CAN handbook, Ways of working 2

Citizens Action Network handbook and guide
Handbook

What is a Citizens Action Network

I, we, world

How to make a CAN

Collaboratories

Friendly - Inquiry - Action

A new system of change

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Guide

Guide to CANs and the wider world

Menu of possibilities

Citizens doing it for themselves

Ways of working 2

Resourcing CANs

Resourcing CANs 2

CANs near you

Glossary

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Development process
Citizens Action Network development

Introductory information on Citizen action networks and The Alternative UK is on our Networks UK page.

For me the 'heart' of the handbook, and perhaps helpful to think of it as akin to the operating system? An example perhaps of a 'civic operating system'? [1]

Although it's essentially the how, ways of working for me a much better title because the quality and the care and attention we give to this for me is the primary determinant of success or failure. And I also feel that in a general context we need to talk about ways of working much more than we do now. Philralph (talk) 12:03, 23 December 2020 (UTC)

can also be seen as something like the principles which don't change, (but also seeking something which doesn't define(?) as the focus of the handbook

Layout: to begin with grouped into A/UK and other, this simply to make it easier to check we're adequately reflecting all that A/UK have done so far

Styles of working

Involvement on your own terms

can we unpack this a little? eg meaning in your own time, at your own pace, spend as little or as much time on this as you choose, the only commitments are self-chosen, etc?

"you can never move faster than the speed of trust" when it comes to community engagement." Cormac Russell [2]

Patience

"We need your help and participation but know in return that not everyone has the time to do more than they are already doing." The Alternative UK

Generosity

"If I had to choose one word - it would be Generosity. It's about having the generosity of spirit to recognise that however fantastic you think your idea is there are loads and loads of other people out there who have also got great ideas and who have been working really hard...Realise that you are surrounded by people who are trying to do good, but haven't quite managed to crack it yet. If you've got a great idea go out and find them and say 'How can my idea help you?' rather than thinking about 'How can I start from scratch?'. It's about basic human generosity." Matthew Taylor

Share learning

Sharing is caring
section needed: including sharing forward

Courage and encouragement

section needed: The root of these words is the heart. What ways of working lead us to feel more empowered?

Fun, the play ethic and celebration

section needed: sharing food, breaking bread, convivial gatherings, etc ...potential link with CASwiki info on celebration examples

see also Create the feel, Citizens doing it for themselves, Our stories

Becoming closer and better connected

(wanting some description that says what networking the networks is for, and how we can do it better, feel free to suggest improvements to this description, Philralph (talk) 08:57, 26 December 2020 (UTC))

Networks themselves becoming closer and better connected

section needed

"Community building power comes from the living database that the participants create and use together informally as they help each other solve problems, one to one and many to many. The web of human relationships that can grow along with the database is where the potential for cultural and political change can be found." Howard Rheingold

An intergenerational more-as-one

Similarly some of us feel that it's important that we keep asking ourselves, are we doing enough to recognise the needs, aspirations and (for example self-organising) actions of the next and future generations. And there's a case to be made also for the involvement and better recognition of what elders can contribute. Again this need not lead to any form of division or separatism. (Yes we CAN do better at becoming an intergenerational more-as-one (?)

Networks as part of movements becoming closer and better connected

Because of, for example the climate and ecological emergency, it's inevitable that some networks may have a more of a focus than others on specific themes such as climate action, better democracy, local economies, etc, but this need not keep us (as a movement of networks) apart. Perhaps one of the central challenges of Citizen Action Networks is simply asking the question: "Can we do better at becoming closer and better connected? Yes we CAN do better at becoming more-as-one (?)

"We now understand better than ever that innovation is very often a social, interactive process rather than one of individual creativity, and that networks play a vital role in the creation and the transfer of new knowledge and innovation. David H Hargreaves

can we add something on...

  • networks sharing resources across movements?
  • towards a coherent whole, closer to a more inclusive and increasingly self-aware movement?

Learning from other networks

  • What can we learn about ways of working from other networks?
  • What can we learn about what works for them?
  • What are their needs, towards getting closer and better connected to the extent that they might wish?
  • What can we learn from the questions they are already asking?
  • What works for them as regards sharing learning, including sharing forward
  • What would they find useful, what do they need, to help accelerate progress towards for example climate action or any of the other themes

see also: A People’s Food Policy, Building a resilient movement

Not in competition with other forms of action

Although we might talk of people moving from something like signing petitions to something altogether more involving, participatory, action orientated, it's important to say that we don't see what we're offering as being in competition with other forms of citizen and community action. Other forms of action are necessary, achieve a lot, can be a focus to help co-ordinate international action and we can be grateful for them. It's just that we think Citizens Actions Networks might be "the missing piece of the puzzle in the search for individual agency in a shared space." [3]

More about ways of working

anything not covered by the above

"We see people-power-place in action when our neighbourhoods, villages, towns or cities become a focus of common interest. When people make their place a community of interest. When communities of place become communities of interest we begin to develop a set of in-common aims, objectives and intentions. Dreams and aspirations for neighbourhoods are discussed and opportunities to make it happen are pursued, in common. When things begin to change physically, behaviour change follows and, importantly, neighbourhood we-ness builds to oversee a reinvention of place and community. Any enabling processes that support and encourage this regaining of place by its people will likely involve only light touch governance to enable the spirit of place to re-emerge. I anticipate that such initiatives will become the sustaining force behind flourishing communities." Prof. Rhiannon Corcoran, Academic Lead, Community Wellbeing Evidence Programme. Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool. [4]

More about getting started

suggested ref to help develop this section: [5]

see also: Resources which enable gatherings

Bridges of understanding and shared responsibility

"We don't need more walls of separation between nations and peoples. We know they can't protect us from global challenges like AIDS or terrorism or global warming. We need instead, more connections, more bridges of understanding and shared responsibility." Mary Robinson

section needed, link with idea of co-responsibility?

Finding a new vocabulary

  • For some of us maybe, as we use it more, the term 'pattern matching' may feel like it conveys quite well a really useful idea? For example: "It’s where we can begin the process of getting the UK to carbon neutral by 2025 without waiting for Westminster to agree. And in so doing, pattern-match with others around the globe to reach critical mass." [6]
  • Alongside CANs as Citizen Action Networks there may be many similar CAN concepts. What might such terms mean? Are any of these concepts helpful to increase our sense of togetherness? And how might they all relate to each other? Examples: Community Action Networks, Citizen Asset Networks, Citizen Agency Networks, Climate Action Networks (see for example: Oxfordshire, Climate action, etc.
  • what happens when we use the word 'influence', instead of the word 'power'?

see also: Glossary

Not yet sorted rough notes

List to be sorted, etc.:

  • preparatory discussion
  • building the network - a new source of power
  • seeing opportunity in challenging times?
  • inviting people - involvement on their terms - how do we guarantee that? need for something like protocols?
  • have we got enough on 'doesn't seek to define'?


  • realizing the benefits from a growing network of CANs including:
    • learning from (and sharing learning with, including sharing forward to?) other CANs
    • collaboration amongst CANs
  • asking ourselves what we (generally, but also specifically citizens, communities and networks) need to accelerate action and progress for each of the Menu of possibilities
  • need something, somewhere on sustaining CANs? Emergencies eg climate, unlikely to go away any time soon. We need to recognise need to be in it for the long haul, eg throughout the 2020's


  • self-organising? self-selecting?
  • citizens and community groups working with 'authorities'. Are there ways of working which boost the self-confidence of the former in ways which are transformational?


  • "open and participatory, local and citizen owned", data sovereignty, etc.
  • What's beyond collaborate and federate? ...more on the idea of co-responsibility? (from Roberto?)
  • go where the people are, where the action is
  • have fun! conviviality, etc.
  • CANs of CANs


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Notes and References

- zoom 21 12 20 - earlier discussion - google doc of resources - other references

  1. ↑ CAN Insights, David Wilcox, December 2020, docs.google.com, see also: We need civic operating systems to manage the social fabric for healthy communities – plus a social app store of tools, David Wilcox, August 17, 2018, networkedcity.blog
  2. ↑ @CormacRussell on twitter
  3. ↑ thealternative.org.uk
  4. ↑ whatworkswellbeing.org
  5. ↑ Alternative Editorial: Scenario Planning, Jul 19, 2020 thealternative.org.uk
  6. ↑ thealternative.org.uk
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