Abundant Community Articles

The Future Community

Bird

by Peter Block From abundantcommunity.com All of us, in one way or another, are in the conversation about the relationship between electronic technology and community. Does the technology build community and relationships or become a substitute for them? Does the internet act as a catalyst to get … [Read more...]

Art in Community

by Peter Block From abundantcommunity.com I just spent two days at a conference on education reform. While the agenda was to discuss schools and the ways students learn, what was unique about this gathering was the role that art played in building connection in the room and moving the agenda of the … [Read more...]

Home Economics Redux

Mother and Child

by Peter Block From abundantcommunity.com We now use the term “dysfunctional family” for a reason. In the evolution of the consumer society, the family has lost much of its use or function. What the family used to do has been outsourced to educators, human services, fast food restaurants, … [Read more...]

Kibble and Gist

by Peter Block From abundantcommunity.com Thoughts from and to the community-minded . . . Wendell Berry has spoken clearly and for such a long time about the ways industrialization and the consumer economy have caused the breakup of families, farms and communities. This quote gets right to … [Read more...]

New Measures of Better Off

by Peter Block From abundantcommunity.com The Pew Research Center reports annually on social trends in America and recently reported that the number of Americans who believe that their children will be better off than they are is in decline. This was considered news and was reported on TV and … [Read more...]

New To Us

by Peter Block From abundantcommunity.com Our intent here is to reconstruct what is considered news. The traditional news is about extraordinary people working in systems and institutions doing special things. We especially call it news when those extraordinary things are illegal or … [Read more...]

Win, Lose or Draw

by Peter Block From abundantcommunity.com The path to a life of satisfaction starts when we begin to see clearly the roots of our dissatisfaction. One root is our belief in competition. Satisfaction begins when we begin to understand that “up or out,” “grow or die,” “winner take … [Read more...]

The Wrong Conversation about Health Care

Doctor

by Peter Block From abundantcommunity.com The current Health Care debate is a conversation that is not going to make us any healthier. It is the wrong conversation. To begin with it is not about Health Care — it is really a polarized discussion about the economics of Disease Care. It is … [Read more...]

If You’re Not Fast You’re Food

If You're Not Fast Food

by Peter Block From abundantcommunity.com This is a bit of a rant, so forgive me. I received an email advertisement from The Timberland Company. The ad said, "If you’re not fast you’re food." Gulp. Timberland sells shoes and outdoor accessories. I know them a little and they are a good … [Read more...]

Art in Community

I just spent two days at a conference on education reform. While the agenda was to discuss schools and the ways students learn, what was unique about this gathering was the role that art played in building connection in the room and moving the agenda of the gathering forward. Each day began with … [Read more...]