Civic Engagement and the Restoration of Community from a voter activist’s

[tommcintyre]

http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/19/2005/1378
Civic Engagement and the Restoration of Community from a voter activist’s view
by Terri Zins
July 19, 2005

Cincinnati, OH. Close to fifty grassroots leaders from around Ohio showed up for a three-hour interactive seminar presented by author, Peter Block, from his Civic Engagement Series. Block is an engaging public speaker who has published six books. The free event was sponsored by independent candidate John Eastman for Secretary of State, the only candidate in any Ohio race with a strong and well-articulated election reform platform.

The day-long seminar broke for about 75 minutes for a varied and well-prepared buffet, assisted by four hard-working teenagers. The afternoon session provided attendees with practical application of the principles raised in “Changing the Nature of the Conversation.” Note-taking was replaced with a 32-page booklet, the cover of which captures an older African American woman indicating her unity and demanding her voice be heard. Block reframes George Lakoff’s “debate” to a conversation, with questions.

Block breaks down civic conversations into six areas, which adequately represent the stages of activism, but in a uniquely personal and interactive way. Six to seven people occupied each of seven tables in a long and air-conditioned hall. Local residents probably had a harder time than the out-of-towners because some of the questions evoked intimate answers.

Block labels his “conversations” as, The Invitation, Possibility, Ownership, Dissent, Commitment, and Gifts. Further information can be found at www.asmallgroup.net.

George Lakey, another national strategist, sees five stages in social movements, and writes an eloquent piece at his website: http://trainingforchange.org/content/208/53/. His five divisions involve cultural preparation, organization-building, confrontation, mass non-cooperation, and the development of parallel institutions. By Lakey’s reckoning, Block’s Civic Engagement Series represents the first stage, that of cultural preparation. Merely by attending the event, everyone received an invitation to be civically accountable. We held conversations within our groups and with the entire room. Several engaging statements were made:

“Most citizens are attracted to the security illusion that patriarchy offers.”

“I’ve lost faith in the power of leadership.”

“I’m not going to judge myself based on pace or scale.”

“Free will trumps genetics, culture, and parental upbringing.”

“We are the creator of our world as well as the product of it.”
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