I was traveling a lot over the past 2 weeks and was struck by the power of and things to be learned from community. In Cincinnati I learned that at a Neighborhood Council meeting the neighborhood officer reported that the crime statistics were at the lowest point in 10 years. They were about to move on to the next agenda item when a resident suggested that they should throw a party to celebrate. So a party was organized and local businesses and associations jumped on board. The new Police Chief of the city joined almost 200 neighbours for a BBQ, arts activities, and games and a great time on a Sunday afternoon.

This event led me to think more about what do we celebrate in our community building / connecting work. Do we take time to celebrate? The report from the officer was relevant, relatively immediate and was valuable to the citizens in the neighborhoods. What are the measures in our work that are immediate, relevant and valued by the citizens? And what measures could we celebrate?