Neighbor Networking

We all have different challenges.  One of mine is learning not to overwhelm people.

I met today with a woman is volunteer coordinator for the (very!) local
tutoring program described in the last blog.  A fellow network weaver and I are working
with the Tutor/Mentor Connection to do network weaving around tutoring/mentoring.

She only had a limited time to meet, and I was sensitive to her time
constraints.  However, after the meeting, I was tempted to do a “mind
dump” of all the connections that I thought would be useful.

I realized that this could well be overwhelming, and that it would be best
to spread this information out over a period of a couple weeks.  Among
other things, this allows us to prioritize things — for example, there is
an event happening this weekend that she needed to know about.

There were a couple of other situations this past week that I didn’t handle so well, and where I was quite a bit more overwhelming.  I’m definitely learning!

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It is seldom that we get the chance to literally see a sign that we are on the right track.  However, I saw such a sign today, and the experience was kindof fun.  So, I thought I’d tell you about it.

A couple of my fellow Network Weavers are exploring a project to help make connections between volunteer tutors/mentors and organizations that can use their services to assist young people.  The project is being sponsored by the Tutor/Mentor Connection, out of Chicago.

Early this morning, I wrote a message suggesting that we focus our work on the cities we lived in (i.e. my own home of Seattle, my fellow network weaver David’s home of Denver etc.)  I pointed out a number of benefits of doing work in our own community, including the fact that we may already be familiar with local resources, that this would give us an opportunity to use real-world as well as Internet networks to generate volunteers, and that the work that we are doing can “plug in” to other organizing in the local communities as well.

I had no idea just how local this could be.

An hour after I had written the message, my wife and I were driving out of our neighborhood on the way to lunch.  4 blocks from our house, we passed a locally based organization called Catholic Community Services.

Catholic Community Services has a sign board outside that advertises current classes and opportunities.  The message on that sign today was quite clear and specific.

Volunteer Tutors Needed.

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A few posts ago, I wrote about finding a park I had been looking for “right across the street” from a place I had been at least a dozen times.  I had not been aware enough of my surroundings — or open to doing even a bit of exploration — to find it.

Well, yesterday, I had a similar experience.  There is a route that my wife and I often take to get to Lake Washington in Southeast Seattle.  At one point less than 1/2 mile from our house, the route goes down a hill through a pretty forested area.  The main road bends steeply left, and then winds alongside the lake.  But, there is another road — the one less travelled — that bends off to the right.

I had often wondered about that road, but it took over two years for me to decide to even drive down it.  I discovered that it led through a beautiful hidden gem of a park called Frink Park.  And, yesterday, one year later, I finally actually walked down that road and found out even more of what I had been missing.

Often, when we walk someplace, we can find and explore little side paths that we zoom in a car or even in a bicycle.  My guess is it’s the combination of just going slower and being in a mind set to notice these sorts of things.

Yesterday, when I turned to the right around that bend, I parked beside a small bridge.  I had half way noticed the bridge before.  But, when I got out of the car and looked over the edge of the bridge, I realized that there was a stream still running beneath the bridge — on September 2.  I found this a bit surprising, since we have had almost no rain for some time.  It was clear this would be a quite strong stream come spring.

I then drove a bit further, and walked back up the hill — ending at the same bridge.  And, not surprising, it was only then that I was able to actually explore that area.   I found out that there was a tiny little trail that went along the stream, and crossed the stream beside a little waterfall.  Absolutely magical little place.  Now that I know where it is, I might even walk there sometime to enjoy it.

One of the funny things about this experience is the specific reason I thought to write this post.  As I mentioned, I had parked beside the bridge.  However, I hadn’t noticed the trail until I walked through the same area.

The reason was simple.  In addition to not being very observant, my car was parked directly in front of — and blocking – the trailhead

Picture of me driving past the bridge at Frink Park
From the Friends of Frink website 

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A friend from my former neighborhood has started a wonderful yearly tradition — an eat local potluck.  The guideline is that everybody who comes needs to prepare a dish made from only ingredients that are grown (or foraged, hunted etc.) within 200 miles.

What will you bring?

A Farmers Market is a great place to find local produce.
This picture is from the Columbia City Farmers Market in Seattle

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Yesterday, I was having coffee with my friend Kimberley.

The expression “Think Globally, Act Locally” had always been one that I appreciated.  It seems to relate very naturally to doing work in neighborhoods.

But, Kimberley used it in a way that I had never thought of.  She used it in reference to her recent process of having a baby.

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is right across the street.

I’d like to introduce you to

Nora’s Woods

Nora’s Woods is a tiny bit of beautiful nature that has been preserved and turned into a park by members of the community. The name honors longtime community activist Nora Wood, who, with her husband Fran, originally bought the hillside lot and kept it natural.

I originally found out about Nora’s Woods in one of my favorite guides to similar “out of the way” places in Seattle — Nature in the City.

I had been wondering about the location of this park for about a year, and never made a serious effort to find it.  I knew that it was “somewhere” relatively close, but I assumed that it “must” be up a hill from me, and too far to walk.  I couldn’t imagine that someplace so natural and beautiful could be within easy walking distance.

A couple of days ago, I was driving through the area that I thought might be in the neighborhood of Nora’s Woods.  So, I asked a couple of joggers if they knew where it was.  The second woman gave me directions, and I had a nice visit to this special little park.

As I was driving away, I tried to carefully observe the streets to make sure I knew exactly where it was located.  I needn’t have bothered.

In one half block, on the right side of the street, I saw a very familiar sight — the former offices of the Community Coalition for Environmental Justice.  I had been there at least a dozen times.  It is a very short walk from my house, and I had been in the general area perhaps one hundred times.

But, what I had never done was look across the street to see what I was missing. 

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Over the past month, I have been thrilled to find out about and start collaborating with the Relationship Networking Industry Association (RNIA).  It is an emerging association for our industry.

You can find out more at http://www.rnia.org/ and http://community.rnia.org/

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From http://www.sparknw.com/:

Humanity 2.0

Where the tech are we going, and do we want to go there?

 

As technology permeates our daily lives, it helps, and it hurts.  How does our increasing use and dependence on tools such as email, cell phones, iPods, or social networking sites effect our desire for human fulfillment and spiritual transformation?  We don’t know…  Seriously, we don’t.  Do you? 

In an age of dizzying technological innovation, one rarely has the time to stop and reflect on these changes.  It’s clear that our technologies are getting faster, more powerful and more ubiquitous.   However, what’s not so clear is:  Does the added value outweigh the often unnoticed costs?  Isn’t that an important question?

Gathering Together
Take a day (or more) out of your busy lives, away from the technopoly, to join people like yourself for some deeper exploration into these crucial questions and issues.  Humanity 2.0 will take place on beautiful Orcas Island, and includes:

  

• Stimulating dialog about balancing technology and humanity
• Meeting and mixing with other thoughtful people
• Interactivities with practical life-enhancing outcomes
• A delicious and mind-enriching lunch in an idyllic island setting

 

Where is it happening?
This Humanity 2.0 workshop will take place on Orcas Island , just two hours north of Seattle, in the historic Oddfellows Hall , overlooking Eastsound bay.  In addition, we are able to offer a 30% discount at Orcas’ famous Outlook Inn to a limited number of guests wishing to extend their visit.   Call 1-877-I-AM-GAME for details.

When is it happening?
Humanity 2.0 takes place from 9:30a to 4:00p on Sunday, September 9th, 2007.  Feel free to come out a day early, or stay an extra day, enjoying the pleasures of island life, including kayaking , hiking, beach-combing and dining at great restaurants.  Click here for ferry information .  If you are planning on coming over the morning of the workshop, you’ll need to take the 7:45a ferry.  It’s a good idea to arrive 30-45 minutes early.

How do I register?
Registration is limited, so call soon.  The workshop costs $85 and includes a healthy organic lunch.  To register, or for more information, call 1-877-I-AM-GAME (426-4263) or 360-566-2278.  We look forward to meeting you and giving you one of the most memorable days of your year! 

Other Resources:

• Anacortes to Orcas Ferry Schedule and Info
• Orcas Island Outlook Inn (Lodging and great food)
• Availability of some other accomodations
• Some things to do on Orcas 
• Transhumanism : Optimistic Hard Core Pro-Tech
• NetFuture : A Nature Institute publication on the responsible use of technology 

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A connection of mine on the Linkedin social network asked a very good question.  I thought I’d share my answer with you.

Peace. Thanks for organizing the (Humanity 2.0) workshop, and for asking this question. I’ll be as honest in answering it as I can.

I appreciate your perspective, and certainly agree that the issue of “Humanity 2.0″ is an important one to discuss.

On the other hand, I am VERY comfortable with my own use of technology. I use it as part of my way of connecting with people, and do a whole lot to weave together “real world” and Internet based networks.

For example, about a month ago, I ran a search on Linkedin for contacts for the company that I was working for at that time. I have since quit that company, but maintained contact with some of the people that I met on Linkedin.

One of these people, named Kimberley, introduced me to an associate of hers named Harriet. Harriet and an associate of hers were about to go to Africa. A friend of mine named Sala from Southeast Seattle had been in the Peace Corps in Ghana. I was able to introduce them, and my friend brought was able to introduce them to a friend of hers who does work in Kenya and Ghana. We all had dinner at a an Ethiopian restaurant in the Central Area. I then made another introduction to a friend of Sala’s who I had met while on a visit to Ghana. Hopefully he will be able to meet with Harriet and her associate during their trip.

I just got through spending an hour and a half with Kimberley. We are starting to learn Social Network Analysis together, and networking for a job search. We met at a neighborhood coffee shop. It is a place I come fairly often. I often run into a neighbor named Derek. He works with a company named the Web Collective to create social networking and database applications.

The Web Collective got started partly via a project initiated as part of Coop Fremont’s attempt to map locally owned and sustainable businesses.

You get the picture, Leif? There is no separation.

You’re very welcome to visit my blog at http://www.neighbornetworking.com/ and share your thoughts. It would be great if you’d like to do a “guest column.”

I’d also be quite open to meeting with you in person sometime to chat.

But, the reality is that I am incredibly busy right now with some major network weaving projects, as well as a job search. I do not have the time or energy to attend a workshop that doesn’t directly meet my own needs. And, since I’ve already made peace with this issue, I need to focus on other things.

in community,
Habib

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I went and saw our old neighbor today.

Marie is 94 years old.  She had to move to an assisted living facility about 2 years ago.

In the year that we lived next door, we got pretty close.  Marie is an amazing woman.  She single-handedly established one of the major industries for African American Women in the Seattle area.  She directly impacted the lives of many hundreds of people, and indirectly impacted the lives of thousands.

Now she sits alone in her room, staring out the window.  Her wit is still sharp.  But, the rest of her mental faculties are fading.

Marie is incredibly lonely, yet she consistently makes the choice not to spend time with the people in her assisted living facility.  That would not be my choice, but it is hers to make.  Outside of that choice, Marie does’t have a whole lot of choices.  She didn’t choose to leave her beloved house, her friends in the neighborhood, her church.  She doesn’t have control over her physical health, or how fast her mind is slipping away.

My wife and I are the only ties she has to the neighborhood — and the house — that she loved.  None of the other neighbors either can or will drive to see her.  Her nephew is a gem, and does everything he can to take care of her.  But, the rest of her (quite large) family also never come to visit.

So, she sits.  And stares out the window.  And wonders why she is still alive.

I made a choice today.  I was driving by Marie’s assisted living facility and I choose to go visit her.

Making that choice took about 1 hour of my time.  It literally made Marie’s day.

We all have choices we can make.  Some of us have the privilege to have more choices than others.  God willing, we sometimes choose to use those choices in a compassionate way.

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