Comments on: We are the experts we seek http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=60 Audacious Ideas is a blog created to stimulate ideas and discussion about solutions to difficult problems in Baltimore. Each week, we will ask individuals to think candidly and audaciously about what can be done to promote opportunity, achievement, health and prosperity in our city. Open Society Institute-Baltimore believes that discussion and debate are critical to making positive, lasting changes. We see this as a testing ground where ideas can be considered and discussion can be fostered. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:25:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jill Harrison http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=60&cpage=1#comment-3786 Jill Harrison Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:48:30 +0000 http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=60#comment-3786 I love your Community Conferencing - it's awesome to see the shift in people when they come together with a shared problem to hear and be heard. So many of our partisan problems in the public sphere would benefit from people having the forum and opportunity to build relationships across our ideological divides. It would be wonderful to see victory gardens in our school yards - teaching children about nature, and providing healthy meals to share with the community. We can bring our neighborhoods together in healthy feasts! I love your Community Conferencing – it’s awesome to see the shift in people when they come together with a shared problem to hear and be heard. So many of our partisan problems in the public sphere would benefit from people having the forum and opportunity to build relationships across our ideological divides.

It would be wonderful to see victory gardens in our school yards – teaching children about nature, and providing healthy meals to share with the community. We can bring our neighborhoods together in healthy feasts!

]]> By: Dr. Bill Thomas http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=60&cpage=1#comment-3180 Dr. Bill Thomas Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:39:34 +0000 http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=60#comment-3180 It's wonderful to see you twice reference elders as sources of wisdom and guidance in our communities. It’s wonderful to see you twice reference elders as sources of wisdom and guidance in our communities.

]]> By: Zola http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=60&cpage=1#comment-2182 Zola Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:40:20 +0000 http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=60#comment-2182 What a wonderful vision, I read it twice just so I could allow myself to see it all. We truly are the experts we seek, we were the first to be aware that we needed someone, something to assist us on our way. Where/how do we start I would love to be a part of the experience. Thanks for clearing the way. Peace Zola What a wonderful vision, I read it twice just so I could allow myself to see it all. We truly are the experts we seek, we were the first to be aware that we needed someone, something to assist us on our way. Where/how do we start I would love to be a part of the experience. Thanks for clearing the way.

Peace
Zola

]]> By: Chris T. Delaporte, The Park Advocate http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=60&cpage=1#comment-2175 Chris T. Delaporte, The Park Advocate Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:53:18 +0000 http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=60#comment-2175 Ms. Abramson hints here at the connectivity that should naturally flow between an individual's empowerment and the community setting. I suggest here that our city needs and deserves a new model of city park---a "unity park", shall we call it---where these noble notions and simple resolutions for action can be inspired, vetted and acted upon. I am speaking of a community place much of size as a Union Square---a place where three generations can transform from solidarity thinking to unity with others who aspire to simple civic actions. A place to get wet, walk a dog, learn how to install a rain barrell, play a game of chess or checkers, pick up some fresh produce, meet a friend, play a pick up game, post a lost and found notice, meet a friend for a homemade picnic---and generate those little plans with sizable payoffs to serve their community or capture the day for One Good Deed! Because our city has a majority of its houses connected, with limited front and back space, it makes sense that public spaces exist throughout our redevelopment projects, so folks can walk safely from doorstep, within ten minutes, to a new "unity park", as generally characterized and advocated for here. If one visits the dog park in Canton, one will quickly discover the residual value of exercising the dogs is found in the socialization of the dog masters. They talk, they compare dogs, they talk some more, they show off the dogs, and they get acquainted. No telling how many good little schemes of personal empowerment flow from The Dog Medium. Chris T. Delaporte The Park Advocate Ms. Abramson hints here at the connectivity that should naturally flow between an individual’s empowerment and the community setting.

I suggest here that our city needs and deserves a new model of city park—a “unity park”, shall we call it—where these noble notions and simple resolutions for action can be inspired, vetted and acted upon.

I am speaking of a community place much of size as a Union Square—a place where three generations can transform from solidarity thinking to unity with others who aspire to simple civic actions.

A place to get wet, walk a dog, learn how to install a rain barrell, play a game of chess or checkers, pick up some fresh produce, meet a friend, play a pick up game, post a lost and found notice, meet a friend for a homemade picnic—and generate those little plans with sizable payoffs to serve their community or capture the day for One Good Deed!

Because our city has a majority of its houses connected, with limited front and back space, it makes sense that public spaces exist throughout our redevelopment projects, so folks can walk safely from doorstep, within ten minutes, to a new “unity park”, as generally characterized and advocated for here.

If one visits the dog park in Canton, one will quickly discover the residual value of exercising the dogs is found in the socialization of the dog masters. They talk, they compare dogs, they talk some more, they show off the dogs, and they get acquainted.

No telling how many good little schemes of personal empowerment flow from The Dog Medium.

Chris T. Delaporte
The Park Advocate

]]> By: Hathaway Ferebee http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=60&cpage=1#comment-2174 Hathaway Ferebee Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:09:19 +0000 http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=60#comment-2174 Lauren -- I completely agree. Most of us are clients and too many are recepients of services that maintain a dependent state of mind and finances. It's al about opportunity -- creating it and taking advantage of it. There is a great song by Sweet Honey and the Rock: "We are the ones we've been waiting for" -- I think it's a great theme song for Baltimore. Thanks for your ideas. Hathaway Lauren — I completely agree. Most of us are clients and too many are recepients of services that maintain a dependent state of mind and finances. It’s al about opportunity — creating it and taking advantage of it. There is a great song by Sweet Honey and the Rock: “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for” — I think it’s a great theme song for Baltimore. Thanks for your ideas.
Hathaway

]]> By: Julie Gabrielli http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=60&cpage=1#comment-2173 Julie Gabrielli Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:54:56 +0000 http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=60#comment-2173 Right on, Lauren! So simple yet profoundly inspiring. Thanks for this dose of sanity. Right on, Lauren! So simple yet profoundly inspiring. Thanks for this dose of sanity.

]]> By: Marjorie Roswell http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=60&cpage=1#comment-2172 Marjorie Roswell Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:54:35 +0000 http://www.audaciousideas.org/?p=60#comment-2172 Fabulous. I'd love to work with you to manifest this vision more widely. Fabulous. I’d love to work with you to manifest this vision more widely.

]]>