http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/index_html Looking for new ideas for the future? Here's where you'll find them. What is the structure of a just economy? What does participatory democracy look like? Find, share and debate visionary ideas here! en-us Plone CMS http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/african-american-and-hispanic-communities-in-east-palo-alto http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/african-american-and-hispanic-communities-in-east-palo-alto This case study implements the Wildflowers Institute's theory for building sustainable communities in East Palo Alto, California. The study analyze the demographic data of the two major ethnic groups in this community - African Americans and Hispanics. Through this data, community members may outline a comprehensive strategy towards building a healthy, sustainable community in East Palo Alto. dchin@communitychange.org (Dennis Chin) Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:29:07 -0800 http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/unequal-taxes-on-equal-benefits-the-taxation-of-domestic-partner-benefits http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/unequal-taxes-on-equal-benefits-the-taxation-of-domestic-partner-benefits Employer provided health-insurance is the backbone for health coverage for most American families. Married couples benefit because they get health insurance coverage for their spouses and children and are not taxed on the value of that coverage. On the other hand, unmarried domestic partner couples do not benefit. In fact, they pay on average $1,069.00 more than a married couple on the same coverage. Additionally, employers are forced to pay a total of $57 million per year in additional taxes because of this unequal tax treatment. This report presents legislative solutions to remedy this situation and provide equal benefits to all domestic couples, married and unmarried. dchin@communitychange.org (Dennis Chin) Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:05:29 -0800 http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/wall-street-and-the-making-of-the-subprime-disaster http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/wall-street-and-the-making-of-the-subprime-disaster How Investment Banks Fueled the Subprime Boom, Made Billions, and Caused the Current Foreclosure Crisis dchin@communitychange.org (Dennis Chin) Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:41:15 -0800 http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/what-democracy-looks-like-where-neighborhood-voices-lead-to-better-solutions http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/what-democracy-looks-like-where-neighborhood-voices-lead-to-better-solutions Study circles are changing the status quo in many of the city’s most challenged neighborhoods. mpahl@studycircles.org (Myriah Pahl) Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:50:17 -0800 http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/what-democracy-looks-like-where-conversations-about-race-create-ripples-of-community http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/what-democracy-looks-like-where-conversations-about-race-create-ripples-of-community Springfield, Illinois, is well known as the city where Abraham Lincoln launched his legal and political career in the mid-19th century. But when Sandy Robinson moved here in 1993 and took a job with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, he learned about a seldom-told chapter in local history. mpahl@studycircles.org (Myriah Pahl) Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:53:29 -0800 http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/ground-rules-and-tips-for-challenging-the-right http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/ground-rules-and-tips-for-challenging-the-right Core tenets of movement organizing include understanding the opposition and framing criticism in a way that expands the base. This short set of tips for challenging the anti-democratic and anti-equality ideas circulated by U.S. right-wing groups is based on more than 20 years of testing different methods and styles. cberlet@igc.org (Chip Berlet) Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:53:41 -0700 http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/intentional-community http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/intentional-community The Fellowship for Intentional Community (FIC) concerns itself with groups of people who come together with the purpose to live together and pursue some common vision or goal cerf541@msn.com (William Cerf) Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:53:41 -0700 http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/saving-our-middle-class-a-survey-of-new-yorks-leaders-by-the-drum-major-institute-for-public-policy http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/saving-our-middle-class-a-survey-of-new-yorks-leaders-by-the-drum-major-institute-for-public-policy In the wake of troubling findings by the Brookings Institution about New York City's disappearing middle-income neighborhoods, the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy conducted a survey of New York City’s leaders to find ways to strengthen and expand the city's middle class. The following results offer the next steps New York must take to make our city more livable and affordable for the current middle class, and put a middle-class standard of living within the reach of more New Yorkers. cramey@drummajorinstitute.org (Drum Major Institute for Public Policy) Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:57:33 -0800 http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/dmi-on-the-2008-state-of-the-union http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/dmi-on-the-2008-state-of-the-union America wants change! Will the President respond? Check out the analysis of the 2008 State of the Union by the Drum Major Institute (DMI). Which ideas are the President proposing? Are they sound? Will they help us move forward as a nation? DMI doesn't think so. Read the report to find out why! dchin@communitychange.org (Dennis Chin) Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:47:17 -0800 http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/what-democracy-looks-like-when-a-community-pulls-together-to-face-growth http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/what-democracy-looks-like-when-a-community-pulls-together-to-face-growth “...Amid all this change and conflict, Kuna has quietly initiated a unique experiment in deliberative democracy.” mpahl@studycircles.org (Myriah Pahl) Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:51:30 -0800 http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/where-a-diverse-community-comes-together-to-make-schools-better-for-all http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/where-a-diverse-community-comes-together-to-make-schools-better-for-all The Montgomery County Public Schools make up one of the largest and most diverse school systems in the United States. At the district’s Rockville, Maryland, headquarters—once a segregated high school for black students—the corridors are lined with photos of students of all colors. mpahl@studycircles.org (Myriah Pahl) Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:54:32 -0800 http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/what-democracy-looks-like-where-deep-rooted-democratic-traditions-open-the-way-for-study-circles http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/what-democracy-looks-like-where-deep-rooted-democratic-traditions-open-the-way-for-study-circles Of all the regions of the United States, New England is the one with the longest and strongest tradition of grass-roots democracy. For more than 200 years, New Englanders have gathered annually for town meetings where citizens discuss and vote on issues facing their communities. Now, there is a new tool to help all kinds of people practice democracy. In Vermont, study circles are helping communities of many types—cities, neighborhoods, schools—generate deep, meaningful dialogue on key issues. mpahl@studycircles.org (Myriah Pahl) Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:55:15 -0800 http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/colors-restaurant http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/colors-restaurant Looking for guilt-free cuisine? Try COLORS restaurant in New York. After the events of 9/11, the mostly immigrant workers from Windows of the World, the restaurant on top of the World Trade Center, set out to form their own cooperative. Now called COLORS, this restaurant serves as a model for worker-owned businesses - one in which employees receive decent wages, share tips, and enjoy other worker privileges. Check out the website and the accompanying news articles to learn more about this restaurant. And, when you're in NYC, why don't you check out the food while you're there? dchin@communitychange.org (Dennis Chin) Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:53:41 -0700 http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/a-theory-toward-building-socially-sustainable-communities http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/a-theory-toward-building-socially-sustainable-communities How do we build socially sustainable communities? In this report, author Han Min Liu presents the Wildflower Institute's theory on building these communities. He argues that as a result of modernization and globalization, communities have ventured towards self-interest and competition and have distanced themselves from cooperation and community interest. Liu argues that this shift has created growing social inequity and unsustainable communities. How then can we work to shift the direction of our communities? Through a complete understanding of the dynamics that influence social relationships, from culture to social spaces, Liu argues that communities can work towards positive self-transformation. dchin@communitychange.org (Dennis Chin) Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:25:33 -0800 http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/leadership-handbook-theory-and-approach-for-building-socially-sustainable-communities http://www.movementvisionlab.org/idea-lab/leadership-handbook-theory-and-approach-for-building-socially-sustainable-communities How do we develop sustainable communities? In this handbook, authors Ben Davis and Analiese Richards present the Wildflowers Institute's theory and practice on developing these communities. The handbook outlines strategies to achieve this vision such as assisting in identifying core values of communities, developing community leaders, and emphasizing a culture that fosters spiritual replenishment, deepens social trust, and enables wealth creation. One of the more notable features is a section on mapping social assets - social assets being those community members that will help build socially sustainable communities. dchin@communitychange.org (Dennis Chin) Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:28:30 -0800