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Future Community

Take seriously community, collective power and connection

Published about 1 month ago • 1 min read

The state of things and the work ahead

Some thoughts in no particular order. Let me know if you want to talk about any of it.
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+ Create community. Not lists of subscribers, fans, supporters, followers or donors.
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+ Build collective power. Not individual actions.
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+ Talk to people about what they need. Don’t tell them what to do.
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+ Connect people to people, not organizations.
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+ Show people you love them. Don’t tell them you care.
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+ Give people tools. And training. And the grace to learn.
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+ If you despair, be kind to yourself. And recognize the privilege that comes with the time to despair.
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+ Make space for collaboration and friendship. Nobody should be in this alone.
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+ Grow your network. Invite people in and organize them.
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+ You and your organization are here to help others, not benefit yourself.
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+ Seek out questions and offer answers. Don’t add to the noise.
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+ Power is personal. Stop measuring your impact in data without a name or story.
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+ Technology is a tool. Not a solution.
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+ Take digital privacy and security seriously.
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+ Listen to music, birds, leaves in the breeze, water in the river, paper as you flip the page.

The Future Community Jobs list is updated and growing. Check it out.

That's all for now.

Future Community is a product of me, Ted Fickes, and Bright+3. We look at how nonprofits, news organizations and others use story to grow community, be more sustainable and provide value to their members.

PO Box 202817, Denver, CO 80220
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Future Community

A Bright+3 newsletter about turning content into community.

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