City Of Neighborhoods

City of Neighborhoods.

Sadly, for this event I was unable to stay for the workshops which were, undoubtedly, inspiring. BUT what I can say is the morning was full of amazing speakers with grand ideas and even grander intentions to make those ideas a reality.

Each and every neighborhood is composed of retail spots, restaurants, neighbors, clinics, entertainment hubs, parks, markets. Or at least they should be. Why is it necessary to drive 10-20-40 minutes to spend your money and find what you need?

The day began with speaker Jim Diers (author of "Neighborhood Power". He was a ball of energy. Enthusiastic. Hopeful. And why shouldn't he be?

He talked of "bumping places". (Frost Park and the weekly Frost Park Chalk Off is a GREAT example)

Central locations in a community where members can meet up, grow relationships, find common ground and build a sense of community identity.

Think about it.

How often do we not even know the people living in the house directly next door, let alone down the block?

People used to live in a time where they didn't lock their doors, saw each other at church each week, city hall meetings and PTA groups were common practice.

Now we all work too much, it's a go go go mentality that leaves no room for building a relationship with others in our community.

This leaves us suspicious and weary of others. Judgmental. Closed off.

Right?

The rest of the speakers included:

Paul Sparks, who spoke of community collaboration and big changes made by people who do.

Eric Jacobsen Author of "The Space Between: A Christian Engagement with the Built Environment" and "Sidewalks in the Kingdom: New Urbanism and the Christian Faith", inspiring us to extend the threshold.

Grace Kim, talked about cohousing and its ability to build community unity and strengthen local economy.

Derrick Rhayn, motivates with ideas on green building, renewable energy and support local businesses and the arts.

An intriguing idea to me is Kevin Freitas' new local site that encourages trade, barter and purchase of local produce between our green thumbs.

The phrase used through-out the peaked my interest was "collective intention".

Here we were, a group of individuals from different neighborhoods here to discuss ideas as a whole. Build a network. Inspire each other. Bottom Up action.

COLLECTIVE INTENTION.

We are in this together.

Thank you to Patricia Lecy Davis, Justin Mayfield

and everyone involved.

I'm looking forward to more of this~