This document discusses how engaging with communities' most forgotten and disregarded members through listening to their stories can help bring communities alive by helping those individuals belong and fulfill their potential. It suggests that violence often stems from feelings of being disregarded. Simple, concrete practices of showing love and regard for others, such as donating time or resources, can help address this by gradually changing perspectives. Sharing what works in our local communities can help others facing similar challenges. A website provides resources and opportunities to collaborate.

1. WHAT GIVES?

2. When inroads are made
to engage the community's
most forgotten and disregarded,
and their stories are heard
something in the community
comes alive and we get
a glimpse of what
we were meant to be

3. when we don't notice
they find other
places to belong-
often ones that don't regard
them in a way that would
help them to be what
they were truly meant to be

4. Think about it -
all violence and war
can be traced back
to a reaction of
being disregarded

5. why don't we act
to prevent this?

6. PROBABLY BECAUSE:
- to regard is to embrace
unfamiliar things
- to regard is to face
the fear of being rejected
- to regard is to risk things
not going as planned
- to regard means to admit we play
a part and our actions matter

7. what can be done?

8. simple practices can gradually
change the way we look at others
(and in the process we can see
how we look to them)

9. We practice simple CONCRETE
simple CONCRETE ways
ways to exhibit LOVE and regard
to exhibit love and regard
in order to engage the forgotten
and overlooked of our communities
(both inside and outside
of the building walls)

10. THAT is what we can do.

11. THE GOOD NEWS?

12. we aren't alone in this process
of searching and discovering
these ways

13. All over the world
people have discovered the effects
of CONCRETE LOVE
and everyday new ways/ideas
are revealed to them

14. We just need to find the ways
that could work to engage those
disregarded in our local
communities and TRY THEM

15. And the idea you have already
found that works for
your community?
Well, someone else may be searching
for that very idea this very minute.

16. And if there are no resources
or ideas that fit your situation?
The whole world community
can build and develop them
alongside you.

17. you only need to know
what you can give
right now
Time? Food? An ear?
A strong back? 50 cents?
Vacation Home?

18. Then, find the idea that matches
what you can give and VOILA!
A match is made.
Then you would share your story
in any form (video, audio, blog)
and let the world know how
well it worked.

19. On our site, you can specifically
request help with developing an idea
in our forums OR you can attend
our popular online collaborative
events and talk with people who
will help in REAL-TIME!
You can also follow our online
Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Community
Engagement Resource Kit
(coming in Spring '09)

20. as we practice these simple
acts of CONCRETE LOVE
we will grow more accustomed
to embracing “the unfamiliar”
and see our communities
COME ALIVE!

21. For more evidence
go to LOVE IS CONCRETE.com
and search “EXAMPLES” and
Read the “STORIES”