Supporting Community Organizing


SUPPORTING
Community Organizing for Whole Schooling

As we seek to develop an international consortia of groups committed to Whole Schooling principles and practices, we are working to support individuals in organizing local efforts.

Today's world calls for the actualizing of self-organizing processes. Processes that over-come divisions of conservative and liberal, segregation and inclusion or individual and collective. The dichotomist view of the world causes idea blindness. The Whole Schooling Consortium operates on the belief of rejecting either/or thinking and embraces either/and actions. The inclusivity of either/and builds community through, powerful democratic citizens, authentic multi-level teaching, supportive learning, and strong stakeholder partnerships.

The Whole Schooling Consortium offers community organizers the opportunity to affiliate members desiring to create strong Whole Schooling in local communities. Community organizing skills and services are critically needed in making partnerships effective. An experienced organizer has many applicable skills: the ability to listen and sort out agendas, the ability to build confidence and encourage participation, the perseverance and dedication needed to complete tasks, the ability to build trust, and the ability to work toward a common goal (Michael Eichler, 1995). The Whole Schooling Consortium's community organizing service is designed to build strong self-directed citizen action around the principles of Whole Schooling. The intent of community organizing services is to find common, overlapping goals, teach the value of new partners and build power through relationships of trust and respect.

Thomas Neuville (see website) is an experienced community builder and strategic planner. As part of the Whole Schooling Consortium community Dr. Neuville has agreed to serve as a community organizing developer. If you and a group of citizens have the Whole Schooling impulse, you are encouraged to contact the Whole School Consortium Michael Peterson and or Thomas Neuville We will help you develop a plan of action for organizing in your community through conversation and consultation.