Commune - ity

[C hristian]

What does community mean to you?
What does it mean you should do for the community?
What does it mean the community should do for you?

I'm not talking about music community.
I'm talking about community at large. Your local or semilocal community.

[GROOVE VICTIM]

CO - Unity

To live and communicate with one another.

just take away the two m's.

Peace

[AD]

Originally posted by C hristian:
What does community mean to you? A bunch of people that got my back.


Originally posted by C hristian:
What does it mean you should do for the community? Nothing, absolutely nothing.



Originally posted by C hristian:
What does it mean the community should do for you?Everything, absolutely everything.


Originally posted by C hristian:
I'm not talking about music community.
I'm talking about community at large. Your local or semilocal community. What about my apartment building community? :D

[C hristian]

is the spirit of community alive in apt building?

do people feel like that?

is that the norm, expecting all to take and none to give?

1 handed typist here with 3 yo in other. sorry for brevity

[C hristian]

sorry bout that. No, I wondering if the people in your apt building agree that there is a community feeling within it. Is that feeling prevelant.

It seems common to me that people expect to be able to take a lot from their community and have nothign to give in return. But maybe that's just my perception of those around me. Is that the norm?

[jillbee]

I think communities are all around us. It depends on the person (who feels community) and if he/she considers the bigger picture of it and how we can affect or be affected by it. Community gives a feeling of belonging in the most basic sense. Look here, it's what everyone's looking for.

I think the most important thing to do in a community is to consider yourself a part of it and participate in it in any way necessary to help it thrive. Sometimes that's just being present, other times it means getting more involved. Some members of the community take and some give. Like the elderly for example. How many times are the elderly in this country abandoned by their community and must live in an organized community like an old age home because they are 'taking' too much? But the elderly contribute to a community with their experience which is often taken for granted. And what about children? They have much to give to us as they remind us of the simplest things in life. They should be provided for in the most basic sense, health, food, clothing home.

We should be taking care of our communities (whatever they are) in order for them to thrive. I do think just by looking you can find people who also are looking and... then you have a community (I don't think it takes more than a few).

Now in terms of most of the community and do they have the same sense of it... I'm afraid many people don't think of their apartment building that way at least not that I know of here. Just get from a to b, make the dollar, and go home, feed the family. Why do people feel this way. More importantly how to stimulate a community to want to thrive as such? I wonder if we have enough reinforcement in our lives of how much more a community provides than a tv set.

It's a great topic... I've been thinking a lot about it lately because of the war, but also raising a lot of questions about the state of our country since seeing Bowling for Columbine (of course). I'll come back when I have more thoughts.

[ April 26, 2003, 01:39 AM: Message edited by: jillbee ]

[jillbee]

I came across this today.

Dear Friends,
In the spring of 1991, a handful of artists got together to make art with homeless kids in New York City. Over the next ten years Art Start became an award-winning, nationally recognized model for using the arts to save lives.

One moment stands out for us. We were working with a group of kids at a homeless shelter. A little girl and her brother showed up every week and took delight in the break from their daily grind. One Saturday afternoon they were gone. Transferred to another shelter, the children and their mom had been "processed" through the system.

Two years later, we were setting up a mural-making workshop at another shelter. It was early evening and a few of the kids were trickling in. Suddenly we heard shrieks of joy, "Art Start's here! Art Start's here!" The little girl and her brother had just arrived from another shelter back to their Art Start family. As we embraced, we didn't know whether to cry or celebrate. They were still in the "system" but at least they were back with Art Start. They stayed for six months and showed up like clockwork twice a week with joy in their eyes and art in their hearts.

We connect with kids who are denied access to a nurturing education, a supportive home environment and promising work opportunities. Our kids are shut out. They contend with economic brutality, racism and neglect every day, and get pinned with harsh labels like "homeless," "dropout," "thug" and worse. They would rather shape their own identities. They are strong, resilient, open-minded, talented and full of dreams. They yearn to be participants, to make meaningful contributions. Art Start uses the arts to spark their lives to the possibilities of "making it." We give them tools and opportunities, and most important, a chance to be heard.

We've got something special here. People are listening and getting involved. Pros from every facet of the arts are collaborating and making a difference with our kids. Take a peek into Art Start's first ten years. See what we've been up to and find out how you can help make a real difference in their lives

Peace and love,

Simon Fulford
Executive Director

Scott Rosenberg
Founder


Volunteers needed for programs:
Arts in the Shelters Project
Media Works Project
Hip-Hop Project
Administrative

art-start.org (http://www.art-start.org)

I'm thinking of participating in this... just looks like another reason for community to me.

peace.

[ April 26, 2003, 12:00 PM: Message edited by: jillbee ]

[nev m]

Originally posted by C hristian:
What does community mean to you?
What does it mean you should do for the community?
What does it mean the community should do for you?

I'm not talking about music community.
I'm talking about community at large. Your local or semilocal community. You've only just gone, and mentioned my favourite word.

Im very very grateful to live in such a community enviroment. To look after each other is everything!!

If every person on this planet looked after just two people there would be absolutely nothing to worry about.

It never ceases to amaze me that somthing so benificial, and life enhancing is so difficult to obtain for so many people.

But that said I feel community right here on this board.

Peace.

[ April 26, 2003, 12:08 PM: Message edited by: nev m ]

[nev m]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jillbee:
[QB] I came across this today.

Dear Friends,
In the spring of 1991, a handful of artists got together to make art with homeless kids in New York City. Over the next ten years Art Start became an award-winning, nationally recognized model for using the arts to save lives.

One moment stands out for us. We were working with a group of kids at a homeless shelter. A little girl and her brother showed up every week and took delight in the break from their daily grind. One Saturday afternoon they were gone. Transferred to another shelter, the children and their mom had been "processed" through the system.

Two years later, we were setting up a mural-making workshop at another shelter. It was early evening and a few of the kids were trickling in. Suddenly we heard shrieks of joy, "Art Start's here! Art Start's here!" The little girl and her brother had just arrived from another shelter back to their Art Start family. As we embraced, we didn't know whether to cry or celebrate. They were still in the "system" but at least they were back with Art Start. They stayed for six months and showed up like clockwork twice a week with joy in their eyes and art in their hearts.

We connect with kids who are denied access to a nurturing education, a supportive home environment and promising work opportunities. Our kids are shut out. They contend with economic brutality, racism and neglect every day, and get pinned with harsh labels like "homeless," "dropout," "thug" and worse. They would rather shape their own identities. They are strong, resilient, open-minded, talented and full of dreams. They yearn to be participants, to make meaningful contributions. Art Start uses the arts to spark their lives to the possibilities of "making it." We give them tools and opportunities, and most important, a chance to be heard.

We've got something special here. People are listening and getting involved. Pros from every facet of the arts are collaborating and making a difference with our kids. Take a peek into Art Start's first ten years. See what we've been up to and find out how you can help make a real difference in their lives

Peace and love,

Simon Fulford
Executive Director

Scott Rosenberg
Founder


Volunteers needed for programs:
Arts in the Shelters Project
Media Works Project
Hip-Hop Project
Administrative

art-start.org (http://www.art-start.org)

I'm thinking of participating in this... just looks like another reason for community to me.

peace.

Hey jillbee!! How ya doin'? Good to see you're up to good stuff!! Send my love to NYC, and keep ya good work goin'. Peace.

[jillbee]

Hey jillbee!! How ya doin'? Good to see you're up to good stuff!! Send my love to NYC, and keep ya good work goin'. Peace.
nev m

Will do. NYC received your love and thanks you! Right back atchya.