Social Resources

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NOTE: These resources present mutual support for self-improvement tools that enhance community empowerment. Members of holistic democracy movement teams, as well as others, could participate in these activities. "Speaking from the heart" means communicating authentically, honestly, and sincerely.

Tested Tools

  • Listening Dyads

    Two people pair up, agree on how much time they have to be together and take turns talking and listening from the heart, perhaps allowing time for a reflective dialogue. 

  • Open Topic Dialog

    A conversation group using a “talking stick.” Enter a safe, respectful space, speak from the heart, and express whatever’s on your mind. It’s an opportunity to talk, listen, learn, and brainstorm.

  • Spiritual Support Group

    Three or more compatible individuals meet once a month for an hour. They rotate responsibility for selecting a topic and a brief reading. 

  • Coffee Klatches

    Members gather at the same time each week for an hour to drink coffee and tea, share light snacks, and engage in open-ended conversation. Individuals come and go when they can. 

  • Pot Lucks, Picnics, and Dances

    Informal gatherings featuring potluck meals, outdoor recreational activities such as volleyball, and indoor activities such as folk dances from various ethnic traditions.

  • 12-Step Programs

    The basic premise of the 12-step model is that people help one another achieve and maintain abstinence from substances or behaviors to which they are addicted.

  • Restorative Justice

    Restorative justice is a set of principles and practices that create a different approach to dealing with crime and its impacts. Restorative justice practices work to address the dehumanization frequently experienced by people in the traditional criminal justice system. Instead of viewing a criminal act as simply a violation of a rule or statute, restorative justice sees this action as a violation of people and relationships.

  • The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, Julia Cameron

    “The ideas in creative personal development outlined in the book … have spawned many meetups and support groups throughout the world. The group meetings are based on a 12-week creativity course designed for people to work through and gain artistic inspiration, as outlined in the book.”

  • True North Groups

    “Small, intimate groups of peers where people can talk openly in confidential settings. They provide a safe place where people can share their experiences, challenges, and frustrations and get honest feedback.”

  • Affinity Group

    Wikipedia: “A group formed around a shared interest or common goal, to which individuals formally or informally belong… Examples of affinity groups include private social clubs, fraternities, writing or reading circles, hobby clubs, and groups engaged in political activism. Some affinity groups are organized in a non-hierarchical manner, often using consensus decision-making, and are frequently made up of trusted friends… Other affinity groups may have a hierarchy… Affinity groups may have either open or closed membership, although the latter is far more common”.

  • Affinity Groups at Work

    “These employee-led associations foster diversity and inclusion… In a nutshell, an affinity group — also called an employee resource group (ERG) — is a group of employees with similar backgrounds, interests, or demographic factors such as gender or ethnicity.”

  • Agenda-Free Conversation

    In line with “What Conversation Can Do for Us,” by Hua Hsu, suspend efforts to persuade and simply explore whatever’s on the minds of the participants, listening closely and aiming to better understand each other.

  • Soul Talk

    With a small group of trusted allies, determine how much time you have. Divide time equally, leaving 5-10 minutes at the end to debrief or dialog. Each person shares “roses”, what’s been happening with you that’s new and good, and “thorns”, what’s been happening with you that’s new and not-so-good.

  • Beginning Anew Conflict Resolution

    In Zen master Nhat Hanh’s monastery in France, they use a simple exercise for resolving conflicts that arise between resident monks and nuns. They call this exercise Beginning Anew and it’s a highly effective conflict resolution tool.

  • Study groups

  • Anti-racism workshops

  • Active listening workshops

  • Film discussions

Untested Tools

  • Social Service

  • To address unmet needs. members of teams or whole teams volunteer in social service programs, such as food banks, meal programs, and homeless shelters.

  • Community Dialogs

    How can we help improve the world? Talk, listen, learn, brainstorm. Horizontal, self-regulating, self-perpetuating, peer-to-peer conversations.

  • Community Workshops

    Prior to the workshop, the organizers define a focus question about which there is some ambiguity or controversy.

  • Soulful Interviews.

    Recorded on video and posted on YouTube. Rorate roles. Each interview lasts 20 minutes, followed by 20 minutes of open dialog. Interview each other. Speak from the heart. Each interview has three segments: 1) Introduce yourself. In general, what do you really care about and how do you spend your time? 2) More specifically, what have you been feeling and thinking recently? 3) What do you think about [a specific essay, book, podcast?)? The interviewee responds briefly to each question. The interviewer may ask brief clarifying questions at any time.

  • A Holistic Network of Small Teams.

    Friends, family members, fellow activists, book club members, study groups, and others form small teams to share meals, deepen friendships, and enjoy life together. 

    At least once a month, these teams open meetings with 1) a moment of silence for meditation, reflection, or prayer and 2) a “holistic check-in,” during which members confidentially report on their efforts to control their dominate-and-submit impulses.

    Members endorse the movement's core principles and affiliate the Holistic Network of Small Teams who occasionally send representatives to gatherings where they share reports, brainstorm, and inspire each other.

    In addition, many members engage in additional activities that enhance mutual support for self-improvement, such as the following.

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