Peter Block & John McKnight: The Abundant Community

Leading training and development expert and Partner in Designed Learning, Peter Block, and Emeritus Professor of education and social policy and coordinator of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute at Northwestern University, John McKnight describe the invisible but immeasurable impact consumerism has had on families and communities. Purchases of essential products and services are made from outside the community. Services and necessities of life are outsourced. Because people look outside of their own community for products and services, they think of themselves as consumers and not as citizens and neighbors. The authors offer an alternative concept for creating a satisfying life. They share the possibilities that result from forming a community that nurtures both families and useful citizens. The authors offer practical ideas for developing voluntary and self-organizing structures within a community. The ideas can help rebuild families, neighborhoods, entire communities and strengthen their local economies.The authors offer hope for building peoples' lives on their own terms for their mutual benefit.