Building Community – revisiting values
Building Community – revisiting values is a compilation of my articles published by Sir Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1997 COMMUNITY AND DEVELOPMENT A conundrum Current government retrenchment with an ensuing devolution of responsibilities to more local areas is causing interesting dynamics in the field of community and economic development. Traditionally considered the […]
Community Economic Development
The integration of economies, shifts in manufacturing bases, communications developments and technological developments are having impacts, causing stress and re-evaluation of institutions, programs and methodologies. These economic thrusts are shaping political agendas as well. The apparent inability of national governments to control either economic levers, interest rates or currency patterns exemplifies and heightens these shifts. […]
A Journey to India
Meeting people and making new friends has been one the treasures of my work and my travels. One such friend, Sam Chelladurai, whom I met at a conference in India, invited me to his home as a means to exchange experiences in community and development. I have written these notes to share my adventures, experiences […]
An Indian Experience -a report to the Commonwealth Foundation
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This study tour was made possible with the support and assistance of many. First and foremost, Sam Chelladurai and his family who provided accommodation, guidance and a varied itinerary. The Commonwealth Foundation who provided support for travel costs. Numerous development groups, local community associations and individuals who shared their work, knowledge and hospitality. To […]
Community Regeneration – encouraging dreams
(The boat featured in the photo is one of the “ripples” as it was built in a neigbouring village by youth under the guidance of another man who had a dream to build an historical boat as a means to impart boat building skills to youth.) Change is not a new phenomenon as every generation […]
Alex’s dream/Sinclair’s vision
(This is Alex and the boat of his dreams. It was built by Alex and a group of volunteers in Portsoy, Scotland as one of their inputs into the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival.) Within the hearts of people everywhere lie the dreams, often dormant, that cause real development to happen. While there to discover few […]
Affirming Self – just being
The most fundamental of human needs after physical sustenance is that of affirmation. People have need to sense a conscious reality, to perceive permanence and to belong. It is primarily why people have gathered together in groups and created structures throughout history. The perception of security that emanates from belonging is critical to spiritual health […]
Accepting Stillness – enduring solstice
Solstice is the point in time when the sun on reaching the extremity of its cycle, becomes still before beginning the next cycle of earth’s seasons. Solstices are about change, uncertainty and transition from one season to the next. In earlier periods the advent of each solar solstice was the cause of much apprehension as […]