From:  Andrew Phelps <no-action@cwnet.com>

To:  s-acc@yahoogroups.com

Subject:  [s-acc] grassroots networking

Date:  Thu 05/14/09 11:12 PM

Hi

Tuesday saw a "Community Forum" panel at SJCC, where two prominent community advocacies, one from Alameda County (Berkeley/Oakland) and the other from Santa Clara County met and networked. It was the Homeless Action Center and the Silicon Valley De-Bug and they presented on Community Voice and Dignity. This is a rare and special connection and it was 'blessed' by Chinese psychologist Chunyu Pu the other panelist, who stood up for the community people.

The system offers us 'process' and rewards sometimes getting a bureaucratic handle on its expectations. If we mean to thrive by truth, we practice instead "community engagement." I expect that of SJCC and I expect that, ultimately, of County M.H. But today habituation by "influencing attitudes and changing behavior" prevails.

Andrew