8 Ways I Engage in City Life

Choose when to be oblivious, a spectator or an active part of efforts to improve. (Note: You don’t have to be everything at once.)

Civic PracticeBeth SandersJanuary 20, 2021community, Engagement, work, cities, leadership, participatory leadership, urban planning Comments

Are We Aiming to Fix or Improve?

The energetic pattern of a gathering, both in how we design them ahead of time, or the dynamics during the gathering, need our constant attention. One of the ways I keep an eye on things is to ask: are we aiming to fix or improve?

Civic practice, Civic Practice, Art of Hosting, ConversationBeth SandersOctober 26, 2020Conversation, Art of Hosting, circle, participatory leadership, Expert trapComment

The Expert Trap

Have you ever landed in the expert trap? I was really stuck a couple years ago: I started talking and talking and talking, not leaving any room for anyone else.

Civic Practice, Art of HostingBeth SandersOctober 21, 2020circle, Art of Hosting, participatory leadership, cities, engagement, communityComment

Fighting is Infectious

The choice at hand for each of us: Which infection do I choose to spread? The anger and frustration that comes with fight drama, or the generative possibility that comes with exploring conflict?

Civic PracticeBeth SandersOctober 15, 2020Heart at War, Heart at Peace, Arbinger Institute, Art of Hosting, participatory leadership, Civic Practice, Conflict, pandemicComment

What If We Are Not Planning to Survive?

I have lost my desire to be in learning spaces that claim to be about community when they are not. I have a shift to make in my approach, as well as name the shift to the people with whom I am creating the learning habitat. The shift I must make is simple: from "me and community" to "me in community".

Art of Hosting, Cities as Survival Skill, Civic PracticeBeth SandersOctober 12, 2020Art of Hosting, participatory leadership, APPI, planners, planning, civic managers, Civic PracticeComment

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