RTV Week #9- Abandon Inhibitions and Flash Mob It!

A Year of Raising the Village - Week #9



What is the point in a Flash Mob Dance?

It was one of those “what fun” kind of ideas that caught a spark and quickly spread...a Flash Mob Dance in our local community. Yes, we wanted to take part in a mob but couldn’t picture Tracy and Tammy choreographing this kind of village raising movement! What are two community builders to do? We looked beyond our personal set of strengths and passed the sparky idea onto someone else! Enter Ellie Badham... who picked up the dancing reins and became the fearless leader, choreographer, and coordinator for the Alberni Valley Footloose Flash Mob Dance. Ellie was an expression of confidence and passion for dance – quickly bringing people into the mix. There didn’t seem to be a bump into the road until one colleague asked... “Sounds fun but what’s the point”?

A great question! What was the point? Why organize a flash mob dance? How does this build community?

A flash mob, defined by Wikipedia as “a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual action for a brief time, then quickly disperse”.

Think about the possibilities in that!

A Flash Mob Dance can:

• Encourage people to break out of the “box” together
• Promote health and wellness (a community moving together)
• Illustrate a ripple effect – how a small group can spread enthusiasm and energy that “catches” to others. A living picture of synergy
• Express strengths – in this case an individual (yeah -Ellie) stepped up to share her strengths, passion and leadership
• Generate a buzz – business, non profits and social causes are using this non-traditional way to promote awareness of products and issues
• Spread a message in a positive economical way – using available social media! For example: a Vancouver school organized an anti-bully flash mob dance where participants wore a shirt that said “Acceptance: Just the way you are”
• Get people talking! Not only those participating but those watching are likely to take photos or videos and share with their connections.

With this in mind we became backstage helpers by spreading the word and promoting the event as a way to infuse a burst of community energy and spirit in celebration of children, families, community and our local Arts District. Several schools came on board by teaching the dance in their schools and in one case an entire school gathered in a field on anti-bully day and performed the dance together! A local senior’s group didn’t hesitate to put on their dancing shoes and join the community beat. On the day of the dance it was interesting to watch a quiet corner of the community suddenly come alive with a footloose buzz. Multi-generations, a city councillor, teachers, families, early year’s table members... all gathered to dance together in the street!

We are sold on the idea of Flash Mob’s (not just dances – search the web for the many types of flash mob’s) as a creative and fun way to bring community together and to spread positive messaging!

Here is the link to our local dance (yes - we are in there).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtBIS-OhNS8



Village Raising Questions

What is a non-traditional approach your community could take to generate a buzz?

If you were organizing a flash mob ....what message would you send?

What creative ideas do you have for bringing people together?

RTV #8 - Build a Community Play Space

A Year of Raising the Village - Week #8

Find an under utilized play space – it holds amazing potential with some creativity and a lot of elbow grease!

In Qualicum Beach, tucked behind a centralized elementary school is a true community play space. Storybook Village is a place that inspires imaginative play and fosters community connections.  Partners from the early childhood community, schools, business and seniors have co-created a play space for young children and adults young at heart. The village is made up of a paved roadway (trike sized with real traffic signs) that is warmly circled by miniature replicas of community buildings – the theatre, the library, the gas station, the bank, the medical centre … 

These 10’ by 10’ wooden buildings, each sponsored by a local group or business, beg for the creative spirits of children to make them come alive during play. What a “village-like” opportunity for children to role-play, interact with their neighbours and care for their little town!

Just behind Storybook Village, you can also find Alphabet Garden. There are 26 raised beds, each in the shape of a letter and each tended to with care and attention by community groups and businesses. A thoughtful way to blend generations. 

The end products - garden and play space - are delightful – but the incredible benefit to the community also comes in the long process of taking this project from idea to plan to build! The stories of new relationships, generosity and community spirit fuel all those involved to keep working together.

For more information, check out their website: http://www.sd69.bc.ca/programs/BLT/Pages/default.aspx 


Village Raising Question
What creative play spaces have been created (and are used) in your community?

RTV # 7- HAVE IMPACT! Support ART as a catalyst for change!

photo copyright- T. Dewar

A year of Raising the Village. Week #7





...Have you considered art as a way to express and support the social change you wish to see?

Historically the arts have been a catalyst for social change and personal and collective expression. Here are two examples that will surely have you reaching for your paintbrush...and asking your neighbour to do the same!

Melanie Schambach is an artist, facilitator and activist who brings people together to capture their voice, passions and social concerns through art. http://www.melanieschambach.com

Arts on the Ave Edmonton Society is a non-profit, community based, grassroots initiative engaged in developing a sector of their community into an arts district. At its core, Arts on the Ave believes in cultivating artistic fellowship through arts celebrations, signature art festivals, and traditions.

http://www.artsontheave.org or http://www.theavenuemovie.com

Village Raising Tip: Consider the impact art can have on your community! Bring together children, youth, and community groups to foster their collective community leadership and unique brand of creativity!

RTV #6 - Welcome to our Community, Little One!

A Year of Raising the Village: Week #6 


Families in the USA can receive a welcome letter for their newborn baby direct from the White House. What a keepsake! Imagine how that must inspire a sense of belonging in a young family, not to mention for the child as he or she grows up. We all need to feel a sense of belonging to our families, to our communities and to our culture.

Read more about how to get a letter from the president here: How to Get Congratulations From the White House | eHow.com 

A “closer to home” approach and with, perhaps, a little more intimacy – is for a community to send a welcome letter to local newborn babies.

Here is an excerpt of one that we have seen;

“Welcome to our community little one!

Your family will be your teachers in life. By talking to you, by holding you and by singing to you, your family will give you the best start possible.”

The letter could be “on request” like the White House letter or by working with the hospital, public health department or doctors who are responsible for early baby care. A welcome letter could also accompany a book as a gift from the community delivered on a first home visit.  Find out who the community partners are that have the most contact with families with newborns in your community.  Learn how to work together to celebrate a new citizen.

Village Raising Question

What do you do to welcome newborns?