Creating Healthy Community Collaboration

“Either we all hang together or we’ll hang separately.” Benjamin Franklin’s phrase used to unify complaining American colonist to join in fighting for independence.  July 4 is quickly approaching and I agree with Peter Senge, “No one entity alone-no individual government (local, state, regional, or national), corporation, or NGO –can address the sustainability issues we face.  No one has sufficient resources. No one has sufficient understanding.  And no one has sufficient credibility and authority to connect the larger networks of people and organizations that real change must engage.”

In their book The Power of Unreasonable People: How Social Entrepreneurs Create Markets that Change the World, John Elkington and Pamela Hartigan show how capitalism is being successfully applied to Third World problems. Their book is filled with stories of ‘unreasonable people’ who have applied Imagineering practices (Disney concept) to these nontraditional markets.  This has created a current   ‘new phase’ of evolution within  business, markets, and capitalism itself. The success entrepreneurs contribute their accomplishments to their uncanny ability to (spot dysfunction in the current system) and feel called to transition the systems equilibrium to a more functional state.  In this process new organizations form from an unquestionable passion for co-creating greater wholistic practices in the world.

We tend to have a myopic worldview in America.  Believe it or not, President Theodore Roosevelt, used to take his guests outside following their meetings, and have them stare at the stars, the moon and take in the brilliance of the universe as a subtle gesture of empowering people with a sense of the bigger picture. “The average American is less well-read and informed about world events and situations than are our European counterparts, our children are less well educated, and we are the only industrialized nation that does not have universal health care.” –Marianne Williamson, The Healing of America.

In accepting the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, Mohammad Yunus said this, “Poverty is created because we built our theoretical framework on assumptions which underestimates human capacity, by designing concepts which are too narrow (such as prevailing views of business, creditworthiness, entrepreneurship, employment) or developing institutions which remain half-done (such as financial institutions, where the poor are left out).” Yunus has demonstrated that innovative entrepreneurship is a universal human capacity when properly financed and nurtured, will transform lives.

Closing with this writing to My Fellow Swimmers, from the Elders of the Hopi Nation, Orabi Arizona, June 8, 2000:

“Here is a River flowing now very fast.  It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.  Who will try to hold onto the shore.  They are being torn apart and suffer greatly.  Know that the river has a destination.  The elders say we must let go of the shore.  Push off to the middle of the river and keep our heads above water.  And I say, see who is there with you and celebrate.  At this time in history we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves for the moment we do our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.  The time of the lone world is over.  Gather yourselves.  Banish the word struggle from your attitude and vocabulary.  All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.  For we are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”

Celebrating Health

In my meager beginnings with parish work in the United Methodist Missouri East Conference, I recall my then, District Supervisor, Dr. John Doggett pulling me aside and saying, “I want you to understand the value of community.  It is not so important where you connect, sign up and commit, as long as it is a serious spiritual path with a sense of community (belonging and giving back) .”  Then, this year another person, whose teaching I have followed for years, Meg Wheatley, stated boldly in her writing. “No matter what the problem, community is the solution.” 

People who know me are clear I watch for signs, patterns in decision making.  My choices to follow my calling of co-creating healthy communities has been my focus from my days in ministry, mental health and now medicine.  However, today, I’m taking a bit different slant starting with LifeLong Learning as the first step in making a difference globally, by working locally.  Why?  Because in the last two years, I see the potential for it to dramatically recover if not offer permanently resolve our Economic state (to include keeping and increasing jobs), Healthcare dilemma, Education concerns, Social ills reducing (family fragmentation, political greed, corruption, adolescent and addictive acting out of adults, in general), Ecological plight, etc.  How? By putting  the people first!  Now tell me, what else do you know that could possibly do this more effectively, efficiently, economically than to help with the transformation of the information age to a more mature wisdom society where people learn more effectively, and do what they know from both their person/professional education, experience, and current calling to life through community? 

I draw from my life experiences on this from my ‘precious childhood nature village’ of Ole Alexandria, priceless adult community experience at St. Paul School of Theology in the 70's & 80's,  my professional administrative path in parish ministry, executive public health directing & building days, corporate healthcare roles in the 90's. to 21st century ‘hosting’ healthy community organizing and restructuring for greater well being in the world. This blog's soul purpose is to share the stories, studies in evidence based research, programs and events, tracking much of this contemplation through action.

In a recent spiritual retreat I was asked how I saw myself today.  My response surprised the group, and me quite honestly.  What came out of my mouth feeling more 'spiritually' grounded than usual was "I'm a Master Builder"!  Then what I offered in further explanation sounded something like this, “I've been fortunate to hang out with The Masters (many of them Masons) in my life, and they are builders.”  From my Mother, to my Father, to my Step-Father, their friends & families, integrating much  of the Masonic work in our family business, and community organizing of my younger days to the spiritual community experiences I’ve cherished as an adult and now elder in community myself.  All powerful lessons. Then,, just this week,  I see Oprah’s Master Classes to launch her new venture OWN, and I simply recognize yet,  another ‘sign’, piece of the pattern in place now!

Surrounded by unbounded potential in my WingHaven demographics today, my work is securing the foundation under this life long passion starting right here.  Our LifeLong Learning Summer Special Series starts mid July through August at Webster Univ. for both youth and adults.  We will be offering a complimentary monthly book club  recognizing the leaders in every chair there, at WingHaven Express Library.  Monthly Women’s Circles will be forming at Bristol’s  meeting room (WingHaven) integrating our personal and professional lives for greater authority in authentic leadership and economic experience.  We are looking for a corporations in WingHaven to begin core wellness models and, this is just the beginning of engaging community in St. Charles County.   

The synergistic relationship building I'm looking for is with individuals, institutions and community synthesis, already materialized in substantial places such as: Berkana Institute, Noetic Science, Bravewell Collaborative, HeartMath, Fetzer, SOL, Omega and so many of the top ten teaching medical centers: John’s Hopkins, Harvard, Duke, Stanford, and more.   We’re not reinventing the wheel, rather bringing the BEST of all worlds right here to the heart of yours!  I believe we are ready for it.  Having done a 200 plus page 'feasibility study' for creating healthy communities this time last year ( with more evidence based research than required by the CIA or FBI). Seriously, I’m ready for it!  I know our country is ready for it, by the ‘Prevention Promotion  commissioned by the Senate Summit Conference in 2009.  Today is the Summer Solstice, traditionally a sign of all kinds of positive things, so. . . I’m honoring the dawning of this day to let the magic and miracles roll out in 2011!  I invite you to join in the blessings and benefits created with us, right here in our WingHaven Community Celebrating Health.