A birthday bash…talking democracy
admin February 13th, 2008
It’s a bitter cold, blustery night in Gloucester, Massachusetts, a town of 35,000 an hour north of Boston. I arrive at its spire-dressed City Hall for my talk sponsored by Sustainable Cape Ann and the Cape Ann Forum.
Entering the large meeting room with high ceilings and dark wood banisters around the balcony above, I notice that chairs are already arranged so that the audience can quickly become participants. These folks have a plan up their sleeve.
Gloucester, MA, City Hall 2.10.08
I love speaking about the message of Getting a Grip, and as soon as I finish, 150 or so people move quickly into groups. A facilitator distributes two pregnant questions:
- What are the things we say and/or believe in this community that keep us small and stuck (in the Spiral of Powerlessness)?
- What are the questions we could ask that open up possibility, creativity, and solutions (Spiral of Empowerment)?
I see everyone leaning forward in intense conversation and realize they’ve taken the core challenge of my book and are applying it with friends and neighbors. As I move through the groups, I meet Gloucester’s new community development director, who’s eager to break free of limiting assumptions. In the final session the groups share insights: One simple, direct one is simply the power of rethinking who “The City” is — it might not be them. Maybe it’s us.
In this photo, I’m listening to Sarah Buck, the city’s new community development director.
The groups’ organizers will collate the responses and put them on their websites for all to ponder. From now on I’ll encourage my event hosts to consider a format like this with their own burning questions.
I drive home, through the blowing sleet, eager to stay connected to Gloucester and the folks there, who are obviously ready to dig deep.
What a way to spend my birthday!
- Frankie
Dear Frankie,
Thank you again so much for choosing to spend your birthday with us at City Hall last Sunday. We loved your book, your talk and the space you held for a community conversation about possibilities!
We too look forward to staying connected.
One little request… could you possibly post the very inspiring poem with which you closed the evening, or provide a web link to it? We’d like to include it in one of our upcoming newsletters.
Warm regards,
Tesa,
Co-Executive Director
Sustainable Cape Ann
I saw Ms. Lappe speak last night at the Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, Vermont. She was so inspiring. I am just starting Getting a Grip, but her talk about getting empowered and building community was a real shot in the arm.
I hope her book does very well, because we need this message to get out, soak in, and change the way we all think!!