RTV #22 - Top 10 little actions

A Year of Raising the Village. Week #22 Our top 10 "little" picks to build social capital.


Better Together is a book and website (bettertogether.org) by Robert Putnam and Lewis Feldstein. Putnam is an author that influenced us a great deal when researching for our book Raising the Village.

Better Together is about building social capital - which we have blogged about before. It is defined as the collective value of all the social connections that people have and the desire from these groups to do things for each other. The authors write that, "social capital is built through hundreds of little and big actions we take everyday." From their list of 150 things that people can do to build social capital, we wanted to share our top ten picks of the little actions. Those little things that if done regularly and/or if done by more people, DO add up to make a difference.

Top 10 Little Actions

1. donate blood


2. avoid gossip


3. ask to see a friend's family photos


4. see if your neighbour needs anything when you run to the store


5. hang out at the town dump...and chat with neighbours as you sort your trash for recycling


6. say hi to people in the elevator


7. buy a BIG hot tub (ok the price tag isn't so little, but it sounds fun!)


8. sit on your front step


9. pick it up -- even if you didn't drop it


10. log off and go to the park

Village Raising Question
What little thing have you done lately that contributes to social capital?

RTV #20 - Support and be Supported by a Service Club.

A Year of Raising the Village -- Week #20.  Service Clubs Support.


"An association of business or professional people with the aims of promoting community welfare and goodwill."  Sounds like the work you do?  It also aptly describes the role of service clubs around the world.  Service clubs have a long, long history..for example, Rotary International has been around for over a century, not to mention the really old ones steeped in mystery and intrigue thanks to author Dan Brown!


Many people automatically think of service clubs as a source of money.  Yes, they fundraise, but consider the influence and momentum that could be leveraged by having access to a group of willing people "to promote community welfare." That priviledge of access, like everything else, means more than asking for money...it means developing a relationship.


Here are a few of the major ones, along with their missions.  Match your needs and their needs for big impact!  OR consider joining up.
Rotary International:  What would it take to change the world? Rotary International is the world's first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self.


Kin Canada (formerly Kinsmen and Kinettes - way to evolve!!):  Kin Canada is a dynamic volunteer organization enriching communities through service while embracing national pride, positive values, personal development and lasting friendships. Each club operates autonomously when determining how it fundraises and distributes those funds within the local community.


Lions Club International:  In 206 countries, in hospitals and senior centers, in regions battered by natural disaster, in schools and eyeglass recycling centers, Lions are doing community volunteer work, helping, leading, planning and supporting. Because they're local, they can serve the unique needs of the communities they live in. And because they're global, they can address challenges that go beyond borders. Specific areas of interest include VISION, HEALTH, YOUTH and ENVIRONMENT.


Fraternal Order of Eagles:  The Fraternal Order of Eagles is an international non-profit organization uniting fraternally in the spirit of liberty, truth, justice, and equality, to make human life more desirable by lessening its ills and promoting peace, prosperity, gladness and hope.  The Fraternal Order of Eagles uphold and nourish the values of home, family and community "that are so necessary and it seems so often get ignored and trampled in today's society."


Soroptomist International: Soroptimist International is a vibrant, dynamic organisation for today's professional and business women. They are committed to a world where women and girls together achieve their individual and collective potential, realise aspirations and have an equal voice in creating strong, peaceful communities worldwide.  Soroptimists inspire action and create opportunities to transform the lives of women and girls through a global network of members and international partnerships. Club projects range from renovating domestic violence shelters and providing mammograms to low-income women, 
to sponsoring self-esteem workshops for teenage girls. 


Village Raising Question:

Service Clubs vary in focus and strength from community to community.  Which groups have you had experience with or have been partners with in your village raising/community building processes?

RTV #17 Unite Families with a Group Garage Sale

Mothers United Community Garage Sale

A Year of Raising the Village: Week #17.  Baby gear for sale!


Recycling baby stuff is good for our environment. Recycling ideas is great for building community!

A mother from a local parent 'n' tot group attended a "Mothers United"Garage Sale in a much larger, neighbouring community. It was an event filled with great bargains for new parents and a way to pass along perfectly good, but no longer necessary, baby "gear" to those who needed it. It also was an opportunity steeped in sharing, connecting, supporting and celebrating parenthood.

This mom returned to town thinking that - if they can do it, we can do it too! Committed to sharing the experience with her local friends, she recruited vendors (parents with stuff to sell) and worked with the local Community School to arrange space with tables and chairs. The first year was a HUGE success - so much so that the Community School saw the garage sale as an effective vehicle to support local families and build community. It is now an event that is held twice a year.

Cathy Cross, the Community School coordinator says, "I am amazed by the number of pregnant women and women with young babies that I see. Young parents with young families; grandparents shopping for and with grandchildren; it's a promise for the future of our community. It is community building in a literal sense of the word. But there is also community building in the sense that a mom is a mom is a mom: no matter what the circumstance. Everyone in the room has a common starting point. Children and babies bring out the best in us and we work from there. I hear people exchanging information on programs, people, where to find this or that. We are not only recycling baby clothes (and money) but we are sharing information. Most exciting is the buzz in the room as everyone is talking and sharing."

Is there baby gear that could be recycled in your community? Are there some great community building ideas that can be recycled too?

Village Raising Tip: Here are a few tips from Cathy to help your version of a Mothers United Garage Sale work well:

• Be clear and confirm with vendors who are interested in setting up a table
• Always have a waiting list because there are always people who end up cancelling (life happens)
• Advertise, advertise, advertise - and enlist the vendors to spread the word (and posters) among their friends and connections

RTV #12 - Carpool!

A Year of Raising the Village - Week #12.

Can I hitch a ride?

We know that carpooling is good for the environment - it reduces traffic congestion, saves fuel and decreases air pollution. It also saves money, time and lowers stress. Another less recognized perk of carpooling is the opportunity for social interaction and engagement.


An interesting study done at the University of Michigan argues that carpooling is a good indicator of individual social capital.  When people choose to carpool (while it may be influenced by cost or convenience), they participate in an activity where they must spend time with other people. Trust is required and, we add, contributes to a supportive relationship.


Related Posts include:
How attached is your community?
Raising Socially Responsible Kids.



Village Raising Question: 

When is the last time you offered or accepted a ride with a friend or colleague?