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 “This is what I think …”
Collective Student Writing Project
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There’s very little that can stimulate and develop the mind more than writing. Reading is great, but writing is about creativity and expression. However in the pursuit of more and more standardized testing, not being able to be assessed by an oval and a #2 pencil, writing has been rendered irrelevant in many today’s schools. Writing not only develops the mind, it provides that outlet, the outlet that is needed as our children make that transition into adulthood. It’s a skill that will stay with them for life, giving them the personal gift of self-expression that will undoubtedly serve them well.
One of the most important things for a young person is to find their place in society, to find their identity. This is not easy, especially for those that come from sociologically challenged upbringings. Often to find “their place,” they fall under the spell of gangs or others of the wrong element. For those that are not athletically inclined, the written word can be this outlet.
“This is what I think … “ is a Community 3.0 initiative that steps in where the schools leave off by creating a creative writing program assisted by Community 3.0 Merchants, that will help these future authors, bloggers and influencers hone these skills. And as a culmination to this effort, a publication of the same name, “This is what I think …” will be produced for all the community to see and be proud of. Versions of “This is what I think …“ be available both physically in printed book form and online.
If you wish to join us at Community 3.0 making “This is what I think …” a success and impactful on numerous young students lives, then please contact us and tell us what role you’d like to play. We are looking for mentors, editors or just about anyone who thinks they have something to offer. But most of all, we need young writers … or those just waiting to write.
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We ask you to help us create a foundation for which our communities can build on in their quest for self-sustainability and well-being. We ask that you, part of our Community 3.0 family, band together with us to provide the assistance that these up and coming generations need to flourish in the future. 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
