Negotiating The Future
A National Co-Op of Research, Data, Experience, and Innovation.
First you see what you see and hear.
Second you see what you hope for and fear.
Third you see what is real and clear.
Fourth you create the future.
Let’s create our future together.
My hometown of Pittsburg, NH., is a small town where everyone knows your name. More importantly, where neighbors serve neighbors. A pivotal memory is when “Old Ernie” lost his home from a fire. His home was little more than a shack. Ernie was an old fashion New Englander. His dogs often followed him when he walked through the village. And, he always had a mint for kids who would say “Hello.” After the fire, the town quickly got together and built Ernie a new home. While very meager, it was much nicer than the one he lost. I quickly understood that this is what neighbors do for each other. This is the Spirit that I experience by faith in Jesus Christ. The work I do today is an effort to extend the expressions I learned in my hometown.
Those moments resonated loudly within our experience leading the post-Katrina response effort in New Orleans. There were a lot of homes that needed to be rebuilt. The community had to determine the solutions for the community. We quickly accepted a vision inspired by our new neighbors; families enjoying their evenings with their children playing in the neighborhood. We joined academics, practitioners, and policy makers to develop the foundations of mission engagements we use today through venture developments.
The third moments I must acknowledge come from many evenings sitting with individuals living outside of shelter from Atlanta, GA to Sarasota, FL. Together, we experience the lessons of Pittsburg and New Orleans. Specifically, displaced neighbors require the strength of neighbors, in community and in dialogue, to develop solutions.
This journey of generous friends is the foundation of Venture Development, Good Neighbors, and our Intellectual Department.
Reflecting the quality of community in the lives of others increases the quality of life of us all.
“If anyone asked me to state in one word what seemed likely to be the key of the solution of the Social Problem, I should answer unhesitatingly Co-operation. It being always understood that it is Co-operation conducted on righteous principles, and for wise benevolent ends; otherwise association cannot be expected to bear any more profitable fruit than individualism. Co-operation implies the voluntary combination of individuals to the attaining an object by mutual help, mutual counsel, and mutual effort. ”
General William Booth, In Darkest England
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AI _ Under the Sun
The thing that has been is that which will be, and that which is done is that which will be done, and there is no new thing under the sun.
Is there anything where it may be said? See, is this new? It has already been of old time, which was before us.
There is no remembrance of former things.
All that is old may be made new with AI. AI is in use. Jasper AI is a preferred creative tool.