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Coming Together in Community:
Creating Pathways to Success While Embracing Change
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"As networks grow and transform into active, working communities of practice, we discover how Life truly changes, which is through emergence. When separate, local efforts connect with each other as networks, then strengthen as communities of practice, suddenly and surprisingly a new system emerges at a greater level of scale."
(Source: Using Emergence to Take Social Innovations to Scale,
by Margaret Wheatley and Deborah Frieze ©2006) |
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October 18, 2007
Tower Hill Botanic Gardens, Boylston, MA
Purpose
The CS² statewide network of community-school entrepreneurs gathered for their first meeting in the 2007-2008 school year to build community, hone their practice, and prepare for change. The meeting was designed to provide opportunities to introduce new staff, project leads, Community-School Entrepreneurs, and a new and emerging vision for the CS² network as it moves forward.
The meeting provided the Entrepreneurs with a mixture of presentation, structured learning activities and readings, allowing the network to deepen their awareness of:
- the larger environment (education and workforce) and current priorities (regional, state and national) surrounding and driving the CS² initiative
- the strengths and skill sets represented within statewide drop out prevention network and how best to draw upon them as a community of practice that harnesses internal resources for all participating communities
- a new framework (Community of Practice) for how the network as a whole would develop and enhance its role as a statewide think tank and incubator for best practices regarding drop out prevention and workforce development strategies for young people most disconnected from traditional educational and career pathways.
Desired Outcomes for the Meeting
- An awareness of the new CommCorp staff and Entrepreneurs so that, as a network, we understand the
additional skill sets and talents we can draw upon and continue to build community
- Agreement on how we will work together
- A beginning understanding of the changes in leadership within CS² and beyond so that we can consider the impact and implications for our work this year
- A shared understanding of CS²’s strategic priorities and activities (including supports and services offered by CommCorp) this year so that entrepreneurs can see how last year’s feedback impacted this year’s plan
- A shared understanding of the literature that is informing the “change” thinking (i.e., enhancing the CS² model) so that we can begin to speak a common language
- A list of next steps
- An evaluation of the meeting
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"...[Communities of Practice] act locally, connect regionally..."
(Source: Using Emergence to Take Social Innovations to Scale,
by Margaret Wheatley and Deborah Frieze ©2006) |
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What is a Community of Practice?
Networks make it possible for people to find others engaged in similar work. Many such smaller, individuated communities can spring from a robust network. Communities of Practice (CofPs) are also self-organized. People share a common work and realize there is great benefit to being in relationship. They use this community to share what they know, to support one another, and to intentionally create new knowledge for their field of practice. These CofPs differ from networks in significant ways.
To read more about Communities of Practice, click here.
Handouts
Documents Generated from Meeting
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