Here’s how I found out about Jim Dier’s book, Neighbor Power (linked below), which I hope will be an important source of tips for me in building community. I visited the Fast Company Now blog where Heath Row pointed my attention to John Thackara who is guest blogging. Although my awareness of Thackara is low, I admire his Doors of Perception conference and hope to attend one day. In one of his postings for Fast Company, Thackara mentions picking up a copy of Neighbor Power. So two existing resources intermingled and bred a new resource. How organic.

Link: Amazon.com: Neighbor Power: Building Community The Seattle Way.

In the 1990s, Jim Diers helped Seattle neighborhoods face challenges ranging from gang violence to urban growth. The Neighborhood Matching Fund grew to support over 400 community self-help projects each year while a community-driven planning process involved 30,000 people. Diers provides evidence that productive community life is thriving, not just in Seattle, Washington, but in towns and cities across the globe. Both practical and inspiring, Neighbor Power offers real-life examples of how to build active, creative neighborhoods and enjoy the rich results of community empowerment.