How To Create Community | Voices From The Skoll Community

Summary

The transcript captures the essence of community building and the challenges faced when striving for change. It emphasizes the importance of support, shared vision, and the collective struggle against skepticism. The speaker highlights the need for vulnerability, inclusivity, and power-sharing within communities. Overcoming fear and personal growth are key to fostering trust and unity. The script calls for local empowerment and the recognition of equity as a fundamental aspect of community health. It concludes by stressing the importance of shared purpose and storytelling in community development, encouraging a grassroots approach to building connections and a better future.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ The script emphasizes the feeling of isolation and the challenge of advocating for a vision that others may not understand or support.
• 🌟 It highlights the importance of hope and the sense of community that comes from working with others who share the same vision and goals.
• 👥 The value of being surrounded by people who are also working hard is underscored, suggesting that human support is crucial for perseverance.
• 🤝 The concept of co-creation and the sense of belonging within a community are presented as essential for personal and collective growth.
• 💃 The script mentions the joy of being oneself within a community, where one can be vulnerable and open without fear of judgment.
• 🤔 It discusses the idea of community as a place for power-sharing and power-shifting, which contrasts with the world's tendency to concentrate power.
• 🔄 The script acknowledges that communities involve disagreements and challenges, but these are part of the process of building trust and unity.
• 🚧 The biggest challenge for communities is identified as fear, particularly the fear of the unknown, which must be overcome through personal work and inclusiveness.
• 🌱 The necessity of empowering local voices and supporting those closest to the issues within communities is stressed as a key aspect of community building.
• 💊 The script raises questions about equity, using the example of unequal access to drugs and vaccines to illustrate the disparities that need addressing.
• 💼 Trust is identified as the currency of community, something that is difficult to acquire and must be built over time through consistent and reliable behavior.
• 🌐 The importance of shared purpose and a collective narrative is highlighted as a means to unite people and drive them towards a common goal.
• 🏡 The script encourages starting community building at a personal level, suggesting that it begins with conversations in one's own home and expands outward.
• 🌱 Lastly, it emphasizes the importance of everyday thinking about who needs to be part of the conversation and the continuous effort to include and inform others.

Q & A

What does the speaker describe as the feeling of trying to communicate a vision that seems to be falling on deaf ears?

The speaker describes it as 'screaming from the mountaintops into the void,' implying a sense of futility and isolation when trying to share a vision that is not being acknowledged or understood.

Why does the speaker mention that community building can be a lonely and challenging endeavor?

The speaker mentions that community building can be lonely because there are many skeptics and people who tell you it's not working, which can be disheartening and make the journey feel solitary.

What gives the speaker a sense of hope in their struggle?

The speaker finds hope in the fact that they are not struggling alone but are surrounded by others who share the same vision and are working hard for their communities.

How does the speaker describe the importance of support and empowerment in a community?

The speaker describes the importance of support and empowerment as a 'cocoon' where individuals feel safe, empowered, and part of a collective flow, which is essential for co-creation within the community.

What does the speaker suggest is the currency of the social goods sector?

The speaker suggests that trust is the currency of the social goods sector, not money, and that it is very difficult to acquire, requiring consistent behavior to build over time.

How does the speaker define community in terms of power dynamics?

The speaker defines community as being about power-sharing and power-shifting, which is different from the way the world often works, focusing on concentrating power.

What are the challenges the speaker identifies within communities?

The speaker identifies challenges such as squabbles, disagreements, and the fear of the unknown as common issues within communities that need to be addressed.

What role does the speaker believe individuals should play in community building?

The speaker believes that individuals should engage in personal work to become inclusive, build bridges with people who are different, and support community building at the most local level.

How does the speaker view the importance of equity in the context of community?

The speaker views equity as critical, questioning what it means when some people have access to drugs and vaccines while others do not, highlighting the need for fairness and equal access within communities.

What does the speaker suggest as a starting point for community building?

The speaker suggests starting from personal spaces like the sitting room, bedroom, or kitchen, and sharing the vision with those you live with, who in turn can share it with others, gradually building a community.

What shared elements does the speaker believe are necessary to bring people together in a community?

The speaker believes that a shared purpose, a shared story of who the community is, where it's headed, why it matters, and the potential outcomes of achieving or not achieving their goals are the elements that bring people together.

Outlines

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🌱 Embracing Community Support and Vision

The speaker discusses the challenges of advocating for a vision that feels like screaming into the void, emphasizing the loneliness and skepticism faced. However, they find hope in the collective struggle with like-minded individuals who share the same vision for their communities. The importance of a supportive environment is highlighted, where people feel safe, empowered, and part of a co-creative process. The concept of community is explored as a place for both support and disagreement, with the ultimate goal of power-sharing and inclusivity. The speaker stresses the significance of personal work in overcoming fear and building bridges with diverse individuals to create an effective and progressive community.

Keywords

💡Community

Community refers to a group of people who share common values, interests, or goals and interact with one another. In the video, community is central to the theme, emphasizing the importance of collective effort and support in achieving shared objectives. The script mentions 'community' multiple times, highlighting its role in empowerment, trust-building, and as a source of comfort during crises.

💡Support

Support in this context is the act of providing help, encouragement, or validation to others. The video underscores the necessity of support within a community, suggesting that it fosters a sense of safety and empowerment. The script illustrates this with phrases like 'Humans need support' and 'our job is to really come in and be supporters,' indicating the reciprocal nature of support in communal settings.

💡Vulnerability

Vulnerability is the state of being open to attack or disclosure, often associated with emotional openness and honesty. The script discusses the importance of being vulnerable within a community, suggesting it as a sign of trust and authenticity. It is exemplified by the line 'Openness to be vulnerable, to not maybe know everything,' which implies that acknowledging one's own limitations can strengthen community bonds.

💡Inclusivity

Inclusivity is the practice of including people who might otherwise be excluded, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued. The video promotes inclusivity as a key aspect of community building, with the speaker stating the need to be 'an inclusive person' and to 'build a bridge with the people who are different from you,' emphasizing the diversity and acceptance within a community.

💡Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. While not explicitly stated, the concept of empathy is inherent in the script's discussion of understanding and kinship within a community. It is implied in phrases like '[Off-Screen Voice 1] Understanding,' which suggests a deep connection with others' experiences and emotions.

💡Equity

Equity refers to fairness and justice in the distribution of resources and opportunities. The video touches on the topic of equity, questioning its true meaning in a world where access to essentials like drugs and vaccines is unequal. This highlights the disparities that communities must address to achieve true equity.

💡Trust

Trust is the reliance on the integrity, strength, or ability of a person or thing. The script identifies trust as the 'currency of community,' indicating that it is the most valuable asset in social interactions. It is described as difficult to acquire and something that must be earned over time through consistent and reliable behavior.

💡Co-creation

Co-creation is a collaborative approach where multiple parties contribute to the creation of a product, service, or outcome. In the video, co-creation is presented as a process within a community, where individuals work together to achieve a common goal. The phrase 'Co-creation' is directly mentioned, suggesting a dynamic and participatory approach to community development.

💡Fear

Fear is an emotional response to perceived threats or danger. The video identifies fear, particularly of the unknown, as a significant challenge for communities. It suggests that overcoming fear is essential for community members to come together and work towards shared goals.

💡Power-sharing

Power-sharing is the distribution of authority and decision-making among members of a group. The script contrasts power-sharing with the common concentration of power in the world, advocating for a more equitable distribution within communities. It is mentioned in the context of 'community is about power-sharing, and power-shifting,' indicating a shift towards a more democratic and inclusive approach.

💡Personal Work

Personal work refers to the individual effort and self-improvement necessary for personal growth and development. The video emphasizes the importance of personal work in becoming an inclusive member of a community. It is exemplified by the line 'the real work to get us into community together, is about the personal work you do,' suggesting that self-reflection and personal change are crucial for community building.

Highlights

The feeling of screaming into the void, highlighting the struggle and loneliness in advocating for change.

The importance of understanding that one is not alone in their struggles, finding solace in collective effort.

The value of being surrounded by others who are equally committed to hard work and a shared vision.

The human need for support and a safe environment to feel empowered and part of a community.

The concept of co-creation within a community, emphasizing the organic flow between individuals.

The significance of trust as the currency of community, rather than money, and its role in building relationships.

The challenge of overcoming fear within communities, especially fear of the unknown.

The necessity of personal work to become an inclusive person and build bridges with those who are different.

The idea that community building should start at the local level and be driven by those closest to the issues.

The role of allies in empowering local champions within communities to advocate for their rights.

The question of equity in the context of access to resources like drugs and vaccines.

The difficulty of acquiring trust and the importance of consistent behavior to build it over time.

The comfort and strength found in a group of deeply committed individuals facing global crises.

The power of a shared purpose and story in bringing people together for a common goal.

The process of building a community starting from personal spaces and expanding through networks.

The emphasis on everyday thinking about who needs to be part of the conversation and community building.

Transcripts

Honestly, it felt for many years,

like screaming from the mountaintops into the void.

Nobody can do that.

And second of all, are you crazy?

It's a pretty lonely life.

You have a lot of people telling you it's not working.

You have a lot of people who are very sort of skeptical.

Yes.

What really gives me that sense of hope

is that I'm not struggling alone.

I'm struggling with many other people

who understand the vision

and want to deliver the best for the communities we're in.

We're all doing really hard work.

And it means something to be surrounded by other people

who are doing hard work.

Humans need support.

A bit of a cocoon where you feel safe.

You feel empowered.

There's laughter.

A sense of flow in between people, like an organism.

Co-creation.

[Off-Screen Voice] Joy.

[Off-Screen Voice 1] Understanding.

[Off-Screen Voice 2] Kinship.

You wanna dance? Of course, I always wanna dance.

You feel like you can do your best

because people believe in you.

You wanna grab each other and say,

"How are you and what's been going on?

And how can I help?"

You can be yourself.

And when you can be yourself,

you know you really belong.

The good parts of you, the not so good parts of you,

the anxious parts of you.

Openness to be vulnerable,

to not maybe know everything.

I think community is about power-sharing

and power-shifting.

That's kind of different

because a lot of the way the world works

is about concentrating power.

We all bring in different ingredients

to this bigger conversation.

Community's also about squabbles and disagreements.

All kinds of itchy, cratchy,

scratchy things that we do to each other.

The biggest challenge for communities is fear.

Fear of the unknown.

We have noble and important goals.

But the real work to get us into community together

is about the personal work you do

to make sure that you are an inclusive person,

that you can build a bridge

with the people who are different from you.

There's no way that only one person,

or even just a few people are gonna be able

to make the kind of difference and progress

that we need to see.

For us, it's important that community building

is really driven at the most local level.

Our job is to really come in and be supporters,

be better allies.

We have to empower people who are closest to the pain

in communities to really champion their rights.

Everyone talks now about equity,

but what does equity actually mean

when some people get drugs and vaccines

and other people don't?

The currency of community

of the social goods sector is trust.

It's not money. It's very difficult to acquire trust.

You can't simply go out and say, "Trust me."

If you wanna build a community,

you behave in a way where people will, over time,

build up a trust in your motives, in your word,

in what you stand for.

As we deal with all these intersecting crises

around the world,

there's a sense of comfort in knowing

that there's this group of people that are deeply committed,

deeply courageous, deeply innovative,

who are always ready to come together

to think about how we try and create something better

out of the mess that the world is in right now.

That shared purpose, that shared story of who we are,

where we're headed, why it matters,

what happens if we get there, what happens if we don't?

That's the kind of thing that brings people together.

It's not gonna happen overnight,

but it does happen if you do it right

and in a patient way and bring others along with you.

It's always everyday thinking.

Who needs to be part of this conversation?

Who needs to know what I'm doing?

Start from your sitting room, your bedroom, your kitchen.

Tell the people you live with

and ask them to tell the people they work with

and the people they interact with.

Before you know it, you have built a community.

Community, community, community.