Be the Change You Want to See

"Be the change you want to see" is a well known motivational phrase. CSI's Director of Programs and Partnerships, Eli Malinsky used this phrase the other day in reference to the way the staff team take care of our wonderful space. I think the sentiment is applicable to a lot of what staff and members do here at CSI, and I wanted to explore it a bit more, especially in relationship to the Live Green Toronto community action project CSI helped to produce.

The sentiment of this phrase includes two great elements:

1) you have to actually carry out an action yourself if you want to see a certain behaviour be common practice. Carrying out an action allows you to learn from, and make adjustments to, your initial vision.

2) By doing a little bit yourself, you're contributing to the solution. And, if everyone does a little bit, then a heck of a lot can get done.

Both of these elements mean you also get to work more with other people, which creates an energy and draws people's unique ideas and hard work to the issue.

But, it can be hard work to always behave in a way that is so positive and to commit to create meaningful actions on an ongoing basis. So, how do we do it? And, how do we make it sustainable? Knowing that the alternative isn't great is a start. And, just awknowledging that there will be good times and bad is a first step. Looking to the folks in your community for support and to take initiative where/where you just can't adds to sustainability.

A great example of this kind of "be the change you want to see" work in action could implementing environmentally friendly practices in an apartment buidling. Can't be done alone, needs everyone do to a bit themselves, needs everyone to put their energy into the group part of the project. 

Check out the Live Green Toronto Greening Your Apartment Building Video. Key points include talking to your neighbours, thinking of common goals, seeing which goals you can accomplish a bit on on your own, seeing which goals require you to work together to accomplish, ask for help from those who may know more/have more resources, remembering that everyone is coming from a different perspective, and communicating openly and respectfully.

Check out the video!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on how to make meaning in long term, sustainable ways through community projects and what this entails/what great examples of this exist. My own thoughts on this are newly developed/constantly developing, so I beg forgiveness on the infomality of this post.