During our discussion at the last CVSG regular meeting about refocusing on active, applied learning, Tricia asked about the Study Group’s “North Star.” The other day Becca Dunston, a new participant in the group, emailed me with the suggestion of using “how do we?” questions to guide our effort. She had several good specific questions for dialogue topics. In general, she suggested asking “how do we build genuine community engagement that connects the fragmented efforts already underway rather than adding another siloed initiative?” I think this is a great “North Star” for the group, an ideal way to focus our learning. It makes lessons from Venture very relevant but also focuses us on where we want to go. The key implication is that our objective requires identifying as many “efforts already underway” as possible and relating them to each other, ideally via direct, interpersonal connections and collaboration. For “genuine community engagement,” I think we can use the fundamental rationales for community engagement as criteria: How do we tap into the capabilities and intelligence that distributed throughout the community? How do we get community members to buy into and support efforts? How do we facilitate collaboration to maximize community benefits and reduce duplication of efforts and risk of conflict? What do you think? — Greg Laudeman, Ed.D. Executive Officer and Principal Eduity, LLC www.eduity.net greg@eduity.net 706-271-5521