Active Cambridge

My approach to building an active community is built upon the power of a collective approach.  If groups and individuals work together, everybody wins.  The “we” is mightier than the “me”. 

There are incredible things happening in our community already but most people don’t know about them.  For instance, there so many great websites out there for specific activities but unless I am already looking for that activity I will not simply run across it.  The Active Cambridge website is an attempt to have active enthusiasts but there information in a place where anyone with an interest in activity will see it and Active Cambridge as a group can market one simple step to the unactivated public.

The term "silo" is a metaphor suggesting a similarity between grain silos that segregate one type of grain from another and the segregated parts of a community. If we function in this way, working on our own, the silo syndrome breeds insular thinking, redundancy, suboptimal decision-making and participation.

Here’s Four Things I would like to accomplish through Active Cambridge:

• Provide One-Click Access to The Active City

Finding and connecting with experts and colleagues spontaneously is key to curing silo syndrome. We should be able to view the availability or "presence status" of everybody in the organization and connect with them immediately.

• Take the Opportunity for Collaboration

Groups and individuals can see others success and challenges and learn from them or work together for a common solution.  With many voices participating it is more likely that you will hear one you resonate with.

• Adopt Common Systems and Processes

 When systems interact, people are more likely to interact. Establish common platforms and systems across the organization and give people access to the same data and information. This also discourages information hoarding, which can compromise collaboration.

•  Establish Cross-Community Mentoring

Encourage active individuals and leaders to find mentors in all areas of the community.  We as a community have probably invented the “wheel” many times over and, in the process, burned-out many inventors.  By finding and utilizing mentors we recognize their efforts, learn from processes already tested, and grow from the experience. 

A "we" approach can yield a more sustainable, enjoyable, and diverse active community for all.  Can you think of a way to change one "me" action into a "we" action?