LIBRARY RESOURCES & BLOG
This area is filled with how-to articles, engaging conversations, and tons of examples of Catalytic Thinking in Action including actual planning sessions. Much to explore and learn from!
Yesterday’s post originally ran 2 years ago. The comments following both the original post and its re-run yesterday talked about a hesitancy to be transparent, the desire to keep organizational issues in the “back yard” where no one would see them. I can understand that. Building the Community-Driven Institute, Dimitri and I often wonder how … Read more
The post that follows isn’t new. But because I will be writing about the concepts in this post this week, I thought I’d start by posting it again, as a sort of “refresher course.” Tomorrow, I’ll post about why I am thinking so much about the concept of Community Engagement. (Hint – it has to … Read more
(This is the final installment in a 4-part article. Head here to start with Part 1.) Management Support Organizations have immense potential. Looking beyond just helping the individual organizations they serve, their highest potential is the highest potential of our communities themselves. No one could be more interested in that potential than Gayle Valeriote and … Read more
(This is Part 3 of a 4-part article. Head here to start with Part 1.) What would it look like in practice if Management Support Organizations were catalysts for Community Potential? Here is just some of what that might be: • The board and leadership of Management Support Organizations would see the organization’s purpose as … Read more
(This is Part 2 of a 4-part article. Head here to start with Part 1.) One thing is clear in speaking with leaders of Management Support Organizations of all kinds; they may have the potential to be catalysts for building extraordinary communities, but that is not how they are currently operating. As we consider the … Read more
Management Support Organizations come in all shapes and sizes. Depending on the community, the list might include these and others who provide some form of management support for Community Benefit Organizations: • Nonprofit Resource Center • Volunteer Center • Leadership Organization • Coalitions, Federations, Associations • Neighborhood Empowerment / Community Organizing Organization • Community Convening … Read more
Five consultants from across the US walked into our class last Monday as “consultants to community benefit organizations.” They left on Friday as facilitators of their communities’ highest potential for being amazing places to live. As it is with each of our Consultant Immersion Courses, the focus began far beyond the question “What do I … Read more
In Part 1 of this post, we talked about using The Pollyanna Principles as a guide to creating visionary end results for your consulting practice. (If you missed it, that post is here.) The remaining four Pollyanna Principles focus on the means we use to attain those results. If we are to reach for our … Read more
Lately we hear a louder and louder drumbeat to stop using the term Nonprofit. This post will not be about that. After all, if we’re mounting a campaign to move to more positive language, it’s pretty self-defeating to have that campaign itself be negative! The command to “STOP using negative language” is about as self-contradictory … Read more
Hey you – yes you. You are an amazing gift to your community! You have chosen to dedicate a big chunk of every single day to making our world a better place. You don’t just want to make a difference – you are putting your hands and your heart and your soul where your mouth … Read more