[Music] I want you to close your eyes for a
I want you to close your eyes for a
I want you to close your eyes for a second
perception perceive thoughts actions
perception perceive thoughts actions sanctioned into raw data factions think
sanctioned into raw data factions think
sanctioned into raw data factions think about it think about the perceptions of
about it think about the perceptions of
about it think about the perceptions of limitation of the name they lose into
limitation of the name they lose into
limitation of the name they lose into stockbroking games because we’re all
stockbroking games because we’re all
stockbroking games because we’re all broken down into chains of shame
broken down into chains of shame
broken down into chains of shame now blame us broken down to millions and
now blame us broken down to millions and
now blame us broken down to millions and billions of mind-boggling recipes
billions of mind-boggling recipes
billions of mind-boggling recipes because everyone is included except me
because everyone is included except me
because everyone is included except me you heard them equals we yeah we all
you heard them equals we yeah we all
you heard them equals we yeah we all right the bus think about it think about
right the bus think about it think about
right the bus think about it think about the perception of a mind-boggling
the perception of a mind-boggling
the perception of a mind-boggling platform on a minimal power black storm
platform on a minimal power black storm
platform on a minimal power black storm in the midst of this noon storm think
in the midst of this noon storm think
in the midst of this noon storm think about it perceive about it but
about it perceive about it but
about it perceive about it but definitely see about it
definitely see about it
definitely see about it no assumption now how many of us can
no assumption now how many of us can
no assumption now how many of us can recollect the first time we recognize
recollect the first time we recognize
recollect the first time we recognize ourselves as a part of being part of a
ourselves as a part of being part of a
ourselves as a part of being part of a community now y’all can open your eyes
how many of you remember the people that
how many of you remember the people that F entered us into that membership how
F entered us into that membership how
F entered us into that membership how many would you think
many would you think
many would you think and who would those people be I’m going
and who would those people be I’m going
and who would those people be I’m going to start out by thinking my grandparents
to start out by thinking my grandparents
to start out by thinking my grandparents Alec and Murray Bray Locke by the end of
Alec and Murray Bray Locke by the end of
Alec and Murray Bray Locke by the end of this talk you’re going to know what I’m
this talk you’re going to know what I’m
this talk you’re going to know what I’m talking about so in 2013 a friend Mike
talking about so in 2013 a friend Mike
talking about so in 2013 a friend Mike green and myself went to Thunder Bay
green and myself went to Thunder Bay
green and myself went to Thunder Bay Ontario to work with First Nation
Ontario to work with First Nation
Ontario to work with First Nation communities in an organization that
communities in an organization that
communities in an organization that looked to equalize justice for poor folk
looked to equalize justice for poor folk
looked to equalize justice for poor folk we were there to do an ABCD workshop no
we were there to do an ABCD workshop no
we were there to do an ABCD workshop no not a training on the alphabet but ABCD
not a training on the alphabet but ABCD
not a training on the alphabet but ABCD May
May
May in asset based Community Development it
in asset based Community Development it
in asset based Community Development it was developed by my friends John
was developed by my friends John
was developed by my friends John McKnight and Jodi kretzmann currently at
McKnight and Jodi kretzmann currently at
McKnight and Jodi kretzmann currently at DePaul University at the asset based
DePaul University at the asset based
DePaul University at the asset based Community Development Institute in
Community Development Institute in
Community Development Institute in Chicago so to set context for that day
Chicago so to set context for that day
Chicago so to set context for that day that training that community building
that training that community building
that training that community building training our First Nation elder got up
training our First Nation elder got up
training our First Nation elder got up he introduced himself he said we aren’t
he introduced himself he said we aren’t
he introduced himself he said we aren’t here to build community we are here to
here to build community we are here to
here to build community we are here to remember it I was forever changed by the
remember it I was forever changed by the
remember it I was forever changed by the way he used that phrase the way he used
way he used that phrase the way he used
way he used that phrase the way he used that word remember remember
that word remember remember
that word remember remember in fact the etymology of that word
in fact the etymology of that word
in fact the etymology of that word started out just meaning body parts but
started out just meaning body parts but
started out just meaning body parts but in France in the 14th century it became
in France in the 14th century it became
in France in the 14th century it became being a part of something whole you see
being a part of something whole you see
being a part of something whole you see that elder was saying that we’re all
that elder was saying that we’re all
that elder was saying that we’re all members and to be a member you
members and to be a member you
members and to be a member you contribute something I live in
contribute something I live in
contribute something I live in Indianapolis Indiana I live in a
Indianapolis Indiana I live in a
Indianapolis Indiana I live in a neighborhood on the cusp of changing
neighborhood on the cusp of changing
neighborhood on the cusp of changing being gentrified it’s 30 blocks
being gentrified it’s 30 blocks
being gentrified it’s 30 blocks northwest of downtown and the and the
northwest of downtown and the and the
northwest of downtown and the and the narrative around people in our
narrative around people in our
narrative around people in our neighborhood is that we can’t do
neighborhood is that we can’t do
neighborhood is that we can’t do anything we’re broke we need fix it we
anything we’re broke we need fix it we
anything we’re broke we need fix it we use ABCD meaning that we care for our
use ABCD meaning that we care for our
use ABCD meaning that we care for our neighbors we actually give space for
neighbors we actually give space for
neighbors we actually give space for people to contribute we start with the
people to contribute we start with the
people to contribute we start with the cup half full rather than half empty we
cup half full rather than half empty we
cup half full rather than half empty we believe in the notion that every single
believe in the notion that every single
believe in the notion that every single person has a gift so in 2000 in 2004 my
person has a gift so in 2000 in 2004 my
person has a gift so in 2000 in 2004 my journey became to became to find and
journey became to became to find and
journey became to became to find and uncover the gifts and talents of every
uncover the gifts and talents of every
uncover the gifts and talents of every single person in my community find
single person in my community find
single person in my community find places for those gifts celebrate those
places for those gifts celebrate those
places for those gifts celebrate those gifts and utilize those gifts in ways
gifts and utilize those gifts in ways
gifts and utilize those gifts in ways that build community economy and
that build community economy and
that build community economy and the light that became the start of the
the light that became the start of the
the light that became the start of the roving listener now let me tell you the
roving listener now let me tell you the
roving listener now let me tell you the first six months of me of my journey
first six months of me of my journey
first six months of me of my journey that I uncovered a whole bunch of things
that I uncovered a whole bunch of things
that I uncovered a whole bunch of things right I walked through the alleys as I
right I walked through the alleys as I
right I walked through the alleys as I uncombed over 45 backyard gardeners I
uncombed over 45 backyard gardeners I
uncombed over 45 backyard gardeners I wore out three pairs of shoes as I
wore out three pairs of shoes as I
wore out three pairs of shoes as I walked on the porches and discovered
walked on the porches and discovered
walked on the porches and discovered artists that were phenomenal I even
artists that were phenomenal I even
artists that were phenomenal I even gained a little weight as I stepped into
gained a little weight as I stepped into
gained a little weight as I stepped into the kitchens of those poor folk who made
the kitchens of those poor folk who made
the kitchens of those poor folk who made phenomenal food you see this becomes
phenomenal food you see this becomes
phenomenal food you see this becomes important because no one thinks of us as
important because no one thinks of us as
important because no one thinks of us as having any value so four years ago I
having any value so four years ago I
having any value so four years ago I started to like increase my efforts I
started to like increase my efforts I
started to like increase my efforts I realized that I should not be doing this
realized that I should not be doing this
realized that I should not be doing this work alone you know my friend Dana says
work alone you know my friend Dana says
work alone you know my friend Dana says that simple things can be hard so I
that simple things can be hard so I
that simple things can be hard so I started an engagement company called the
started an engagement company called the
started an engagement company called the large Learning Tree I make my neighbor’s
large Learning Tree I make my neighbor’s
large Learning Tree I make my neighbor’s my business partners and they didn’t
my business partners and they didn’t
my business partners and they didn’t have to put any money in it but I did
have to put any money in it but I did
have to put any money in it but I did require them to add all their social
require them to add all their social
require them to add all their social social and networking capital you know
social and networking capital you know
social and networking capital you know what that is right
what that is right
what that is right friendships we do trainings around the
friendships we do trainings around the
friendships we do trainings around the country actually around the world on
country actually around the world on
country actually around the world on ABCD community engagement and
ABCD community engagement and
ABCD community engagement and controlling our own narratives they make
controlling our own narratives they make
controlling our own narratives they make about 150 bucks an hour
about 150 bucks an hour
about 150 bucks an hour they give 20 percent of that back and it
they give 20 percent of that back and it
they give 20 percent of that back and it goes back to our neighbors to support
goes back to our neighbors to support
goes back to our neighbors to support what they’re already doing the things
what they’re already doing the things
what they’re already doing the things that are unseen last year 2016 we
that are unseen last year 2016 we
that are unseen last year 2016 we increased our efforts we received the
increased our efforts we received the
increased our efforts we received the grant from a local organization called
grant from a local organization called
grant from a local organization called reconnecting our waterway they gave us
reconnecting our waterway they gave us
reconnecting our waterway they gave us sixty seven thousand dollars there’s a
sixty seven thousand dollars there’s a
sixty seven thousand dollars there’s a story behind that but it was a sign that
story behind that but it was a sign that
story behind that but it was a sign that things were rapidly changing in my place
things were rapidly changing in my place
things were rapidly changing in my place it was being gentrified 20 years it
it was being gentrified 20 years it
it was being gentrified 20 years it wouldn’t be looking the same and most of
wouldn’t be looking the same and most of
wouldn’t be looking the same and most of us won’t even know our neighbors but
us won’t even know our neighbors but
us won’t even know our neighbors but since we were uncovering the gifts of
since we were uncovering the gifts of
since we were uncovering the gifts of people we needed to make it visible and
people we needed to make it visible and
people we needed to make it visible and we need to make investments we took 80%
we need to make investments we took 80%
we need to make investments we took 80% of that money and put it into the hands
of that money and put it into the hands
of that money and put it into the hands of poor people we are poor we did a few
of poor people we are poor we did a few
of poor people we are poor we did a few key things that was very important we
key things that was very important we
key things that was very important we hired neighborhood staff right consisted
hired neighborhood staff right consisted
hired neighborhood staff right consisted of the four of us
of the four of us
of the four of us Maurice Broadus he’s a novelist in my
Maurice Broadus he’s a novelist in my
Maurice Broadus he’s a novelist in my neighborhood he uses this gift as a as a
neighborhood he uses this gift as a as a
neighborhood he uses this gift as a as a novel writer to create portfolios of joy
novel writer to create portfolios of joy
novel writer to create portfolios of joy of my neighbors we called him the dream
of my neighbors we called him the dream
of my neighbors we called him the dream catcher then my neighbor who’s here with
catcher then my neighbor who’s here with
catcher then my neighbor who’s here with me while styled a producer his title is
me while styled a producer his title is
me while styled a producer his title is the roving illustrator he’s kind of a
the roving illustrator he’s kind of a
the roving illustrator he’s kind of a researcher he uses his gift as the sound
researcher he uses his gift as the sound
researcher he uses his gift as the sound engineer and a photographer to make the
engineer and a photographer to make the
engineer and a photographer to make the invisible visible last but not least we
invisible visible last but not least we
invisible visible last but not least we have Amanda wolf her title is the
have Amanda wolf her title is the
have Amanda wolf her title is the executive spirit she keep us legal she
executive spirit she keep us legal she
executive spirit she keep us legal she do all our books and she keep me in line
do all our books and she keep me in line
do all our books and she keep me in line most of my friends know that I’m an
most of my friends know that I’m an
most of my friends know that I’m an administrative nightmare yeah I am some
administrative nightmare yeah I am some
administrative nightmare yeah I am some of the things that emerged out of our
of the things that emerged out of our
of the things that emerged out of our place was there were artists that
place was there were artists that
place was there were artists that started to emerge there were parties we
started to emerge there were parties we
started to emerge there were parties we made sure we invested in those things we
made sure we invested in those things we
made sure we invested in those things we also said that if you could be a part of
also said that if you could be a part of
also said that if you could be a part of this only things we require that you
this only things we require that you
this only things we require that you didn’t do things that are obscene or
didn’t do things that are obscene or
didn’t do things that are obscene or illegal we said to people that whatever
illegal we said to people that whatever
illegal we said to people that whatever you do you can’t do we’ll do it alone
you do you can’t do we’ll do it alone
you do you can’t do we’ll do it alone and you have to fail at a minimum of
and you have to fail at a minimum of
and you have to fail at a minimum of three times now does anybody know why I
three times now does anybody know why I
three times now does anybody know why I said that anybody anybody because
said that anybody anybody because
said that anybody anybody because studies show that people on the margins
studies show that people on the margins
studies show that people on the margins are penalized for failing even though
are penalized for failing even though
are penalized for failing even though that
that
that dispel all the time and they create
dispel all the time and they create
dispel all the time and they create beautiful work there were block parties
beautiful work there were block parties
beautiful work there were block parties house parties that bought over 1300
house parties that bought over 1300
house parties that bought over 1300 people over a summer these were all
people over a summer these were all
people over a summer these were all people struggling with problems even
people struggling with problems even
people struggling with problems even myself with mental illness but they
myself with mental illness but they
myself with mental illness but they actually were making things building
actually were making things building
actually were making things building things these things we didn’t do they
things these things we didn’t do they
things these things we didn’t do they were already there we started we started
were already there we started we started
were already there we started we started to emerge 50 huge 50 residents around
to emerge 50 huge 50 residents around
to emerge 50 huge 50 residents around our neighborhood that created these
our neighborhood that created these
our neighborhood that created these exhibits on abandoned homes there were
exhibits on abandoned homes there were
exhibits on abandoned homes there were stories of us there became big huge big
stories of us there became big huge big
stories of us there became big huge big block parties as we gave our neighbors
block parties as we gave our neighbors
block parties as we gave our neighbors to say all you have to do is bring three
to say all you have to do is bring three
to say all you have to do is bring three people together and we invested in the
people together and we invested in the
people together and we invested in the well good
well good
well good dwell of the people that are in our
dwell of the people that are in our
dwell of the people that are in our place you know I was I think back on
place you know I was I think back on
place you know I was I think back on this and I’m I’m wondering where did I
this and I’m I’m wondering where did I
this and I’m I’m wondering where did I get this inspiration from why am I so
get this inspiration from why am I so
get this inspiration from why am I so passionate about this
passionate about this
passionate about this why are my neighbors so passionate about
why are my neighbors so passionate about
why are my neighbors so passionate about this it isn’t my education not my formal
this it isn’t my education not my formal
this it isn’t my education not my formal education I never graduated from high
education I never graduated from high
education I never graduated from high school but I can pin this back to the
school but I can pin this back to the
school but I can pin this back to the memory of my grandparents and the
memory of my grandparents and the
memory of my grandparents and the stories that run through this house for
stories that run through this house for
stories that run through this house for the 43 years I’ve been on this earth and
the 43 years I’ve been on this earth and
the 43 years I’ve been on this earth and longer now my grandfather it goes that
longer now my grandfather it goes that
longer now my grandfather it goes that my grandfather planted a tree when my
my grandfather planted a tree when my
my grandfather planted a tree when my mother was born in 1952 they live in
mother was born in 1952 they live in
mother was born in 1952 they live in Indianapolis in the swamp
Indianapolis in the swamp
Indianapolis in the swamp they all had cinderblock houses it was a
they all had cinderblock houses it was a
they all had cinderblock houses it was a place where the Kankakee River float
place where the Kankakee River float
place where the Kankakee River float underground into a place that we call
underground into a place that we call
underground into a place that we call Beck’s Lake it was also where the
Beck’s Lake it was also where the
Beck’s Lake it was also where the hospital dumped a biohazard as the
hospital dumped a biohazard as the
hospital dumped a biohazard as the children and that neighborhood would
children and that neighborhood would
children and that neighborhood would walk over see no one treated them as
walk over see no one treated them as
walk over see no one treated them as they were sacred now my granddad was an
they were sacred now my granddad was an
they were sacred now my granddad was an artisan a storyteller his mediums
artisan a storyteller his mediums
artisan a storyteller his mediums included cooking
included cooking
included cooking we’re carving and singing and he was a
we’re carving and singing and he was a
we’re carving and singing and he was a hell of a landscaper like people used to
hell of a landscaper like people used to
hell of a landscaper like people used to go to his little square in the yard and
go to his little square in the yard and
go to his little square in the yard and say do not step on Uncle bus grass aka
say do not step on Uncle bus grass aka
say do not step on Uncle bus grass aka granddad because that’s sacred he was
granddad because that’s sacred he was
granddad because that’s sacred he was kind of a neat freak
kind of a neat freak
kind of a neat freak now grandmama she worked hours and hours
now grandmama she worked hours and hours
now grandmama she worked hours and hours at food service that notre-dame and when
at food service that notre-dame and when
at food service that notre-dame and when my mother became a team that tree
my mother became a team that tree
my mother became a team that tree started to grow and in times of crisis
started to grow and in times of crisis
started to grow and in times of crisis the young people were gathered around
the young people were gathered around
the young people were gathered around that tree and my grandfather would
that tree and my grandfather would
that tree and my grandfather would actively tells stories and do magic
actively tells stories and do magic
actively tells stories and do magic tricks and as they would leave that tree
tricks and as they would leave that tree
tricks and as they would leave that tree he would remind them that life is truly
he would remind them that life is truly
he would remind them that life is truly abundant you see my grandfather and his
abundant you see my grandfather and his
abundant you see my grandfather and his neighbors knew what was sacred now my
neighbors knew what was sacred now my
neighbors knew what was sacred now my friends would laugh at me when I say
friends would laugh at me when I say
friends would laugh at me when I say this but it takes this type of structure
this but it takes this type of structure
this but it takes this type of structure that they were cultivating you know I
that they were cultivating you know I
that they were cultivating you know I say that because most people find me the
say that because most people find me the
say that because most people find me the most random person in the world but I
most random person in the world but I
most random person in the world but I was at the Kettering Foundation in Ohio
was at the Kettering Foundation in Ohio
was at the Kettering Foundation in Ohio and I heard Dave Matthews the president
and I heard Dave Matthews the president
and I heard Dave Matthews the president say not now wait not Dave Matthews of
say not now wait not Dave Matthews of
say not now wait not Dave Matthews of the Dave Matthews Band but the former
the Dave Matthews Band but the former
the Dave Matthews Band but the former president of the University of Alabama
president of the University of Alabama
president of the University of Alabama he was talking about these type of
he was talking about these type of
he was talking about these type of structures him and Edgar Codd they
structures him and Edgar Codd they
structures him and Edgar Codd they talked about blogs versus squares to me
talked about blogs versus squares to me
talked about blogs versus squares to me it was like amoebas versus skeletons you
it was like amoebas versus skeletons you
it was like amoebas versus skeletons you see it take square structures to build
see it take square structures to build
see it take square structures to build this building they have schematics
this building they have schematics
this building they have schematics they’re not flexible and they shouldn’t
they’re not flexible and they shouldn’t
they’re not flexible and they shouldn’t be you don’t want a person like me
be you don’t want a person like me
be you don’t want a person like me building this and they’re very
building this and they’re very
building this and they’re very predictable
predictable
predictable now blob structures are much more
now blob structures are much more
now blob structures are much more complex they’re flexible they’re
complex they’re flexible they’re
complex they’re flexible they’re seemingly unpredictable but you can move
seemingly unpredictable but you can move
seemingly unpredictable but you can move they change kind of like us human beings
I believe that we should use blob
I believe that we should use blob structures to cultivate community but if
structures to cultivate community but if
structures to cultivate community but if we’re going to do this there are some
we’re going to do this there are some
we’re going to do this there are some principles there’s the structure the way
principles there’s the structure the way
principles there’s the structure the way we do this in the way we first start is
we do this in the way we first start is
we do this in the way we first start is we have to have a commitment to hunter
we have to have a commitment to hunter
we have to have a commitment to hunter your work under your work ensure that
your work under your work ensure that
your work under your work ensure that the practice of this culture will keep
the practice of this culture will keep
the practice of this culture will keep going a hundred years after we leave
going a hundred years after we leave
going a hundred years after we leave this place almost like trees now are
this place almost like trees now are
this place almost like trees now are y’all getting the picture
y’all getting the picture
y’all getting the picture you know granddad and his neighbors
you know granddad and his neighbors
you know granddad and his neighbors built this and cultivate this type of
built this and cultivate this type of
built this and cultivate this type of structure they may space for every
structure they may space for every
structure they may space for every person in the life of the community they
person in the life of the community they
person in the life of the community they may space for the contributions of their
may space for the contributions of their
may space for the contributions of their gifts they care for the well-being of
gifts they care for the well-being of
gifts they care for the well-being of one another
one another
one another they celebrate it and more importantly
they celebrate it and more importantly
they celebrate it and more importantly they did what I’m asking you to do they
they did what I’m asking you to do they
they did what I’m asking you to do they did what that first nation elder did
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you
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