Peter Block’s Community “Takeaways”

Community - The Structure of Belonging

By: Peter Block

Takeaway #1

Community is about belonging to and being a part of something. The essential challenge is to transform form self-interest to connected and caring. This is difficult according to Block due to us living in an age of isolation. He states, "we talk of how small our world has become with instant sharing of information and quick technology, yet these do not necessitate a sense of belonging. The cost of this isolation is that many members of our communities gifts go untapped."

Takeaway #2

Social Capitol - the acting on and valuing interdependence. Putnam found that this interdependence or social capitol was that main factor in community well-being (educational achievement, economic strength, etc). Community well being had to do with the quality of relationship, lies within the power of being together and is a collective effort not an individual one.

Takeaway #3

There is a great importance in asking the right questions, balancing input and dialogue. As a leader, there is also a need to structure how we meet to find a way to give people a voice. All people must have a voice to allow for ownership, which creates accountability and commitment from the group not the leader. People inherently believe more fully in something they had a hand in creating.

Takeaway #4

To make a real difference we need to operate differently to avoid or move out of being "stuck". We need to think transformationally, to look at existing information in a way that leads to new conversations that produce new solutions.  We are a society of wanting to blame, so romanticizing leadership is easy to do so that we can blame someone or expect them swoop in and fix things. We need to move from those in power or leadership solving the problem to creating a process to allow the community or group to have input to the solution of the problem. Creating an environment to provide input and set structure to not allow anyone to grandstand or dominate conversation.

As we move forward how do we build the community capital that will allow the community as a whole to solve the right problems in a collaborative manner. We need to avoid trying to fix the problem first, and identify the cause and the possibilities of the problem remaining focuses on the people and process not the problem.

How will you use the principles embedded in his book as you lead in the future

Reflecting on my leadership career, I found myself thinking of many stories of positive and negative things that have taken place around Block's ideas of community. The main theme in my reflections was when ideas or initiatives were successful they always came form a ground roots discussion that allowed multiple people a voice in the development, implementation and accountability of the endeavor. I've also realized that identifying a problem is as important as the problem itself.  The two ways I have will continue to discover a need for change include pre-year meetings and “between the bells” discussions.  Pre-year meeting are an invitation to staff to gain an understanding of the mood, culture, areas of concern, and areas of success. I ask they bring their view of what the district is doing right (minimum 3 positives) and how to maintain or grow these items; their view of what in the district is not working (minimum 3 negatives) and constructive solutions to these issues; and any items the wish to bring to my attention.  “Between the bells” is an open meeting I’ve held for 30 minutes after school to discuss what problems we are having and possible solutions to them.  Both of these allow everyone a voice in the direction of the building.  This also gives me insight into those that are eager and potential naysayers.  Both need to be leveraged for support and opinion.  Once a problem that needs attention is identified, we implement the best-perceived solution in a piloting phase that is articulated to all stakeholders.  There also needs to be an open channel of feedback because change can be feared if it isn’t supported through evidence of it’s effectiveness and a willingness to trust that if things do not work adjustments will be made. Our “Friday Night Lights” and “Extended Learning Time” both evolved from this method of evoking change.  “Friday Night Lights” is a positive, timely and continual communication aimed at bridging the gap between the school and the community while promoting achievement. This has provided a platform to celebrate and express our pride. “Extended Learning Time” is an intensive academic enhancement/enrichment where students may be requested to for additional assistance or instruction, enrichment, to make up missing work, to tutor other students, for completion of group work, or for lessons. Students who make good choices and are succeeding academically and are not requested are allowed to sign in to the commons, the library, the computer lab, or have honors release. 

Both of these endeavors have build trusting relationship in our school that everyone has a voice and a responsibility in creating an enjoyable work environment and a culture of continual improvement focused on improving student learning.