Comments for Community Toolbox - Bringing Solutions to Light - From the Field

Comment on Celebrating Women and Pushing for Progress by Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 22:39:35 +0000

International Women’s Day has made me reflect on how truly fortunate and blessed I am. I have had strong female role models in my life – beginning with my mother, who encouraged me to follow my dreams and believe that I could do whatever I set my mind to. It’s no surprise, then, that I followed in her footsteps in attending the University of Kansas, where I was introduced to many more brilliant, influential women. The University of Kansas is also where I encountered a woman who has had a profound impact on me even though I have never met her – Elizabeth Miller Watkins. In 1926, she began Watkins Scholarship Hall, a place to live for women who could not otherwise afford college. She now has an enduring legacy that has helped thousands of women attend college by offering affordable housing that also places an emphasis on community and friendship. I lived at Watkins when I attended KU, and the confidence that I gained there, surrounded by strong, smart women who believed in their abilities to change the world, has made me who I am today.

I wish that opportunity existed for all girls around the world. It’s heart-breaking to me that there are girls in the developing world who are not given access to education simply because they are female, girls that have to endure violence and sexual assault because they have no one to advocate for them, girls that are forced into marriages at 14 years old and die in childbirth. Too often, we are so wrapped up in our own experiences and our own worries that we lose sight of how others are struggling, and an occasion like International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to not only reflect on our own opportunities, but also on how we can use our success and our resources to make the world a better place.

Comment on This is Jana’s Story by Nancy

Nancy — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:39:22 +0000

This is such an outrage! I am a survivor of domestic violence. I see no change in domestic violence since then, and that was over 30 years ago. How sad and disappointing! Please keep up trying to end these untimely deaths of our loved ones! I endured 7 years of stalking afterwards-in those days that word (stalking) wasn’t even used. I am so sorry for your loss.

Comment on The Search for Happiness by Barbara Tabiner

Barbara Tabiner — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:05:06 +0000

I am so pleased I have found this website.
May I suggest listening to the talks of Prem Rawat?
These can be found on some TV channels and the web.
He has travelled the world for over 40 years talking at such venues as the United Nations,Italian and Australian parliaments and many universities,as well as tiny ‘backwater’communities, about peace and happiness.
”It is not the world that needs peace; it is people.When people in the world are at peace within,the world will be at peace.”
With very best wishes.

Comment on This is Jana’s Story by Christina

Christina — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:57:53 +0000

Curt and Christie Brungardt are such an inspiration. Their determinantion to use the death of their beloved daughter to start a movement, and their perseverence in opposition, are truly a call to action for us all.

Comment on Community Planning: Coming to a Web Site Near You by Gamer Carl

Gamer Carl — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:57:06 +0000

Nice article. I myself write for video games and find it very fulfilling. It’s also great to let go with a tank or tactical nuke once in a while.

Comment on Protester – Movement – Revolution? [Elements for successful advocacy.] by Truell

Truell — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 11:26:10 +0000

I like the fact that the people are speaking out about injustices. I applaud the fact that they have steadied the course so far…There is certainly a global move to stand up to the sytems and institutions that have destroyed our countries for so long with greed and selfish ambition. But I also agree that we must now look for solutions that have to be driven by a sound, proven practice with leadership and a structure for sustainability. The protesting is agreed the first stage of this structure. Maybe out of the protest comes the leader for stage 2 – a movement towards change and solution-based advocacy……WHO?

Comment on Igniting Change by Christina

Christina — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:08:11 +0000

Powerful, provocative message. Thanks for reminding us of the spark of the freedom riders of the 60′s, and reminding us that menaingful change today will still require, truth, love, and self-sufferining. Good food for thought.

Comment on Protester – Movement – Revolution? [Elements for successful advocacy.] by Charles Bennett

Charles Bennett — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 08:45:52 +0000

I have been reading many, many articles about this Occupy movement, and here is another example of the problem I keep running into… where’s the part about figuring out solutions to the problems? Every single one of these essays seems to scream: “What do we want?” “Economic Equality!” “When do we want it?” “Now!” “How do we get it?” “Uhhhh… I dunno.” “I dont’ know either.” “I thought you knew.” I must apologize. I know this isn’t the most articulate response, but I am so tired of saying the same thing over and over to deaf ears. I must say, however, it was very refreshing to find another person in the crowd who’s thinking along the same lines as me. Like Bill said, “The issues have to be framed; strategies need to be formed; decisions need to be made.” To which I say, “THANK YOU, BILL!” I’ve been saying the same thing, ad nauseum, but like I said, it doesn’t seem many people want to hear it. These protests are looking more like a Phish concert and less like a socio-political movement every passing day. As a wise man once said, “It’s time to nut up, or shut up.” Who’s ready to nut up and take the next step? If The Community Toolbox is really about solutions, then I think I may have finally found the people for whom I’ve been looking. Please, oh please, let it be so…

Comment on The 99%, the 1%, and the 100% by Chuck

Chuck — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 23:32:07 +0000

That’s all very well, but government needs to do more, not less. That’s why we pay taxes. And you know who should be paying more taxes, including probably us. Compare the U.S. in that regard to the Scandinavian countries, or even Canada.

Comment on Protester – Movement – Revolution? [Elements for successful advocacy.] by Bill

Bill — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:25:47 +0000

Thanks for the comment above. As the writer suggests, there are many models of community change; the question is what works best in the long run. At the Community Tool Box, we’re guided by the best factual evidence we can find; and my reading of that evidence is that the principles we articulated, in particular the need for structure and leadership, hold true.

It’s surely true that the Occupy Wall Street protests have made a mark to date, while being organic, emergent, and highly decentralized. Our point deals with effectiveness over the long haul. For large-scale protest movements, here I believe that some structure and leadership are necessary. The issues have to be framed; strategies need to be formed; decisions need to be made.

I’d emphasize that a certain amount of structure and leadership does not necessarily mean top-down leadership, democratic pretenses, or superficial goals, as the writer suggests. Nor need this reflect any lesser commitment to participation, equality, and freedom. Again, it’s a question of what works best in the long run, and protests like these call for a longer run. If there’s solid evidence to the contrary, we welcome learning about it.