If it takes a village to raise a child. What does it take to raise a village?
A village, pseudonym for community, is a key driver for success. How we define village, or community, is very important. The definition of community has evolved to reflect any group of individuals. A religious-based congregation is now a community; a specific workforce has been termed a community of workers. Social networks are said to create a sense of community, albeit a virtual community. Not for profits regularly attempt to build a community of givers.
The inclusiveness of community creates an inherent problem. Can anyone be part of a community? Without requirements, is the effectiveness of a community as great? To be considered part of a religious congregation, you had to adhere and support its beliefs. A student is enrolled and committed to a course of study; a community of learners has no requirement. Bereft of requirements or shared purposefulness, the power and effectiveness of a community is questionable.
Investment in community demands energy devoted to maximizing that investment. Engagement requirements should be established. There was an advertising tagline for an American Express several years ago, Membership has its Privileges. A corollary is that it’s a privilege to be a member of a community. This privilege carries with it certain requirements.
A certification course in community is the answer. The inclusiveness of community denotes anyone can be a part. In order to achieve success — achieving a higher level of distinction, certified communities is the solution.
Certification Courses in Community
Community Agenda 101. The pre-requisite for this course is Eradication Personal Agenda 201. A community agenda supports collaboration and collegiality. There is an underlying acceptance that reaching consensus supports the greater good. You have been engaged in meetings in which one or more individuals are so focused on their needs, agenda, and desires that they quickly become a bully; forcing capitulation or stalemate. In place of the leader requiring all communication to be cleared through him or her, the leader offers trust and support – encouraging others to work to their fullest. The energy that the bully exerts, once redirected, can help surpass goals versus achieving minimum standards.
Meetings 203. Community Agenda 101 is a requirement prior to this course. In Meetings 203, the learner understands criticism can be constructive; disagreement can be the start of coming to agreement; and, focus on task (rather than personal agenda) is empowering.
Vision 103. A community that shares a vision and then works toward that vision quickly finds renewed energy, attention to the end game, and decisions predicated on the ability/lack thereof of an action to get you closer to the vision.
Politically Incorrect 205. Note – This course previously titled “Political Correctiveness. It has been replaced because of stumbling. Diversity in community is respected, honored, and desired. Diversity in experiences, background, education, perspective coupled with diversity in sex, age, gender is the core of this course. True diversity requires recognition and identification of difference, the celebration if those differences, and the acceptance of difficulty in achieving diversity.
Architecture 300. The advanced architecture course supports building bridges between individuals and groups, road construction for easy journey’s, and markers for identified shortcuts in project management.
This suggested curriculum provides a framework for community engagement. Successful completion of the coursework combined with a practicum of fieldwork appropriately prepares individuals to identify needs beyond their own, successfully navigate human behavior when working with others, and provides the tools demanded to work well with others. Graduates of this curriculum poses the skills and tools required to raise a child or complete any task assigned a community. Our metric for all courses is simple: Play well with others.
Our original statement may need revision — It takes a child to raise a community.
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