IPCR Peacebuilding Blog
An Invitation to Visit the New IPCR Website Discussion Forum
by Stefan Pasti on 09/19/11
The website of The Interfaith Peacebuilding and Community Revitalization (IPCR) Initiative now has a Discussion Forum. The IPCR Discussion Forum can be accessed from any IPCR website page at www.ipcri.net and also at http://ipcrdiscussionforum.proboards.com/index.cgi . The Discussion Forum is from ProBoards (at www.proboards.com ). The Discussion Forum building process is easy to understand, and the tools and features are easy to use. An ad-free forum is only $7 per month.
The IPCR Initiative provides many freely accessible documents and resources that are relevant to building a “constellation” of initiatives approach to peacebuilding, community revitalization, and ecological sustainability—and the “constellation” of initiatives approach can be adopted and modified to supplement local community specific responses to the growing number of critical challenges which require urgent attention.
A central focus of The IPCR Initiative is its advocacy for a combination of Community Visioning Initiatives, “Community Teaching and Learning Centers”, and “sister community” relationships as a way of generating an exponential increase in our collective capacity to overcome the challenges of our times.
The IPCR Discussion Forum provides a wide variety of ways to encourage and grow a valuable and active learning environment—which can, in turn, assist and support efforts to achieve the above mentioned goals. Here are 3 examples of how such a valuable and active learning environment can be grown:
1) The current focus of this writer (the founder and outreach coordinator of The IPCR Initiative) is a kind of open collaboration project titled “IPCR Critical Challenges Assessment 2011”. There is an introduction to this project on The IPCR Initiative homepage (near the bottom), and an IPCR webpage for the project at http://www.ipcri.net/Critical-Challenges-Assessment.html This IPCR webpage will provide draft versions (and, eventually, completed versions) of the “statistics and observations” sections and the “commentary” sections associated with each of the 10 critical challenges currently identified. (An example now accessible—the “statistics and observations” section “Draft IPCR Critical Challenges Assessment Section #3 The End of ‘Cheap Energy’ (particularly in reference to Peak Oil)”. There is now a section in the IPCR Discussion Forum for discussing this project.
2) One of the sections in the IPCR Discussion Forum is “A Mini Questionnaire from The IPCR Initiative”. There are ten threads (stickies) posted in this section, and each of these ten threads is a question which can be replied to as if one was participating in a survey. Visitors to this section can read other people’s replies, so it’s not exactly like a survey; however, this is one way to see if the questions are useful—as in “Does the question bring forth replies that provide valuable insight on the subject of the question?” This section can become a location for creating useful questions, and testing them—and thus creating a database of questions which can be used in preliminary surveys, in preparation for Community Visioning Initiatives. This is a very important and potentially valuable aspect of the IPCR Discussion Forum—and it may be an inspiration to others to use Discussion Forums in this way. I invite readers of this message to visit this “Questionnaire” section of the IPCR Discussion Forum, and respond to the questions—or provide comments and suggestions relating to them.
3) The IPCR Initiative gives much attention to the potential of Community Visioning Initiatives (with supporting “Community Teaching and Learning Centers”—and supplementary “sister community” relationships). The ways we “invest” our time, energy, and money have a direct impact on the “ways of earning a living” that are available; and in the months and years ahead we may need to be especially constructive and creative in how we use our time, energy, and money—as this will determine what “ways of earning a living” exist. The IPCR Discussion Forum has sections for discussion of Community Visioning Initiatives “Community Teaching and Learning Centers”, and “sister community” relationships—and these sections can become clearinghouses for the exchange of information on model projects and best practices.
I believe this IPCR Discussion Forum can be very helpful to many people in their efforts to adopt to a changing community landscape with many critical challenges and many unknowns, and I invite readers of this message to visit the IPCR Discussion Forum, by visiting the IPCR Initiative website at www.ipcri.net or by visiting the IPCR Discussion Forum directly at http://ipcrdiscussionforum.proboards.com/index.cgi .
As an aid to understanding the wide range and character of the IPCR Discussion Forum, here is a list of the 17 categories which are the starting point sections for the forum. I will be alert to comments, suggestions, and recommendations by participants, and changes will be made as necessary, so the forum can move closer and closer to realizing its potential as a valuable learning environment.
The 17 Categories of the IPCR Discussion Forum:
Introductions and Welcomes
IPCR Discussion Forum Overview
Frequently Asked Questions
IPCR Critical Challenges Assessment 2011
A Four Page Summary of The IPCR Initiative
The “1000Communities2” (“1000CommunitiesSquared”) Proposal
The IPCR Journal/Newsletter (Winter 2010-2011 issue)
The Eight IPCR Concepts
A Mini Questionnaire from The IPCR Initiative
Community Visioning Initiatives
“Community Teaching and Learning Centers”
“Sister Community” Relationships
117 Related Fields of Activity
IPCR News Aggregator—and Links
Fair Use, Creative Commons, Open Source, and The IPCR Resource Sharing Policy
Open Topic
Suggestions on How to Improve this IPCR Discussion Forum
Additional Note: Significant revisions have recently been made to the The IPCR Initiative website homepage—and some additional interior webpages have been added. I hope that readers of this message who have visited the IPCR Initiative website in the past will be pleasantly surprised by new organizational structure of the IPCR homepage, and the resources now accessible on the IPCR Initiative website.
Was this post useful, helpful?
I would like to know if any readers found this post useful, helpful, relevant to their work, relevant to overcoming the challenges in their specific community, etc.
Can readers let me know if this post was helpful—or if not, why wasn’t it helpful?
For a Peaceful and Sustainable Future,
Stefan Pasti, Founder and Outreach Coordinator
The IPCR Initiative
New Website: Collected Writings of Stefan Pasti
by Stefan Pasti on 05/09/11
New website (May 8, 2011): the Collected Writings of Stefan Pasti (at www.writingsofstefanpasti.net )
1) To provide more information about who I am, and how I arrived at building The IPCR Initiative
2) to share what resources I have with others who can make good use of them (all documents are accessible for free)
3) to illustrate to beginning writers that the long and winding path ahead for them may include good results, building blocks which eventually led to good results, some efforts which are of unknown value (but may yet be helpful)--and some writings which just didn't work
4) and to offer a variety of resources (3 websites now: The Interfaith Peacebuilding and Community Revitalization (IPCR) Initiative at www.ipcri.net ; The Special Moments of Inspiration and Insight Book Project at www.specialmomentsbook.net ; and the Collected Writings of Stefan Pasti at www.writingsofstefanpasti.net ) which can be used to facilitate writing workshops (whether by me or someone else)
--this writer has created a website for his Collected Writings.
The Collected Writings website includes
1) a "Table of Contents" pdf file which provides a list (by decades, from 1960-present) of the 95 writings included, and has commentary on writings up to 1992 (the website is still a work-in-progress)
2) webpages organized by decades which provide free access to pdf files of the writings (not all pdf files have been uploaded yet...)
3) and an Autobiographical Sketch to give readers a context for the writings and the commentary
The 95 writings (and compilations) made accessible at this Collected Writings website include the following pieces which have never before been accessible on the Internet:
1) the first version of the short story "The Spirit of the Sacred Hoop" (written in 1984) (final revision in 2006)
2) the short novel "The Last Map of Root Man Charlie"
3) "Land Ho!" (a game played with homemade cards)
4) the newsletter ("Where a Village is Tended....") used in this writers' first outreach project (1991)--and responses
5) "A Timetable of Popular Events in American Culture (1900-1991)" (no footnotes or source references)
6) "Virtue Notes" (an attempt at designing an alternative currency)
7) "Activity Resource Notebook" (made when this writer was assisting elders with special needs)
8) "Songs We Love To Sing" (a songbook with lyrics to 173 sing-along songs)
9) and documents associated with building The IPCR Initiative which have not been made accessible before
I invite readers of this post to explore this Collected Writings website--and share their thoughts here as comments, in the Guestbook at the Collected Writings website, or with me personally at stefanpasti@ipcri.net (preferred email) (email option: stefan@writingsofstefanpasti.net )
I hope this Collected Writings website (and the other 2 websites I have shared with others--see above) provides some genuine assistance and inspiration to others as they try to live meaningful and compassionate lives in a very complex world.
With Kind Regards,
Stefan Pasti, Founder and Outreach Coordinator
The Interfaith Peacebuilding and Community Revitalization (IPCR) Initiative
IPCR Outreach 2011
by Stefan Pasti on 04/29/11
[Note: The following post, except for the last paragraph containing questions for readers, is the same as the "IPCR Outreach 2011" section on the homepage of The IPCR Initiative.]
Beginning in February, 2011, The IPCR Initiative will be sending an outreach message by postmail to many people, in many related fields of activity.
Believing there is an urgent need to build bridges between diverse communities of people, this writer (founder and outreach coordinator, Stefan Pasti) is sending out summary information about The IPCR Initiative ("A Four Page Summary of The IPCR Initiative"), encouraging people to access IPCR documents and resources (all IPCR documents and resources are accessible for free), and encouraging people to make best use of whatever IPCR material they find which is of value to them.
The "Four Page Summary of The IPCR Initiative" makes reference to The IPCR Journal/Newsletter (Winter 2010-2011 issue) (58 pages) which is a most comprehensive introduction to IPCR Initiative (articles include The IPCR Initiative: "Creating a Multiplier Effect of a Positive Nature", "Introducing the Concept of 'Peace Returned on Resources Invested'", and "A Call to Women's Organizations Associated with Peacebuilding and Philanthropy").
The outreach mailings also make specific reference to a paper titled "Recalibrating Our Moral Compasses" (above this section, on the right). There is a 17 page section in the "Recalibrating..." paper ("Statistics and Observations") which may clarify why this writer believes there is an urgent need for solution-oriented momentum.
At this time, this writer sees his contributions as follows: corresponding with others to provide information and suggestions, and to receive information and suggestions; collaborating with initiatives working along similar lines; and continuing to work towards realizing the full potential of The IPCR Initiative.
Included here are links to pdf files for two sample cover letters (sample cover letter #1 and sample cover letter #2) and a pdf file of the document "A Four Page Summary of The IPCR Initiative". [Note: Information about IPCR Outreach 2005, and IPCR Outreach 2008, is still accessible, from this IPCR webpage--"Earlier IPCR Outreach Efforts".] (Note: Links are also accessible from IPCR Homepage)
Readers of this IPCR Peacebuilding Blog Entry are encouraged to use the "Comments" option and offer comments, suggestions, recommendations, etc relating to "IPCR Outreach 2011". What do you think of "IPCR Outreach 2011"? Is it helpful? Do you understand what the message is, and what steps are being encouraged as a response to the message? What would you change to make "IPCR Outreach 2011" more effective, practical, useful, etc as a contribution towards overcoming the challenges of our times?
Sincerely, and With Faith,
Stefan Pasti, Founder and Outreach Coordinator
The IPCR Initiative
IPCR Journal/Newsletter (Winter 2010-2011) features “Multiplier Effect” paper and new PRORI concept
by Stefan Pasti on 01/13/11
There is a new resource available from The IPCR Initiative--The IPCR Journal/Newsletter (Winter 2010-2011 issue). This 48 page issue features a most comprehensive introduction to The IPCR Initiative (a 13 page paper titled “The IPCR Initiative: Creating a Multiplier Effect of a Positive Nature”), and parts of a work-in-progress on a concept called “Peace Returned on Resources Invested” (PRORI). A free pdf file is accessible at the website of The Interfaith Peacebuilding and Community Revitalization (IPCR) Initiative, at www.ipcri.net (in both the “Keynote Documents” section of the homepage, and “The IPCR Journal/Newsletter” section).
A central focus of The IPCR Initiative is its advocacy for a combination Community Visioning Initiatives, "Community Teaching and Learning Centers" with ongoing workshops, and "sister community" relationships as a way of generating an exponential increase in our collective capacity to overcome the challenges of our times.
A very important feature of the Community Visioning Initiatives the IPCR Initiative proposes is the job fairs which come at the end of the Community Visioning Initiative process. Such job fairs provide opportunities for all key stakeholders in the community (businesses, organizations, institutions, government, etc.) to demonstrate their upgraded awareness—and their interest in the welfare of the community—by offering and facilitating new employment opportunities… and thus assisting with a just transition from patterns of investment which in only limited ways represent solutions to prioritized challenges to patterns of investment which in many ways represent solutions to prioritized challenges.
A longer introduction The IPCR Journal/Newsletter (Winter 2010-2011 issue) has been posted at the following platforms: Aid Workers Network (www.aidworkers.net ); Ashoka Changemakers (www.changemakers.com ; see groups Community Visioning Initiatives and “Community Teaching and Learning Centers”); Fellowship for Intentional Communities “Intentional Communities Reachbook” (www.ic.org ); Organizing for America (Stefan Pasti’s blog at http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stefanpasti/gGG5Jk ); Peace and Collaborative Development Network (in group “International Institute on Peace Education” at http://www.internationalpeaceandconflict.org/group/IIPE ); Council for a Parliament of World Religions PeaceNext community (in group “Women of Spirit and Faith” at http://www.peacenext.org/group/womensnetworknorthamerica ); PeaceXPeace “Raise Women’s Voices, Build Cultures of Peace” (Stefan Pasti’s page) at http://peacexpeacecommunity.ning.com/ ; WiserEarth (see Resource on File) at www.wiserearth.org ; Worldpulse (Stefan Pasti’s Journal, at http://worldpulse.com/user/1111/journal
All IPCR documents are accessible for free, at the website of The IPCR Initiative (www.ipcri.net ).
With Kind Regards,
Stefan Pasti,Founder and Outreach Coordinator, The IPCR Initiative
[and Writer and Editor for The IPCR Journal/Newsletter (Winter 2010-2011 issue)]
A Mini Questionnaire from The IPCR Initiative
by Stefan Pasti on 09/12/10
One of The Eight IPCR Concepts [and thus part of a “constellation” of initiatives advocated by The Interfaith Peacebuilding and Community Revitalization (IPCR) Initiative] is “Questionnaires That Help Build Caring Communities”. The description of that concept offered in the document “Brief Descriptions of The Eight IPCR Concepts” begins as follows: “Organizations and communities of people often use questionnaires and surveys to identify problems and solutions, and to build consensus for collective action. Here are some example questions which are designed to be helpful in building caring communities. Hopefully, providing a few examples here will bring forth many more examples, and thus assist in building a resource base for future questionnaires that help build caring communities….”.
In this post I have included 10 questions from “The IPCR Workshop Primer” Section 10 (“39 Suggestions for Preliminary Survey Questions (as Preparation for Community Visioning Initiatives)”.
I believe it would be educational to discover how readers of this IPCR Peacebuilding Blog would respond to this questionnaire (Note: I have also made this "A Mini Questionnaire from The IPCR Initiative" post at the following platforms (ipeace, PeaceXPeace, Women of Spirit and Faith group at PeaceNext, Peace and Collaborative Development Network)-- and on my Facebook page)-- and so I encourage readers of this post to respond, in comments to this post, or to me directly at stefanpasti@ipcri.net (in an informal survey like this, confidentiality would be difficult, as there can be no authoritative process for assuring the source of responses). I will allow some time for responses to be made. If after 6 weeks, there are more than 5 responses, I will compile the results, and post them here.
There is much that can be learned when questions are asked which are intended to discover valuable insight into the whys and hows of being effective in the fields of peacebuilding, ecological sustainability, community revitalization—and the many other fields of activity necessary to overcoming the challenges of our times. It is possible that a small beginning at creating a database of helpful questions can lead to a larger collection, which can be used by many people to identify problems and solutions. If there are readers who have questions they would like to add to this “mini questionnaire” (to seek responses), I invite them to do so.
[For those who would like to discover more about The IPCR Initiative: The IPCR Initiative website is located at www.ipcri.net (Note: All IPCR documents are accessible for free). Also, an IPCR group has been created on the following platforms: Peace and Collaborative Development Network, PeaceNext, PeacexPeace, and Facebook.]
Here is the Mini Questionnaire:
[Note: The numbers associated with the questions are reference to the question number in document “The IPCR Workshop Primer” ]
(#3) An Initial Assessment
For the questions below, please check the box which best corresponds to the way you view the following statements:
a) “As a result of the unprecedented opportunities created by the expansion of the Internet, we have now arrived at a very auspicious moment in time… for at no other time in the course of history has so many people had access to so much in the way of time-tested guidelines, inspiring role models, and service-oriented initiatives relevant to peace, prosperity, and happiness for all humanity.”
__ I believe it—and there is much evidence to support it
__ I believe it—and there is sufficient evidence to support it
__ I would like to believe it, but there isn’t enough evidence to support it
__ It is difficult to believe it, with the way things are going now
__ I don’t believe it—there is no evidence to support it
b) “There are countless numbers of ‘things people can do in the everyday circumstances of their lives’ which will contribute to peacebuilding, community revitalization, and ecological sustainability efforts, in their own communities and regions—and in other parts of the world.”
__ I believe it—and there is much evidence to support it
__ I believe it—and there is sufficient evidence to support it
__ I would like to believe it, but there isn’t enough evidence to support it
__ It is difficult to believe it, with the way things are going now
__ I don’t believe it—there is no evidence to support it
#6. Most Difficult Challenges, Most Valuable Resources
a) From your point of view, what are the most difficult challenges of our times?
b) Do you believe that we—collectively—have the resources necessary to overcome the challenges you have identified as the most difficult challenges of our times?
c) If your answer to Question #2 is yes, please describe the resources you believe will contribute the most to helping us—collectively—overcome the challenges you identified.
d) If your answer to Question #2 is no, please offer any and all sincere, constructive, relevant, and practical suggestions for what we—collectively—can do to inspire, encourage, and/or create the resources you believe would be necessary to overcome the challenges you identified.
(#7) Engines of Economic Stability
Many people seem to be worried that “the economy” will collapse if there is widespread movement from “consuming material goods and ecological resources indiscriminately” to “discriminating carefully about use of material goods and ecological resources”… and yet many of the challenges of our times are very deeply rooted in cultural traditions, which suggest that it may require decades, generations, or even centuries to resolve such challenges. Surely, there will be work to do….
Please carefully consider the above introduction to this question, and then respond to the following questions.
a) Please name as many engines of economic stability and methods of economic conversion as you can which you believe would result in communities that
minimize resource requirements
maintain ecological sustainability
maintain a high level of compassion for fellow human beings
and which represent what a significant majority of community residents surveyed would describe as a high quality of life.
b) Please check the box below which best corresponds to your view of the following statement:
“It is possible to create, support, and sustain communities which can minimize resource requirements, maintain ecological sustainability, maintain a high level of compassion for fellow human beings— and which represent what a significant majority of community residents surveyed would describe as a high quality of life.”
__ I believe it—and there is much evidence to support it
__ I believe it—and there is sufficient evidence to support it
__ I would like to believe it, but there isn’t enough evidence to support it
__ It is difficult to believe it, with the way things are going now
__ I don’t believe it—there is no evidence to support it
(#8) Arriving at Working Definitions of “Right Livelihood”
Consider what ways of earning a living you would identify as “right livelihood.”
Now imagine a local community resource guide relating to employment, apprenticeships, training, and volunteer opportunities associated with “right livelihood.”
And further: imagine a committee commissioned to produce such a “right livelihood” resource guide…. And the individuals who make up the committee commissioned to produce such a resource guide….
a) What background (qualifications, experiences, etc.) would you like such individuals to have?
b) What local institutions would you consider most appropriate to commission such a resource guide, and oversee its production?
(#9) Identifying Experienced Practitioners, Stakeholders, and People Needing Assistance
Consider the assessment of the most difficult challenges of our times which you created as a response to question #6 part a) (see above).
a) Who are the Experienced Practitioners, who are most qualified to be educating people on how to successfully overcome each of the challenges you identified?
(Special Notes: Please be specific, as in times of emergency, it will be most important for leaders to understand which people are perceived as most qualified by the majority of the residents in a particular community. Also, please be straightforward and honest: if you do not know who would be most qualified to respond, please respond accordingly.)
b) Who are the Stakeholders (the people who will be affected by the education provided and guidance given by the Experienced Practitioners)?
c) Who are the People Needing Assistance (the people who do not know how to respond to the challenges you identified)?
(#14) Proactive Measures to Encourage Constructive Activity during Community Visioning Initiatives
Consider the following commentary on preparation for carrying out a Community Visioning Initiative….
[Note: Readers who need more information about what a Community Visioning Initiative is can refer to “The IPCR Initiative: Executive Summary 2010” Section V. (which is titled “Community Visioning Initiatives for the Duration of the Emergency”)]
People who are doing preliminary planning for carrying out a Community Visioning Initiative should be aware that there may be people in the community who—regardless of the difficulties and urgencies associated with resolving multiple crises—choose to focus their attention of trying to make money by preying of people’s fears, manipulating people’s trust, and/or encouraging people to abandon hope in higher aspirations, and indulge in unhealthy, or immoral behavior. Such behavior is clearly counterproductive to the building of caring communities; it can be very dangerous for community morale, and it can become a crippling obstacle in times of crises. Responsible people will take sufficient preventative measures to proactively encourage a high percentage of constructive thinking and constructive action in their community.
The question: please list at least 5 preventative measures which you believe would proactively encourage a high percentage of constructive thinking and constructive action during the carrying out of a Community Visioning Initiative in your community.
(#23) Seeking Information About Our Moral Compasses
For the questions below, please check the box (or boxes) which best corresponds to the way you view the following statements:
New) “Cultures” of violence, greed, corruption, and overindulgence:
a) have become so common that many of us accept such as inevitable
b) are a significant part of the current crises of confidence in financial markets
and c) are in many ways slowing the restructuring of investment priorities needed to respond to an increasing number of other critical challenges.
__ agree
__ agree in some ways
__ have different view—or different way of understanding our present circumstances
__ disagree in some ways
__ disagree
Your different view, or different way of understanding our present circumstances: _____________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
b) “We are at a critical point in the evolution of spiritual understanding.”
__ I believe it—and there is much evidence to support it
__ I believe it—and there is sufficient evidence to support it
__ I would like to believe it, but there isn’t enough evidence to support it
__ It is difficult to believe it, with the way things are going now
__ I don’t believe it—there is no evidence to support it
__ agree
__ agree in some ways
__ have different view—or different way of understanding our present circumstances
__ disagree in some ways
__ disagree
Your different view, or different way of understanding our present circumstances: _____________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
d) “Most people making efforts to realize their spiritual potential need to live in caring communities, so that they can find support from association with kindred spirits.”
__ agree
__ agree in some ways
__ have different view—or different way of understanding our present circumstances
__ disagree in some ways
__ disagree
Your different view, or different way of understanding our present circumstances: _____________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
g) “The most advanced societies are the ones which are successful at integrating spiritual wisdom into the everyday circumstances of community life.”
__ I believe it—and there is much evidence to support it
__ I believe it—and there is sufficient evidence to support it
__ I would like to believe it, but there isn’t enough evidence to support it
__ It is difficult to believe it, with the way things are going now
__ I don’t believe it—there is no evidence to support it
__ agree
__ agree in some ways
__ have different view—or different way of understanding our present circumstances
__ disagree in some ways
__ disagree
Your different view, or different way of understanding our present circumstances: _____________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(#24) Global Drugs Trade, Global Arms Trade—and Solutions?
Consider the following excerpt from the “World Report of Violence and Health: Summary (Recommendations for Action)” (by the World Health Organization, 2002):
“The global drugs trade and the global arms trade are integral to violence in both developing and industrialized countries. Even modest progress on either front will contribute to reducing the amount and degree of violence suffered by millions of people. To date, however—and despite their high profile in the world arena—no solutions seem to be in sight for these problems.”
a) Do you believe there are “solutions in sight” for the above mentioned problems, or do you agree with the authors at the World Health Organization? If you believe there are “solutions in sight”, please be specific and describe such solutions. Or, if you agree that “no solutions seem to be in sight”, offer your view on as to why we seem to be at a point where “no solutions seem to be in sight” for those problems.
b) Please check the box (or boxes) which best corresponds to the way you view of the following statement.
How much daily contact with the treasured wisdom of religious, spiritual, and moral traditions do you feel people in general would need before we would see noticeable progress on the above mentioned problems (the global drugs trade and the global arms trade)?
__ more than is likely to happen
__ a profound increase from current levels
__ a lot more
__ a little more
__ additional solutions will be essential to make noticeable progress (X)
__ have different view—or different understanding of our present circumstances (Y)
c) If you checked boxes X and/or Y, please describe below any solutions to the above two problems (drugs trade and arms trade) which you feel would be helpful contributions to making noticeable progress on resolving these problems.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(#32) Identifying the Most Important Elements of Community Life and Cultural Traditions
In the best of times, even the most profound challenges can be overcome; for in the best of times, ____________________ is/are nurtured, supported, and sustained by family, teachers, mentors, elders, and the everyday influences of community life and cultural traditions.
Please “brainstorm” on the subject of what would best fill in the blank in the above statement. Then choose 5-10 items from the “brainstormed list”, and rank them according to most important, and next most important, using 1 as most important, 2 as next most important, and so on.
(#34) If Only There Was a Way….
Please complete the following sentence in as many ways as you believe may help others who will read your responses:
If only there was a way to ______________________________.
Concluding Comments
I hope readers have found this questionnaire helpful in some way. I invite and welcome discussion on the creation of useful questions, invite and welcome additions to these questions, and invite and encourage responses to the above examples.
With Kind Regards,
Stefan Pasti, Founder and Outreach Coordinator
The Interfaith Peacebuilding and Community Revitalization (IPCR) Initiative
