1. The Art of Community
AEE, 2016 MN
Shawn Moriarty
A Single Footstep
13 Tools and thoughts on how to craft an
experience of community.

2.  What does community mean to you?
 What are some experiences of community that you have
had?
 What are the goals/ vision/ mission of your program?

3.  Pseudo Community / Authentic
Community
 Culture of community/ rugged
individualism
 People feel safe-everyone is welcome-
people are unique.
 We are guides
 Balance head and heart

4. I believe that teaching and
modeling authentic regenerative
community could be the most
powerful thing we do with our
groups and organizations.

5. 8 Shields Model-Jon Young

6. Tool #1
 Know or at least be aware of Group
Process.
 Form , Storm, Norm, Perform,
Transform
 Know when to step in, and when
not to.
 Group Contract

7. Tool #2
 Connection Skills talking/ listening/ sharing
Meals/ gatherings
Story of your name
writing / Art
Mapping connections
Talking Stick

8. Tool #3
Processing:
 Harvesting the good stuff
 Cards, mood dudes, raccoon circles, art, music
 Learn to ask and craft good questions-practice
 What?, So What?, Now What?
 Are your questions transactional or
transformative?

9. Tool #4
 Telling Stories
Listening
Allowing
Group story of the day
Individual Story of the day

10. Tool #5
 Allow process to happen
Know your own expectations and
goals
Respect their process
recognize your own process
Yes, and.

11. Tool #6
Holding the space
Keeping it safe
Allow some degree of “Trickster”

12. Tool #7
Guide from our own experience
We are not our teachers.
How often do we try to “be” someone
else?
Lead to our strengths.
Our experiences can help us facilitate/
guide from a position of knowledge and
comfort.
It keeps it authentic

13. Tool #8
 Allow/ encourage acknowledgement
Golden Carabiner
Magic Boat
Magic Box
Role of Elders
Council

14. Tool #9
 Practice and Explore
 Be curious.
 Read
 Practice with others
 Explore options to bring new ideas to your work
 Find your edges, and the edges of your
program.
 Explore the shadows-if you want. I am not a
therapist.
 Here there be dragons.

15. Tool #10
The challenge of choice
 Many programs have some form of Challenge
By Choice included in their framing of
programs.
 And how much choice is actually given?
 Ask yourself how many options for choice you
give in each stage of your program.
 By giving real choice to our participants, we can
help develop their self-efficacy.
 Elements of Choice-Tom Leahy

16. Tool #11
 Use and create ceremony and
rituals

17. Tool #12
 Recharge your own batteries and
sharpen your saw
Renewal of Creative Path

18. Tool #13
“When in doubt, give them your
heart”. Jim Grout

19. Enjoy the process of crafting community.
 Shawn Moriarty
 asinglefootstep@gmail.com
Practice helping people discover
their gifts so that they can then
give those gifts to others.
We have the potential to help
build more regenerative
communities.