Are you absolutely sure you want to delete this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
Yes, Delete This Article
Are you absolutely sure you want to remove this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
Yes, Remove This Article
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