I love how you're genuinely curious towards what actually makes or breaks a Third Space. I also think creating it together, and building the community culture to keep it going is a labour of love and true dedication to social cohesion. 'Your greatest lack is your greatest gift' according to a bhuddist monk.
Thank you. Labour of love is right, and the part people underestimate is that it never really finishes. The places I have watched hold usually had ordinary rooms and a few people who kept doing the dull upkeep long after the excitement wore off. That is the love nobody photographs. The line from the monk stays with me too :)
What was incredibly successful here in Chattanooga (and was abandoned by those who wanted to control the community agenda and dictate public priorities) was establishing quasi-public spaces for collaborative learning around a comprehensive set of broad topics. The only agenda was to have an open agenda, to enable people to define the agenda, to discover common concerns, establish a shared vision, and learn-by-doing together. It was an inclusion engine, driven by leaders continuously asking "who isn't engaged, who might have something to add." This goes beyond establishing "incidental" third places. Today, all leaders seem to be running in ruts of their own making, uninterested in hearing about anything beyond or even across their particular cause. This fails to address common issues, capitalize on opportunities, and tap the collective intelligence ant talenta distributed throughout the community. The business model is "community venturing" in which organizations that create such spaces — virtual and physical — are cooperatively owned and maintain an equity stake in the improvements and solutions that emerge from them. That last part is where Chattanooga Venture failed. We're just now learning from it.
A local library had a podcast about 3rd spaces, and made a case for public libraries as 3rd spaces… made me wonder if that idea could be nourished in some way…
The only problem is with no host to be obligated towards, who is going to step in as the neutral third-party peacemaker when the guests start having real or imagined conflicts?
I’ve been thinking bout this for a while, but I believe this is the first time I’ve seen someone talk about the economic mediators of 3rd spaces. I also loved the very practical call to action at the end!
Thank you Kayla. The money question is the part I almost never see named, and it is usually where these places live or die. Once the rent has to grow instead of just cover the lights, the thing that made people come starts getting squeezed out. Really glad you are here, and more of this is coming.
I love how you're genuinely curious towards what actually makes or breaks a Third Space. I also think creating it together, and building the community culture to keep it going is a labour of love and true dedication to social cohesion. 'Your greatest lack is your greatest gift' according to a bhuddist monk.
Thank you. Labour of love is right, and the part people underestimate is that it never really finishes. The places I have watched hold usually had ordinary rooms and a few people who kept doing the dull upkeep long after the excitement wore off. That is the love nobody photographs. The line from the monk stays with me too :)
As one, wondering how retirees fit into this social construct...The work part of the building is missing.
Can you say more about this? What do you think is being missed here?
What was incredibly successful here in Chattanooga (and was abandoned by those who wanted to control the community agenda and dictate public priorities) was establishing quasi-public spaces for collaborative learning around a comprehensive set of broad topics. The only agenda was to have an open agenda, to enable people to define the agenda, to discover common concerns, establish a shared vision, and learn-by-doing together. It was an inclusion engine, driven by leaders continuously asking "who isn't engaged, who might have something to add." This goes beyond establishing "incidental" third places. Today, all leaders seem to be running in ruts of their own making, uninterested in hearing about anything beyond or even across their particular cause. This fails to address common issues, capitalize on opportunities, and tap the collective intelligence ant talenta distributed throughout the community. The business model is "community venturing" in which organizations that create such spaces — virtual and physical — are cooperatively owned and maintain an equity stake in the improvements and solutions that emerge from them. That last part is where Chattanooga Venture failed. We're just now learning from it.
A beautiful read with memorable speakers.
Thank you Kai. The speakers are the whole thing for me. I try to stay out of their way and let what they said stand. Glad it reached you.
A local library had a podcast about 3rd spaces, and made a case for public libraries as 3rd spaces… made me wonder if that idea could be nourished in some way…
The only problem is with no host to be obligated towards, who is going to step in as the neutral third-party peacemaker when the guests start having real or imagined conflicts?
I’ve been thinking bout this for a while, but I believe this is the first time I’ve seen someone talk about the economic mediators of 3rd spaces. I also loved the very practical call to action at the end!
Excited to follow your writing!
Thank you Kayla. The money question is the part I almost never see named, and it is usually where these places live or die. Once the rent has to grow instead of just cover the lights, the thing that made people come starts getting squeezed out. Really glad you are here, and more of this is coming.