Paul's Learning Blog
What is community - toward a definition
I am at times surprised by the definitions people have of community. In the community development world people will often say, are you defining community as a place or by association such as the disability community or a learning community. Leading me to believe that there are only two kinds of community. At other times when visiting with people they will use the term, “ my community”, and I am equally as surprised because it leads me to believe that they only have one community.
I want to describe [...]Face book a community
Are you on facebook?
Tamarack now has a facebook page and there is a raging conversation about community and how it relates to facebook.
Here was a story that I added - it is a short take from the new book I am writing on community.
Are you on facebook? Join the Tamarack group
But community is taking on a different meaning for Alex. School friends are replacing family as the central influence in his life and going to parties and hanging out at friend’s homes take precedence to the neighborhood [...]Canadian Diabetes Association
Summary:When a group wants to make an even bigger difference they agree to moblize!
I spent the day yesterday with an amazing group of people. Talented, committed, connected, effective and full of hope.
The Canadian Diabetes Association CDA) is an extrordinary organization as they work to educate the country about diabetes, help people with the disease to live better lives and to raise funds for a cure.
Most often we think of this group as a national organization working on a cause that is waiting for cure.
This they are - but they are so much more. Dozens of chapters are spread [...]Paul Polak - Out of Poverty
Summary:In his hard-hitting new book called Out of Poverty, Paul Polak tells us why traditional poverty eradication programs have fallen so short and what he is doing that has already lifted 17 million people out of poverty.
In his hard-hitting new book Out of Poverty, Paul Polak tells why traditional poverty eradication programs have fallen so short, and how he and his organization, International Development Enterprises (IDE), have developed an alternative approach that has succeeded in lifting 17 million people out of poverty.
Before founding IDE, a Colorado-based non-profit, Paul practiced psychiatry for 23 years. To better [...]
My trip to the Yukon - Role of local government
The Yukon
When I first realized that I would be traveling 12 hours by plane and car to get to the Yukon I was filled with both the dread of traveling that long and with the excitement that I would actually be that far north.
The Yukon is a place of beauty - and if that is an over used portrayal there is simply no words to describe the richness of this land and the people. Flying over the mountains and water ways one is struck by the vastness of the place, the unspoiled wilderness and the rugged [...]