1. Embracing Diversity
   1. ‘group mind’ that is far wiser than any individual; there is a group potential far vaster than any solo effort.
   2. respecting life means consciously caring for community on all levels
   3. Building a new global culture is the accumulated product of so much individual and collective work.
2. The Power of Building Community
   1. All beings, humans, animals and nature, have an intrinsic, equal value. Diversity is a gift which we cherish and celebrate
   2. Most significant human acts are determined by the fact of being part of a group
   3. It takes time for a group to build up, consciously or unconsciously, all these elements.
   4. In its adulthood, a group discovers itself as a living organism, with each member fulfilling an important and necessary role
   5. In short, a mature group is a rich and diverse community of life
   6. Building community is the process by which a group becomes aware of its own existence as a living collective unity - and of the life spirit that sustains it.
3. Stages in Group Evolution
   1. 1. Formation (Pseudocommunity)
      1. lack of experience generate different states of expectation, anxiety and some tension
   2. 2. Conflict
      1. Once the initial excitement begins to fade, differences appear and conflict arises: misunderstandings, unmet needs, power struggles, lack of clarity in goals or procedures... Conflict is necessary for the development process of a group.
   3. 3. Organization
      1. The group decides to learn to solve conflicts, to make coherent decisions everyone can support, to work cooperatively.
   4. 4. Community
      1. Leadership is distributed among all members.
4. The Group Field
   1. If you are starting a new group project, the best thing you can do is to gather a small group of like-minded people with similar values and motivation - this will be your "core group."
   2. find cohesive glue in a common vision that is simple, clear and authentic.
   3. Friendship, caring, mutual support: these are the qualities of human relationships that bind a community together.
5. Starting Community: the Essentials
6. Starting Community. The Essentials Table
7. Finding and Sharing the Vision
   1. Having a common vision is one of the most important elements to guarantee group cohesion. Its absence is cause of structural conflict and may end up with the dissolution of the group.
   2. The written vision should be clear, simple and inspiring.
   3. crucial that all members of a group feel connected to the vision.
8. Vision, Mission and Goals
   1. Diana L. Christian
      1. • Describes the shared future you want to create • Reveals and announces your group’s core values • Expresses something each of you can identify with • Helps unify your effort • Gives you a reference point to return to during confusion or disagreement • Keeps your group inspired • Draws out the commitment of the people in your group
   2. Vision is the shared future you want to create, your shared image of what’s possible. It is often expressed as the “who”, the “what” and the “why” of your endeavour. Ideally it’s described in the present tense, as if it were happening now.
   3. Mission or Purpose expresses the vision in concrete, physical terms. It’s what you will be physically doing as well as experiencing as you manifest your shared image of what’s possible.
   4. Goals and Objectives are milestones you commit yourselves to accomplish in the short or medium term. They are measurable; you know when you have accomplished them.
9. Examples of Vision Statements
   1. 1. Nature’s Spirit, a spiritual community in South Carolina (United States), expressed their vision and mission this way: Vision: A world that values the diversity of all life and provides for its sustainability by living in harmony with nature and spirit. Mission: To create a community in which we work to expand our consciousness by living in the question: How does one live sustainably in harmony with nature and spirit? This will enable us to be of service, share our experiences, and link with similar local and global efforts.
   2. 2. Centre for Leadership for Women, an Australian organization: Vision: To empower women to believe in their own unique leadership qualities. Mission: To be a virtual Centre for Leadership for women that empowers women to recognise and develop their own leadership potential in a work, community or personal context by • learning from the experiences of leaders, both male and female, • becoming informed about current leading issues and the individuals who are behind them, • acquiring leadership knowledge and skills, • undertaking self-evaluation, • and expressing their needs in relation to leadership development.
10. Techniques to Create a Common Vision
    1. Futures History
       1. Step 1. Imagine and draw something of your vision for your project 10-20 years later.
       2. Step 2. Join with others in a small group of 3-4 people, to listen and look at each others thoughts for your future. Do this one at a time, equal time for everybody, then feedback something you like about each others work and something that you have learnt.
       3. Step 3. In your group take time to develop a new vision using the fresh perspectives and insights you have gained. Create a poster to illustrate the essentials of your vision, with all common elements in the centre and main discrepancies on a side.
       4. Step 4. Post your collective vision on the wall for gallery time in which you and others may ask each other questions Feedback something you like about their work to each person you speak with. Notice which are common elements you agree with, and which are your main discrepancies.
       5. Step 5. Create a final poster that gathers all common elements in a new vision. Make a list with the main discrepancies that came up during this process. Dedicate some time to discuss your discrepancies and look for agreements or possible ways to address them.
       6. Step 6. Spend time in pairs working on finding the next achievable step towards your vision. Create a future history by imaging yourself actually in the future vision now. From that position ask yourself, how did this come about? How did it happen? Take time telling each other the story, take notes for each other and prompt your partner to a positive, personal, action plan for initiatives to do soon.
       7. Step 7. Each person images being engaged in that action, by seeing the sights, sounds, and feelings to ground it. Do this one at a time, taking equal time.
11. Assessing your Vision Documents
    1. For you as an individual:
       1. 1. Do you feel good when you read the written expression of your vision? 2. Is it meaningful for you? If not, how would it need to be changed to make it meaningful? 3. Does it resonate with your personal sense of identity? Do you feel as if you can "own" it? 4. Does it inspire you?
    2. For your group:
       1. 1. Is your vision document simple, clean, and authentic? 2. Does it reveal and announce your group's core values? 3. Does it focus on the "who", "what", and "why" of your project? 4. Is it fairly concrete and grounded (not vague or flowery)? 5. After you read it, can you remember it? Do you "see" it? 6. Does it express your purpose? 7. Does it inspire your group? 8. Does it generate excitement? 9. Does it show what your group or community will be like when your vision is achieved? 10. Does it express passion, conviction, and commitment?
    3. Your Vision Statement:
       1. 1. Is it clear, concise, and compelling? 2. Does it express your vision and purpose? 3. Does it also reveal and announce your core values? 4. Is it fairly short? Can you memorize it? 5. Can you identify with it? 6. Does it inspire you? 7. Do others "get it" right away? 8. Does it seem reasonable? Is it unrealistic? Is it too ambitious?
12. Embracing Diversity
    1. ‘unity in diversity’
    2. Everyone potentially holds a part of the greater truth
13. Fostering Social Justice
    1. When diversity is perceived as a threat, our tendency is to suppress it.
    2. By taking an activist approach to these issues ecovillagers can act to interrupt oppression, challenge racist or sexist attitudes, and generally defend target groups and individuals, even when they cannot defend themselves.
    3. With empowered individuals we can then build bridges of wellbeing, and experience the transformative power
14. Using Games to Build Community
    1. Games are powerful tools that can be used to build community; and of course games are fun.
    2. Creativity is developed through games and fun.
    3. The facilitator of these cooperative activities is the critical element in creating their appropriate application.