IMPACT Greensboro Change Agents recently read the book Community: The Structure of Belonging, by Peter Block. In his book, Block talks about the shifting context for community. He states: ” The context that restores community is one of possibility, generosity, and gifts, rather than one of problem solving, fear, and retribution. A new context acknowledges that we have all the capacity, expertise, and resources that an alternative future requires. Communities are human systems given form by the conversations that build relatedness. 
The conversations that build relatedness most often occur through associational life, where citizens show up by choice, and rarely in the context of system life, where citizens show up out of obligation. The small group is a unite of transformation and the container for the experience of belonging. Conversations that focus on stories about the past become a limitation to community; ones that are teaching parables and focus on the future restore community.”
IMPACT Greensboro Change Agents learned to build relatedness during their program experience. That relatedness is the cornerstone for a thriving community. It is their hope that others in the community would grow to know the power of building relatedness and show up–by choice, to the places and the different venues of community life, that make a difference for us all. Building on the strength of our collective resources and expertise, we can build a community like none other in our nation.
IMPACT Change Agents know the value of having conversations which build relatedness. We encourage you to step outside the box and connect with others in order to help us promote a “transformation into authentic community” where our collective relatedness brings about the changes we want to see in our community.
