Comments on: May we all be so fortunate… http://frontporchforum.com/blog/2008/03/20/may-we-all-be-so-fortunate/ ... about community within neighborhoods and Front Porch Forum. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:13:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Michael http://frontporchforum.com/blog/2008/03/20/may-we-all-be-so-fortunate/#comment-183797 Michael Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:55:03 +0000 http://frontporchforum.com/blog/2008/03/20/may-we-all-be-so-fortunate/#comment-183797 Hi Dan. I don't know what role FPF played in the above example, except, of course, the writer used FPF to express her sentiments to her neighbors. FPF is healthy and vital in her neighborhood, but not the run-away success it is in others. One hope of FPF is that people use it to get to know their neighbors... in person. So over time its primary purpose may shift from making introductions, to sharing news, to taking collective action... or after introductions are made, FPF may just be used for the simplest things (e.g., car for sale), leaving most other topics for in-person exchanges. I know FPF has played the critical role in moving a neighborhood up one or more levels of people know each other and feeling like they belong to it. One of my neighbors talks about walking her various dogs around the block for 20 years and only knowing a few people. After some time with FPF in place, her walks are a parade of neighbor connection as she chats with dozens of people she now knows... ice broken via FPF. We've seen FPF work across many types of settings. One seemingly important factor for quick adoption of the service is to have lots of community-minded people living there already... people who volunteer, are active in the schools, who sit on boards, etc. These are the folks who understand the value quickly and will work to make something of FPF in their neighborhood, eventually roping in the couch potatoes. Best wishes. Hi Dan. I don’t know what role FPF played in the above example, except, of course, the writer used FPF to express her sentiments to her neighbors. FPF is healthy and vital in her neighborhood, but not the run-away success it is in others.

One hope of FPF is that people use it to get to know their neighbors… in person. So over time its primary purpose may shift from making introductions, to sharing news, to taking collective action… or after introductions are made, FPF may just be used for the simplest things (e.g., car for sale), leaving most other topics for in-person exchanges.

I know FPF has played the critical role in moving a neighborhood up one or more levels of people know each other and feeling like they belong to it. One of my neighbors talks about walking her various dogs around the block for 20 years and only knowing a few people. After some time with FPF in place, her walks are a parade of neighbor connection as she chats with dozens of people she now knows… ice broken via FPF.

We’ve seen FPF work across many types of settings. One seemingly important factor for quick adoption of the service is to have lots of community-minded people living there already… people who volunteer, are active in the schools, who sit on boards, etc. These are the folks who understand the value quickly and will work to make something of FPF in their neighborhood, eventually roping in the couch potatoes.

Best wishes.

]]> By: Dan http://frontporchforum.com/blog/2008/03/20/may-we-all-be-so-fortunate/#comment-183796 Dan Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:44:23 +0000 http://frontporchforum.com/blog/2008/03/20/may-we-all-be-so-fortunate/#comment-183796 That's fantastic. I'd be interested to know what you think - for your neighbourhood and other FPF participants - about: a) how much of a role FPF plays / played in both supporting the emergence of such neighbourliness, and in maintaining it? I'm thinking of two metaphors of FPF: as a scaffold or garden trellis, on which local connections have grown. If it's a scaffold, that can be taken down and the connections remain. A trellis continues to have a structural role. b) Are there examples of neighbourhoods where you believe FPF may have been critical in a step change of community? c) I think I may have asked this before, but do successful FPF neighbourhoods have certain characteristics? I recall a post where you said they vary enormously (and there's even a rural one...?) I wonder if you've spotted any recurrent themes that might underpin their success? Excuse my very demanding questions. If you want to know why I'm pestering you about it, let me know and I'll explain more. (In brief, its partly professional, for research, partly because I'm seriously contemplating trying one or more FPF-style forum pilots in the UK.) That’s fantastic. I’d be interested to know what you think - for your neighbourhood and other FPF participants - about:

a) how much of a role FPF plays / played in both supporting the emergence of such neighbourliness, and in maintaining it? I’m thinking of two metaphors of FPF: as a scaffold or garden trellis, on which local connections have grown. If it’s a scaffold, that can be taken down and the connections remain. A trellis continues to have a structural role.

b) Are there examples of neighbourhoods where you believe FPF may have been critical in a step change of community?

c) I think I may have asked this before, but do successful FPF neighbourhoods have certain characteristics? I recall a post where you said they vary enormously (and there’s even a rural one…?) I wonder if you’ve spotted any recurrent themes that might underpin their success?

Excuse my very demanding questions. If you want to know why I’m pestering you about it, let me know and I’ll explain more. (In brief, its partly professional, for research, partly because I’m seriously contemplating trying one or more FPF-style forum pilots in the UK.)

]]>