One of my favorite places to visit when I am back in Cincinnati, Ohio is Sebastian’s.  Sebastian’s is a cozy Greek diner that overflows with hospitality. The food is delicious and Alex the owner always treats you like a long-term friend. Although I have k...

Do we want to know each other and discover the gifts each of us have to share? The BC Housing team is made of people with many gifts. Recently I had the opportunity to spend part of a day with them talking about the lens through which we do our work. We spoke...

I am thankful for a day off and to be back in my neighbourhood. I am also very thankful that my travels over recent months have taken me to soooo many welcoming places across the US and Canada and to work with lots of great people. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone...

Recently I walked by this laundromat and noticed that most of the dryers were “out of order.” As I explored the same was true of the washers and even the detergent vending machine. So what goes on here now? Over the past couple of weeks I have been...

I just finished up working with a group of community builders for a month and spending a weekend at a community building conference.  Over that time you get a better feel for the culture of a community  and can do things like attend the county fair. Strong ...

I have spent the last week in the midwest and Florida and have felt bombarded by political ads. At a time of potential hope, the climate seems to be anything but that when listening to these ads. In contrast I have spent time with groups over the past couple m...

Staying near the town square and watching a local pub/restaurant close down and the void it left but see it was bought and being refurbished by new owners. I see them and others arrive usually by 7 am and work until midnight changing almost everything. Had the...

Citizens, government and business have come together to create a “New Forest in the City” in Brantford, Ontario. In an area surrounded by a highway and industry, 70,000 native tree species and shrubs have been planted to create a 51 acre beautiful ...

I saw this studio as part of an art walk and thought this person collects some interesting things. Great questions can help cover the assets around us. What do you collect? The things people collect can provide insights about their gifts and passions. What are...

Associations are the power-house community builders in our neighbourhoods. Groups such as Westwood Works in Cincinnati and even more informal groups such as Friends of Cornwall Park Disc Golf in Bellingham do so much to build on the local assets and what&#8217...