SOCIAL
NEED | Social demonstration is a practical and total human response to our era of social transition. Throughout history great cultures have flowered, embodying for their people a transcendent vision of purpose and wholeness. These cultures rose out of chaos and collapse of preceding eras through the efforts of those who desired to capture in tangible forms a new social vision. In the 20th century, demands of "Freedom Now," "New Frontier," and "Power to the People" signify frustration with the old, and a vital but inchoate yearning for the new. The purpose of social demonstration is to engage the restless vitality of this age in building the new society at the local level. |
GLOBAL
PROJECTS | In response to this need, social demonstrations are planned at strategic locations around the world and are designed to show through practical methods the possibility of restructuring society and its institutions. The intent is to establish a band of 24 demonstrations, one in each time zone. These projects are to be activated over a threeyear period, beginning in 197576, with eight initiated by the end of each year. The basis of these projects is a social model for reconstructing local communities which can be adapted and reduplicated anywhere. |
METHOD
DEVELOPMENT | The first social demonstration began in 5th City, Chicago in 1963. In a series of meetings of neighborhood residents with ICA staff, thousands of problems were listed, grouped and regrouped. Out of those listings, five basic arenas were discerned and named. These five-economic, political, education, style and symbol- are acted upon by a total of 80 community "agencies" created to deal comprehensively with all the originally listed problems, and at the same time provide structural means for dealing with new situations in the future. The same methods and models were used in Australia where an aboriginal village demonstration was begun in 1970, leading to the demonstration in Oombulgurri, and again in the Marshall Islands of the Pacific Trust Territory where a demonstration was begun in Majuro in 1972. |
UNIQUENESS | The unique aspect of these demonstrations is their comprehensive scope and specific focus. It is presupposed that to be effective, a social demonstration will work within a delineated geographical area and will address itself to all the problems of all the people in that area, dealing with the depth human problem out of the operating assumption that the symbols before which a people live are the key to real change. |
CRITERIA | The social demonstration community is chosen where there is an absence of community projects and in which the apparent hopelessness of the situation has resulted in local frustration. Into this situation, social demonstration injects a sign of hope, and demonstrates to the world the possibility of local man regenerating new leadership and using his resources to shape the future of his community for the sake of the whole world. |
IMPLEMENTATION | Social demonstration is initiated at the invitation of the local community and with the approval or tacit approval of the established authority. In a consult with local leadership, concerned citizens, and professional advisors, a plan is created that defines the guidelines within which social demonstration will take place. Within those guidelines social demonstration proceeds with periodic evaluation and redesigning. A period of two years is projected for training local leaders to operate the model independently. |
PRACTICAL
OPERATION FUNDING | The model of social demonstration is both universal in concept and unique in application lo a particular community. Such a social model works through or alongside the existing agencies, organizations, and social structures already in the community. At the same time, it motivates the indigenous community which engages in assuring that the model is responsive to the people it serves. The ICA staff, which is drawn from around the world, are consultants to the community, living in the community and sharing the community's life and style. In addition, several hundred professional consultants and technicians are available to donate their time and knowledge for the initiating consult or in subsequent shortterm task forces. The social demonstration projects are supported through a coalition of public and private sources, both local and national. The securing of adequate funding suited to each local demonstration project is one of the concerns of the initial consult. Within a particular demonstration, most of the projects will eventually become selfsupporting, achieving reductions in overall costs through a comprehensive approach which eliminates duplication of services to the community. |
GRA:CHICAGO Consult Model T/F July 1975
Across the globe, within nations, there exist groups of people who are cutoff from resources and are often forgotten or considered hopeless. The challenge presented by this situation is to humanize social structures and to release the unique gifts of these people for the world. Catalytic action at the local level has been demonstrated in such communities, in a ghetto in Chicago, in an aboriginal village in Australia, and in the Marshall Islands. The catalytic methods used in these social demonstrations are an effective means by which these people can become self sustaining, and fully human communities of awakened, trained, and globally minded people.
The consult launches the social demonstration. Professionals with particular experience and local leaders gather in the community, envision what is necessary at that time and place, and begin the practical, comprehensive planning which will bring this vision to reality. By creating a motivated body of people with a common vision, the consult gives birth and sustenance to the social demonstration. It also allows people to participate as the global servant force.
The consult is a fiveday workshop using methods of the Institute of Cultural Affairs. The participants analyze the local situation, create a vision for the community, discern what is blocking the realization of this vision, recommend a system of tactics, and commit themselves to an operating time line. Through sharing the work and a common reflective, symbolic and celebrative life, a globallocal dynamic is experienced in the social demonstration area. This forges the vocational decisions that enable the community's engagement in the future. In order to have an impact on the entire globe, a band of twentyfour social demonstrations will be established, eight per year for the next three years. Currently operating are CITY FIVE (U.S.A.), Oombulgurri (Australia), and Majuro (Marshall Islands). In the planning stage and to be initiated this year are Taj Gunj (India), Isle of Dogs (England), Jeju Do (Korea), Trastevere (Italy), and Kawangware (Kenya). The initial consults at each demonstration site will be staffed by the Institute of Cultural Affairs, their consultants, and concerned citizens from various continents across the globe. The social demonstrations will erect a sign of radical possibility illustrating the methods whereby forsaken and forgotten people in the world become creative power. In turn, this reconstitutes the role of present institutions in serving local man and leads to impetus for the reconstruction of the globe being called forth in these times. |
July, 1975
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SPIN CONTEXTS I. CONSULTANT
EXPERTISE
IV. PRACTICAL GLOBAL BREAK-
THROUGHS V. KNOW THE
PEOPLE
VI. STYLE VII. BROAD
IMAGES
REPORTS |
Need of contextual background.
Context more important than any specific planning. Why this Consult: related to ontological meaning of social demonstration which is love. Concern is vocation-interior quality of action. Consult about 3 categories of love: Consult intent is to:
1. Consultants presence, relatively invisible 1. They are something. 2. unique nation
3. Recover past for sake of future
Report on local situation by ICA representative |
Song Context Ritual Meal
Spin
DISCUSS ISSUES
TEAM PLAN
DISCONTINUITY CULTURAL EVENT |
Care and Vocation
Consultant team study and discuss issues of situation using material prepared by ICA staff both in Chicago and local situation. Make teen assignments by arena of issue.
Meet as teams to further study issues and plan what needs to happen in teams during consult.
Individual or small groups sightseeing and/or shopping.
Consultant team attend dinner and entertainment representing the culture of consult location. |
WAKE UP 5:30
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BRIEF ORI ENTATION OF THE PLACES THE TOUR WILL COVER |
MEAL
CONVERSATION
BREAK CONTEXTUAL
FRAME
ASSIGNMENTS
TIME DESIGN BREAK INTO
TEAMS BREAK | (CONSULTANT TEAM AND LOCAL PARTICIPANTS)
THE CONSULTANT TEAM IS HONORED TO BE HERE.
1. Each consultant introduces himself/ names the city he is from /tell what he does. CONTEXTUAL LECTURE: Make work team assignments-each team to be comprised of equal number of consultants and local participants. Arrange the seating space by teams, with
Team Signs on tables to mark off the seating area for the week.
Walk through the plan for the week. Break into teams to talk about the next day. Review field visit sites, ascertain what they need to look for, confirm appointments. Plan to eat dinner together. |
Teams finish their planning during dinner -- informal conversation will enable participants to know each other. |
WAKE UP 5:30
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INFORMAL ACCOUNTABILITY: "BEING EFFECTIVE"
"AT THE EDGE OF HISTORY, THE FUTURE IS BLOWING WILDLY IN OUR FACES, SOMETIMES BRIGHTENING THE AIR AND SOMETIMES BLINDING US."
review Field Visit plans and screens |
NOON LUNCH INFORMAL
COCKTAILS 7:00 DINNER 8 :30 SONG RITUAL
CONTEXT MEAL CONVERSATION
| WORKING IN TEAMS ON FIELD VISITS
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WAKE UP 5:30ACCOUNTABILITY
RITUAL
CONVERSATION
SPIN
ASSIGNMENTS BREAK NOON |
"WHAT APPEARS TO BE A BREAKING DOWN OF CIVILIZATION WORLD NEWS 1. Each participant share a news event that has been on his mind over the last month. BREAK INTO TEAMS TO BUILD A VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF THE DEMONSTRATI0N |
RITUAL
PLENARY
SPIN: BREAK 5:00 | A BAND OF SOCIAL DEMONSTRATIONS THAT COVER THE GLOBE WILL CREATE A VISIBLE NETWORK 0F CARE.
"WE HAVE ARRIVED AT AN HISTORICAL VANTAGE POINT WHERE THE WASTELAND ENDS AND HUMAN WHOLENESS AND FULFILLMENT BEGINS". REPORTS FROM VARIOUS TEAMS WITH REFLECTION AND QUESTIONS FROM THE WHOLE GROUP. FATED TO CAREBREAK INTO TEAMS TO BEGIN DISCERNING THE CONTRADICTIONS. CONTEXT CONTRADICTIONAL ANALYSIS (SEE PROCEDURES) |
DINNER | DINNER AND CULTURAL CELEBRATION PREPARED BY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY ON BEHALF OF THE CONSULTANT TEAM |
WAKE UP 5:30ACCOUNTABILITY
RITUAL
SPIN
ASSIGNMENTS BREAK NOON |
"MAN MUST HUMBLY BUT WITH COURAGE ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DESTINY OF MANKIND."
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RITUAL
SPIN BREAK 5:00 | ENGAGEMENT IN THE TASK OF CREATING THE FUTURE IS AN EXPERIENCE OF ENDLESSNESS.
"WHEN A HUMAN BEING FACES SQUARELY THE FACT THAT HE CAN FORFEIT HIS OWN LIFE,
HE .. BEGINS TO TAKE HIS OWN EXISTENCE SERIOUSLY." BUILDING CIVILIZATION: BREAK INTO TEAMS TO BUILD A TACTICAL SYSTEM THAT FLOWS FROM THE PROPOSALS CREATED IN THE MORNING (SEE PROCEDURES) |
DINNER
| TEAMS CONTINUE WORKING AT MEAL TIMES. |
WAKE UP 5:30
PRODUCTION LUNCH 12:00 SONGS
CONTEXT
RITUAL
REPORTS CONSULT
EVALUATION
PREPARATION CELEBRATION 6:00 |
TEAMS CONTINUE WORKING ON THE FINAL DOCUMENT SOCIETAL TRANSFORMATION IS A SYMBOL OF LOVE
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CONTEXT 10 min BRAINSTORM
RECOMMENDATIONS CROSS-GESTALT
RECOMMENDATIONS PRACTICAL OPERATING VISION |
Set context for creating recommendation.
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CONTEXT BRAINSTORM
BLOCKS INCLUSIVE
CONTRADICTIONS | 1. Set context for brainstorming contradictions.
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CONTEXT ACTION
BERAINSTORM NAME PROPOSAL ARENA |
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