In my societal commentary,”Orion … A Feline Metaphor for Hybrid Governance,” I proposed a hybrid type of governance as alternative to our current political malaise and civic ineptitude. At the center of this hybrid is the Community 3.0 Front Porch civic network. A Front Porch can be the local pub down the street or the coffee-house you get your morning the espresso from. It can be Bill’s garage where everyone hangs out to watch Sunday football games. It can even be your kitchen table. What happens on the Front Porch is what matters … not what it looks like or where it is.
The Front Porch’s purpose is to identify Solutions, whether they be in response of needs or opportunities. These Solutions are designed to help your community pick up the slack and mend its societal safety net. They can range from organizing a cleanup effort, to fixing a playground, to even spearheading a high school mentoring or apprentice program.
To get a more full understanding of the Community 3.0 Front Porch concept, please read the post, “Front Porches.“
As a part of the Community 3.0 platform we’ve put together a roster of several examples of what can come of collaborations in your community’s Front Porches. Imagine, take direct action … and this could be your community.
One of these examples is “Fixing the Neighborhood.”
Neighborhood Renewal and Repair
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You ever wonder about that house on the corner, that house that every year seems to become more rundown. And what about the elderly woman who lives in that house. You wonder if she has any family, anyone that can help her … that can fix those gutters, or paint it. Maybe if she did she would feel good about going outside again. Maybe even to prune those rose bushes that were the pride of her block.
All too often it starts small, maybe just a fence gait that’s come loose, or the pile of “stuff” next to the garage that the garbage man won’t pick up. And with no truck at their disposal … the pile just keeps getting bigger. All those small things soon become overwhelming – tasks well beyond the capabilities of the homes’ residents. And in many cases, there are no family members nearby to help.
With “Fixing the Neighborhood,” these people can think of Community 3.0 as their extended family. With the help of the Merchants in the Community 3.0 network, a community’s elderly and disabled will have access to “fix it up crews” free of charge. A neighborhood is only as strong as the most unfortunate of its residents. With “Fixing the Neighborhood,” those at the bottom will be given that hand up … raising up the entire community.
“Fixing the Neighborhood” via its member Merchants will incorporate licensed contractors to oversee the “fix it” projects. Under their supervision, Members will be dispatched to help “fix up” the community. Your community will be divided into postal zone codes to be sponsor by participating Merchants. From there, it will up to the Merchants and their Members to identity worthy candidates (Clients), those people who are either physically or financially unable to get the repairs done for themselves. It will also be up to the sponsoring Merchant procure the needed resources; materials, supplies, tools and labor.
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We invite you to be part of “Fixing the Neighborhood.” These are the people who often are the ones that built the community you’re living in. We cannot let the homes they’ve often lived in for decades fall into irreparable disrepair. Help us create a foundation for which our communities can build on in their quest for self-sustainability and well-being. No matter what role you wish to play; whether it’s directly in your community or you’re someone who wants to lend your experience and expertise to us in devising network-wide programs … we welcome you.
To get a more full understanding of the Community 3.0 Front Porch concept, please read the post, “Front Porches.” Also please follow us on Twitter at @Community3_0, and check out the main 3.0 web site.
And when you’re ready – please comment below, tell us who you are and how you think you can better the 3.0 community.
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Community 3.0 Solutions:
- “Label the Town” ~ Community “places of interest” labeling
- “Pretty Pictures on the Wall” ~ Amateur art showings
- “Is it Art” ~ Vacant area art projects: art, music, theatrical
- “Showing our Stuff” ~ Street fairs
- “Recess Time” ~ Playground restoration
- “Help Me … I’m Dirty” ~ Public and private space clean-up
- “Stop and Smell the Roses” ~ Public and private space beautification
- “Fixing the Neighborhood” ~ Neighborhood renewal and repair
- “Hey … We Need Some Help Over Here” ~ “On-demand” help services
- “Apollo 13 … Please Come Home” ~ “Resource Maximization”
- “Pop-up Community” ~ Vacant building resource maximization
- “I’m Not Alone Anymore” ~ Elderly / shut-in well-being assistance
- “Get Out of the House” ~ Adult athletic and intelligence leagues
- “Love Comes From the Ground” ~ Gardens and farmers markets
- “Play Ball” ~ Youth sports and intelligence leagues
- “Getting Up to Speed” ~ Student tutoring
- “This is What I Think … ” ~ Youth writing project
- “Making the Transition” ~ Apprenticeships and post school transition
- “Leadership 2020 Anti-Congress” ~ Student assembly
