An Exercise in Changing Behaviours

Much to learn from this short video about how by changing the environment we can change behaviours….

The Possibility of Progress – A guided enquiry…

Wisdom Time - Leeds Progress School

The second meeting of Leeds Progress School takes place next Wednesday October 21st at Hillside in Beeston.  Join us for lunch at 1.15 or for our formal start at 2.30.

We have at least two activities planned as well as plenty of time for conversation.  If you have not already seen it, or fancy seeing it again, we will be screening ‘Ripples Out’ a film which takes stock of progress achieved by a ten year, multi-million pound investment into Holbeck Urban Village.   It is a powerful, provocative and thoughtful film packed full of lessons and insight sfor anyone serious about community, regeneration and progress.

I will also be leading a guided enquiry into ‘The Possibility of Progress’.  This will help you to think again about the progress that you wish to see and the personal, organisational and societal learning, experimentation and practices that might help.

Progress School is open to anyone and there is no charge.  If you do plan to come along then please use the contact form to get in touch so we welcome you properly!

Progress School – Ripples Out – October 21st 2.30pm – Hillside

At the second meeting of progress school I am delighted to say that we will be screening a 45 minute documentary filmed in Leeds, exploring the challenges of progress.  ’Ripples Out’ - explores regeneration, poverty and connectedness amongst different communities in south Leeds, and questions the impact – or not - that economic regeneration has had on poorer communities.  It raises questions about the potency of partnerships between statutory agencies and property developers in making progress for local people.

Whilst areas like the waterfront Holbeck Urban Village have boomed in the last decade, neighbouring communities like Holbeck and Beeston continue to face age-old challenges of poverty, deprivation and social cohesion.

The film brought together a wide range of people from these areas – including residents, developers, business owners and local politicians – to explore these big issues, share stories, visit one another’s neighbourhoods, and better understand one another.

We will have plenty of opportunity to discuss the  issues raised for us by the film and to explore how we might react to it.

• Do the benefits of large-scale regeneration really ‘ripple out’ into poorer communities?
• Could they?
• Can different economic groups really be connected through regeneration initiatives?
• And can different communities overcome barriers and work together for mutual benefit?

The film was produced in a collaborative manner that directly involved contributors in editing and shaping it. Filmmaker Dave Tomalin explains: ‘There are constantly media spotlights focused on marginalised communities, and it is rarely the case that those people in the spotlight are able to inform the way they are represented. There are no heroes or villains in this challenging film and this is largely due to the editorial involvement of those who are sharing their experiences on screen.’

The ‘Ripples Out’ film and screenings were commissioned and funded by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward. As Thea Stein, their Executive Director of Economic Inclusion explains: ‘We commissioned ‘Ripples Out’ as part of our work engaging with communities affected by those key regeneration schemes we are actively involved in, across the region. We fervently believe that true success is success that everyone can be a part of and benefit from. It is through the open approach, demonstrated through this film, with which we will discover the needs of our communities and those businesses which are embedded within them; working to create a place where they will want to continue to live and work.’

‘Ripples Out’ was produced by local film company Lippy Films with Together for Peace, as part of their ‘In One City’ series of films that aim to generate challenging conversations on topical social themes amongst different people across Leeds. Their next ‘In One City’ film is likely to be working with diverse young people around east Leeds in early 2010, in partnership with the Leeds Migration Partnership.

If you would like to join us at Progress School then please use the contact form to get in touch.  There is no charge.

Social Participation and Progress

One of the key themes explored at the recent Future Gov Work Better Together event was the promise that ’social participation gives people the power to self-actualise’.

I am sure it does.

However social participation has also been the technology of choice for us human beings to make progress at all stages of Maslow’s Hierarchy – not just at the ’self-actualising’ peak. Competence in social participation (or what de Tocqueville called ‘association’) and the ability to negotiate self interest through effective collaboration is one of the critical enablers in community and personal development.

Whether it is learning to share a cave (or a housing estate) to meet needs for shelter and warmth, putting together a team to start a new business venture, or pursuing self actualisation, effective ’social participation’ is the key.

The challenge facing us here is promoting social participation, collaboration, association. Not technology. In very few of the communities where I work is the REAL barrier to progress access to a networking site or high speed internet access (although these are cited usually after lack of money and skills).

It is often a lack of understanding about how collective self interests can best be met through negotiation and association.  About the need to see what can be contributed rather than taken.  About the need to build real trust rather than uncomfortable bureaucratic ‘compacts’.

The other barrier to social participation in the real world is an almost complete loss of belief that progress IS possible – manifesting itself in apathy and resignation. A belief that perhaps this is as good as it gets – and, if it is going to get any better then those bloody politicians had better get their fingers out, because I AM POWERLESS.

Toward Progress School Ideals?

with thanks to Barnaby - again....

Progress School will be a space for:

Carefree Exchange of Information and Experience.

No students.

No teachers.

Perfect freedom.

At times to listen, at times to talk.

This framework was developed by artists around Leeds School of Art in the 70’s, who used it as a motto for a ‘non-school’ they invented. (Thanks to Phil Kirby for sharing it with us)

Anything need adding?  Removing?

Personally I am keen to see something in there about ‘action’ as well as ‘reflection’.  Things being done differently as a result of an interaction with Progress School.  But perhaps action is an inevitable consequence – when we get the process right.

Frank Druffel – On Progress

Great advert for Shredded Wheat – in which some profound points are made about the risks inherent in progress.

Thoughts?  Reactions?

There are a series of these videos and all are worth checking out.  Tell the boss its professional development!

Pity This Monster, Manunkind

Manunkind - Thanks to Barnaby Alldrick

Thanks to Progress School friend John Beech for sharing this ee cummings poem on progress.

Pity This Monster, Manunkind

The First Progress School Meet-up

Urban Leeds - Progress South

Our first meeting this week was a fascinating mix of people – all of whom share an interest in the pursuit of progress.  Perhaps it is the holy grail or a unicorn – but early signs are that sharing conversations about our aspirations for progress, and our frustrations and achievements in pursuit of it can be provocative, challenging and fun!

Some of the ground we touched on:

• the possibility of individual and collective progress
• progressing projects
• progressing our ’selves’
• sustainability and meeting the challenges of climate change
• helping our communities to progress – should we stay or should we go now?
• the illusion of progress and progress traps

Feedback so far has been really positive and I am looking forward to our next meet on October 21st.  Want to join us?  Just use the contact form to get in touch or leave a comment on this post.

And if you came to our first meeting please share your thoughts on the experience, and what’s next.

Special thanks to Harvinder and Dehlicatessen for providing the venue and refreshment and to Rob Greenland and Graeme Tiffany for their support and advice!

Towards the Possibility of Progress

Just recently I have been thinking about the possibility of progress and why it seems to be so flipping hard to make any.

In economic development, progress is based on productivity, a measure usually derived from Gross National Product or Gross Domestic Product.  Anything likely to increase the productivity of the economy is deemed to be progress and pursued wholeheartedly.

This has led to a long term and persistent bias towards the pursuit of productivity gains – rather than to investing in establishing a context from which sustainable productivity can emerge.

Consider this from Bobby Kennedy from almost 50 years ago:

‘Too much and too long, we seem to have surrendered community excellence and community values in the mere accumulation of material things. Our gross national product … counts air pollution and cigarette advertising, and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors and the jails for those who break them. It counts the destruction of our redwoods and the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic sprawl. It counts napalm and the cost of a nuclear warhead, and armored cars for police who fight riots in our streets. It counts Whitman’s rifle and Speck’s knife, and the television programs which glorify violence in order to sell toys to our children.

Yet the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages; the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage; neither our wisdom nor our learning; neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country; it measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile. And it tells us everything about America except why we are proud that we are Americans.’

Robert F. Kennedy Address, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, March 18, 1968

Seems pretty close to the mark even 50 years later.

• Why did this voice of reason not prevail?
• Could it prevail now?
• Should it?

If you are interested in the possibility of  progress, in your community, in the city of Leeds or worldwide why not come and join us in Leeds Progress School?

Is Progress School for Me?

Sometimes You Gotta Try It To Know...

Progress School is different.

No teachers, no lessons, no exams and no reports.

Just a group (school) of people who care about making progress – for themselves, for their families, for the communities or for ‘spaceship Earth‘.  Whether progress means getting better housing, finding a decent job, solving global warming or ending child poverty, Progress School can help.

• Interested in learning how to tackle problems and make the most of opportunities?
• Something that you are working on – but want to make more progress with?
• Want to make something happen – but don’t know where to start?
• Willing to manage your own learning – with support from your peers?
• Like to develop a network of ‘fellow travellers’ in pursuit of progress?
• Can you be in Beeston, Leeds between 2.30 and 5.00 on 23rd September, 21st October and 18 November?

If you answered yes to most of these questions then Progress School is for you.

Your previous educational background is not an issue.  Whether you left school with no qualifications or a double doctorate in rocket science does not matter.  All you need is:

• a commitment to explore what progress means to you and what you need to do to make it happen
• a willingness to give and take help, support, encouragement and honest feedback from others in the School.

Fees for progress school are either:

• what you think it is worth to you, or
• what you can afford to pay – WHICHEVER IS THE LEAST

So if you can afford nothing that is what you will pay.

If in doubt – ACT – Register Your Interest Now!