CCTNetwork15Dec08

=Looking Out For Each Other= =Thinking Our Way Through an Economic Funk=

December 15

Join us as we get inspired about what it means to think in a time of uncertainty in the economic world. All guests are welcome to bring: > some potluck food or refreshment or holiday cheer item to share > a piece of writing, music, image, object, or other item to share that represents something to you about what it means to "look out for each other." We'll enjoy the fellowship of the CCTers as we read aloud to each other and share the other items we bring.

(If you can't come in person, listen in at http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/16894; see tips )

Open to all in the CCT Community and friends Organized as part of the CCT Network series of events

Items shared
An "investment banker" sketch from 2007 by English comedians John Bird and John Fortune prefigures the economic crisis of fall '08 (albeit with a bit of British racial stereotyping), http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/187.html

Putting it in perspectve: Poverty statistics

Heaven, words by Woody Guthrie (1947), with music by the Klezmatics (2003), http://www.woodyguthrie.org/Lyrics/Heaven.htm

If, by Rudyard Kipling, http://www.everypoet.com/archive/poetry/Rudyard_Kipling/kipling_if.htm

A scene from Grand Canyon

A mention of "How to default: a primer" by Norman Strong, http://www.leftbusinessobserver.com/HowToDefault.html, How Argentina choreographed a default on its national debt in the early years of this decade (which led to it recovering economically)

An excerpt from a young person resisting being categorized as special education.

The "Playing for Change" movement captures "Stand by me" around the world, http://www.playingforchange.com/

Afterthoughts/evaluation
Guests brought more than enough food and refreshments to share, but less than enough writing, etc. to fill the evening. The gaps were filled with people expressing their experiences and analyses. PT: If we'd established at the outset how many (few) items there were to share, we could have initiated a dialogue process. That process would have allowed us better to reflect on the evidence, assumptions, and reasoning we were bringing to our spoken comments and unspoken thoughts.

Peter, I have really enjoyed my experience so far and feel enriched by all of you, who have welcomed me. The courses thus far have been everything I expected and more. What I didn't quite expect, way back when, was the depth of care and interest 'we' all take in each other, and therefore take universally. Where am I going with all of this? As you know, I work on the front line with high risk urban youth. Even if taken at faceless value, the effect they have is enormous. When one succeeds, as many have, the community is shocked, in a good way. When one fails, the family, community and city pay an enormous price; emotionally, traumatically and financially. I'm just one new cog in the wheel of 'Utopia', but... The CCT gatherings I have been at so far have always left me reflecting for several days, in a very positive way. Same for this most recent one... I recall from your re-membering session, questions you had, and it really struck a personal chord with me. At this point in my life I had not foreseen living in Massachusetts, working with Boston gangsters (or any for that matter) or being at UMass Boston; but I am, I'm glad and it seems like the right thing. So, as just one cog in the CCT wheel, and knowing the impact this program is already having on me and my contacts, personally & professionally, I can't imagine the universal effect that CCT is making, right now. Not Utopia; real change and real effect, in a real world...real time. Thank you for what you do. mike
 * email from Mike Johns**