Smart Communities

Happy New Year

Thank you for your loyal readership and your good wishes in 2008. Despite the negative news around, I have high hopes for the new year. I think we will see much needed changes all around and will begin to build a new kind of community and society at large. As one of the LeadershipPlenty participants said this year, "we're going somewhere." I agree.

Service Mattered

In one of the most hotly contested Congressional races in the country--5th district of Virginia--political novice Tom Perriello defeated multi-term congressman Virgil Goode by 727 votes. What is so remarkable about this win is that it wasn't supposed to happen first of all but second, Perriello devoted 10 percent of his time and his staff's time to service during the campaign. This caught people's attention. He campaigned on this service theme and people listened and watched. He set a very high bar for future candidates but also for us. I know we are wringing our hands about the stock market but now more than ever agencies need our help and expertise.  On first glance I would have told the Perriello campaign that he didn't have time for service during the campaign. On reflection, I know that politicians and people make time for the things they think are important. Perriello tithed his time. Maybe we should follow suit in the new year.

Happy Holidays to All. Thanks for your readership and friendship this year. Safe travels.

South Carolina Needs a Light

This article about Columbia, SC, caught my eye and I wanted to pass it along. At first, it appears all gloom and doom and there is plenty of that. But as you read further, you will see that the state is still pushing forward on research and development with a light to the future. I was reminded of a wonderful Hannah Arendt quote when I read this article. It goes something like this: Even in the darkest times, we have a right to expect illumination." I know it is easy to say--better times are coming--when we really don't know when and where but we have to do that. We still have to have plans in our communities to create jobs and a workforce locally to fill those jobs. With the massive cuts and layoffs, it hard to see any light at all but it is there. As organization heads, school board members, and governmental officials, we must create some light for our organizations. Most of the meetings I attend are about what groups can't do. Find something we can do. There are resources in our communities that can be put together in creative ways. Turn the light on.

Creating the Workforce We Need

Until a few months ago people talked about the jobs that go unfilled because of our unqualified workforce. They may still be talking about that but with unemployment numbers going up daily, there may some displaced workers with great qualifications to fill those spots. That being the case,  this still doesn't solve our long-term need to create a workforce with 21st century skills and knowledge. A report from the Council on Competitiveness, Thrive!, gives great insight into the challenges we face. Also a new tool that helps assess company's needed skills versus those currently available in the community has been created and tested. This tool can help communities, school systems, and companies themselves plan better and anticipate needs. Take a look. 

What is experience?

Today I read Cal Thomas' column on Caroline Kennedy and said to myself, "I agree with him." That has rarely happened. But his article on the the prospect of Caroline Kennedy to fill Senator Clinton's seat if and when she is confirmed as Secretary of State was right on. What was particularly interesting to me was his discussion of her experience. She has been criticized for her lack of experience but Thomas points to her volunteer service and fundraising experience on behalf on many causes not the least of which is the New York City Public Schools. She is also a lawyer, accomplished writer to name just a few other things. Thomas rightly points out that we don't want people in the Senate that have experience that works against the public's interests. We need people who have presence, who have ideas, who are not beholden to a multitude of special interests groups, and who have integrity. In the case of Caroline Kennedy, she also has a great song.

Design Marathon

A new friend tipped me off to a wonderful idea that originated in my hometown, Charlottesville, VA: the Design Marathon. Local designers donated their time to a group of nonprofit organizations (12 hours to each) to help with logos, taglines, community outreach campaigns, and a host of other projects. Organizations that wouldn't have the resources to expand their work and mission got the best in town to help--for free. The brainchild of a local designer, this is exactly the kind of "connecting the dots" effort needed to make our communities stronger and smarter. 

But it was much more than one day. Just for starters let me tell you why. On its face, it looks like a one-way street: organizational need meets free consultant. Digging deeper I see other things. I see an awareness of all involved to the nonprofit community and its challenges and work; I see a staff development opportunity as outside thinkers add new ideas and possibilities to the mix; and I see a new connection to the public for services and information. That is a lot more impact than 12 hours of design help. To read more about the set-up of the day and the organizations involved in the marathon. Add this idea to the race that communities should be running in 2009.

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

I have made more than one person mad and the holidays have not even begun. I sent a message to friends and family that I wanted to give and get fewer gifts this year. There are people in our communities who can't even afford a meal on Christmas and we are still giving gloves or lotion that people don't need or want? Give me a break. I am not saying don't remember your parents or your children or even your spouse because we need to support local businesses but let's be smart this year and buy a gift for someone who needs it. It is estimated that almost two-thirds of all Americans are directly affected by the economic downturn. We see that in calls for food from food banks, the angels still left on the Salvation Army trees, and the merchants that have fewer customers. Bundle up all that money that you would spend on gloves, lotion, earrings, scarves, and buy a coat for a child who needs one. 

The long-term costs of more children falling into poverty is chilling. A report from First Focus gives a glimpse of that impact in economic and human terms. Will a coat or a toy or a new bike lift a child out of poverty: no. But it is critical that we fill in as many gaps as possible as we weather this economic storm.

Grow Where You are Planted

Many years ago when I moved to Dayton, OH, I had an apartment with an enclosed patio. There were spaces to plant trees and shrubs but I didn't want to invest in a place that was temporary. My mother told me to always leave where you are a little better. I planted a small (then) spruce tree that I hope is still going strong. Last night I watched a C-Span special on the White House with a tour led by none other than Jackie Kennedy. In February of 1962 when it was first aired, three-fourths of all television viewers tuned in to watch. While seeing her was a fascination in itself, what really struck me is how much she did to restore the White House and many American treasures.  She was very hands on mentioning by name donors of pieces of furniture and showing us the room in the White House where the repair and upholstery was taking place. Every First Lady has made her mark but she was remarkable.

That brings me to us. It is time to do something tangible to make where we live better. I think contributions are great and much needed but I am not sure that gets to the heart and soul of things. What will really make your community a better place and how can you help? Yes this sounds like platitudes for the season but actually it is what makes the world work.

Community Retail Critical to the Long-Term

Stores everywhere--even online--are offering great deals. It is further indication that retail in America is hurting. Some of the big box stores have been able to do pretty well but for the most part community retail that is, locally owned and operated businesses are taking a hit. Hutchinson, MN's experience mirrors most communities in the country. I want to argue for supporting local businesses from a community development perspective versus an economic one. Sometimes it costs a little more to buy locally because small businesses do not get the benefit of quantity buying, but usually the service and the convenience make up for the price difference. For me the most compelling reason to buy locally is that communities need certain kinds of businesses to remain viable over the long-term. For example, I think a full-service jewelry store is important: a place to buy an engagement ring or get your watch fixed. Sure you could send it off or drive 30 miles but why would you want to do that? Communities need places to get their cameras fixed and their cars repaired. They need real toy stores that carry educational toys and books. They need local candle makers and crafts people who make unique housewares and gifts. Finally, they need grocery stores that carry local produce and know your name. Yes some of these places have to charge more to make ends meet but we certainly don't want to lose them in our communities. They support Little League and soccer; they post the announcements for the local festivals; and they have employees too. If you have any doubts about the effects of losing locally-owned business just stop and think what has happened to banking and our communities since many local banks got gobbled up in mergers. It just ain't the same!

Ethics is Not the New Math

I won't elaborate here the news out of Illinois that the Governor is accused of trying to sell President-elect Obama's Senate seat. You have probably heard more about that than you ever wished. The whole ugly affair raises a series of new questions about ethics for me. The was a "new low" as one of the prosecutors said. Bribery, fraud, and tax evasion are the usual suspects for dishonest politicians (and others) but this really takes us to rock bottom. There are a multitude of platitudes and Monday morning quarterbacking that we can do here. They go something like this: start in the home, have tighter rules for public officials, have more transparency in government, hold people accountable...you get the drift. These are all true and defendable but they are not likely to make much difference except maybe the home part. We have countless rules and regulations for government employees--some border on ridiculous. These rules couldn't have stopped this situation. Neither could transparency or accountability. What children and their parents need to see and hear at home, at their places of worship, and at their jobs are people who make ethical decisions everyday no matter the personal consequences. 

Ethics is exhibited when companies who pay their employees a living wage; companies who offer proper severance packages even though they don't have to; politicians who do what is right even though it will cost them votes; parents who have honored traditions about right and wrong. I remember a Dear Abby column years ago where a mother and her child were in a grocery line. The child dropped the cookie package he was holding and broke most of the cookies inside. Instead of sending him back for a new package or scolding him, the mother simply said something like "looks like we will be eating smaller bites of cookies." The writer of the letter said that it was a lesson in ethics that has stayed with her. Well broken cookies are not equivalent to trying to sell an election but seeing parents do the right thing sends a clear message about what is right. Here are a few free tips from the Josephson Institute on how to teach ethics but the real teacher is example. I am not sure that you can learn ethics from a book, from a lecture, or from doing word problems exclusively. It is not the new math but it is the one thing that we should be sure that every child gets a chance to learn and practice.