Network-Centric Organizing Building Place-Based “Connected Environments”

1. Network-Centric Organizing Building Place-Based “Connected Environments”

2. The Lawrence CommunityWorks Network: • Over 5,000 members • Over $50Million in new investments in Lawrence Assets: Housing, Open Space, Community Space - $90Million by 2011 • New “family asset building” environment • Movement City Youth Network • NeighborCircles Tradition: Alternative to block clubs et al • Poder leadership Institute • MemberLink Stipended Volunteer Environment • New Homeowners Support Center • Budget Reform, Zoning, Parking Ordinance, Yes We Will, and host of local action campaigns • Cultivation of new private sector partners in RE/Education/Asset Building

3. Community is Value and Functionality Which is Derived from “Connectivity” Our Lesson: Community is not the network of relationships (connectivity) but the value and functionality that comes from that connectivity. • At the cellular level - ‘The exchange of value that comes from a single relationship of trust and mutual support’ • In Place - The aggregate of these relationships form a connected environment which is not ‘community’ but the infrastructure for community • “Community” is the functionality that emerges from this infrastrucuture – collectively: to act in concert, plan, solve problems, adapt well to change, embrace newcomers, collectively comfort - individually to be known, cared for, be connected to opportunity/information/networks of value. Our Guiding Thought: Community Building/Place-Based Organizing is about “optimizing the value of Place.” Do the attributes of the place (systems, infrastructure, habits, functionality) help you or hinder you? Is this a good Human Environment?”

4. Place is a Human Environment Changing Place is about Changing an Environment Our Lesson: People exist in environments, not organizations or groups of organizations or programs.

5. The Nature of “Place” as a “value” has Changed 21st Century Environmental Factors That influence the ‘Value of Place’ Our Lesson: Place Matters – But Differently – Due to Changes in the World Our Guiding Thought: “To be organic, our Community Organizing practice needs to embrace – Not Fight – these forces which impact the “value of place.” Our Action: Focus on “Connectivity” as the Foundation for Community Organizing: Create a NETWORK ENVIRONMENT rather than an INSTITUTIONAL FORM

6. The Forms of Engagement are Shifting Our Lesson: These Environmental factors are shifting the nature of ‘belonging’ and the preferred forms of affiliation and membership Our Guiding Thought: Try to find the most organic interface and form of engagement, featuring flexibility, choice, value, connectivity and influence - A ‘Low-level Affiliation’ form is the optimal membership environment for most people.

7. Our Traditional Forms of Engagement are Failing Our Lesson: The habits and traditions of Community Organizing tend to fetishize structure and form – and emphasize “institution building” to the detriment building a “connected environment”. • Structural forms of human engagement are invented to compensate for: • In the community setting, entrenched habits of organization/Institution Building assume structural solutions. But the forms are over engineered and • inhibit the development of relationships of trust and value • reinforce real and perceived imbalances of power, and • favor process over action (the ‘who are we’ over the ‘what should we do together’) Our Guiding Thought: “FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION and in community Open Architecture Forms that are provisional, informal, action oriented and seek perpetual access are best.”

8. Building “A Connected Environment” requires new tools and language Our Lesson: As old thinking fell away and new thinking ascended..we began to borrow ideas/concepts/language from network thinking, science and design. Form Follows Function Open Architecture Resonance Demand Environment Choice and Value Weaving Big Room With Doors to the Network Value Propositions vs Programs Habits of detachment vs engagement Low=Level Affiliation Our Guiding Thought: we need to challenge ourselves to find resonant language and concepts that are descriptive of this style of work.

9. Our Objective: Get Thousands in the Game - Build A Network- Centric Environment filled with Lawrence Families and Providers Who are: Membership In the Network: NOT a club for NEEDY PEOPLE, but an environment filled with ambitious, creative people who are “working on their stuff” and Engaged in Public Life

10. Network-centric Form – A Value & Demand Driven Environment Information-Rich Interactive Spaces The Give/Get Compact Leader as “Weaver”

11. Our Form: A Big Room With Many (Different) Doors Reviviendo Fellows Program • Member+Link • Guides • Scribes • Connectors Membership Team FAB Team Campus Residency Program PODER Leadership Institute • Accessible Membership • Threshold Benefits • Programs/Projects Function as “Doors” • Earned Benefits for Experienced Members • Staff and Members as Weavers

12. LCW Network: Typology of Network Member Engagement Enrolled Members Member Engagement Key Enrolled Members: Self identified with Current Info in Active Member Data Base Base-Line Level: Have participated in at least one network Activity during the year Program Level: Active participant in one Network Value Proposition Network-Level: Active participant in more than one Network Value Proposition Stewardship Level: More than 8 hours participation as committee/team member or volunteer Ownership Level: More than 24 hours as enrolled volunteer or board or committee member.