I have been reminded over and over these past three weeks that I need to step forward and do something. Our communities are not what I want them to be and I have a responsibility to try to change that reality. We have lost some of our bonded community that once existed. It was probably not perfect then and it will not be perfect in the future, but we need to get back to bonding as a communities. We need to find bridges across lines of age, race, social class, and political belief. Bridges that build social cohesion and shared purpose linking diverse individuals together for the common good.
In his book “Bowling alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community” Robert Putnam argues that the erosion of civic organization – from bowling leagues to PTAs to Rotary Clubs has severely depleted America’s supply of “bridges of social capital.” When these civic organizations thrived, active conveners provided neutral physical and social spaces that prevented retreat into like minded echo chambers. Conveners actively counter the decline of bonded communities by creating shared tables where diverse perspectives can be interacted with face-to-face. When this happens in a structured dialogue communities grow and prosper. Community members start acting in ways that help others without expecting something in return, just trusting that community will be there for them too if needed. This approach breaks down stereotypes transforming ideology about groups into neighbors with recognizable human concerns. Local challenges become community challenges where cross-sector conversations deliver buy-in for the greater good. Negotiations are built on relationships and trust instead of a win-lose scoreboard. Larger concerns in the community can be discussed before quick action is needed providing time to evaluation, research, and conversation.
Rotary is one place that I see this work happening weekly. I am 100% convinced that we need more voices at the table in Rotary, but those voices that are already at the table are building the community that I want to live, work, and play in. We just need to amplify and multiply those efforts across a larger area.
At our firm we are striving to build community through our work on community centers, accessible housing, childcare facilities, schools, offices, and even luxury homes. We look for ways to bring people together by adding front porches, finding spaces for gathering, and encouraging design for all. From aging in place to ADA to universal design to affordability to energy-efficiency to healthy strategies for buildings we are trying to find ways to bridge over divides and bring people together. We want to support conversation happening through sitting face-to-face and talking, to playing, to listening to music. So we also seek out pro-bono project with local non-profits that are doing this work. We volunteer, design, and donate money to organizations that are building community. We also do this work by showing up at events to network and have conversations, by mentoring students at all education levels, and by being supportive of each other within our firm.
There is more to do. I am feeling a call to work harder at brining conversation together across all boundaries. I am not sure yet what form that will take. I know it needs to happen for this community, our community, our commonwealth, our country, our world to be the place I want it to become for future generations.
If you want to have conversation and build bridges let me know. Perhaps a lunch is the next step. Let me come speak to your civic group. Invite me to talk to your students. Give me a chance to figure out the call I am hearing.
Lets build the bridges that bond our community together for the greater good.
