Cormac Russell

I recently read ‘The Connected Community’ by Cormac Russell and John McKnight, and found so much of the content ringing true to my experience with Green Wood Coalition, the community organization where I work in Port Hope, Ontario. The authors explore the idea of building strong and resilient communities by emphasizing the importance of connections and relationships.

That idea has been a key discovery of our work, inviting people from the margins of rural, small-town life to a place of community belonging. This new book offers a constructive framework and language for discussion and learning. The authors’ concepts are well supported by storytelling and real-life examples.

Russell and McKnight make a solid case that a sense of belonging and the role of interdependent “ordinary citizens” are essential in building a strong community, and they provide practical advice and examples of how to create this kind of community. The authors are drawing on decades of experience as community thinkers and practitioners, much of it in the context of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD).

In a time when disappointment with leadership seems widespread, Russell and McKnight argue that adopting a model of “connectorship” is a better alternative to waiting for problems to be solved by a “saviour” promised by systems of hierarchy.

“Connectors are people with a special eye for the gifts, the potential, the interests, the skills, the experiences, and the capacities of their neighbours. They focus on those strengths and lift them up for that person and for others in the neighbourhood.”

One of the things I appreciated most about this slim and very user-friendly handbook is its practicality as a toolkit--anyone can use it to take action in their own neighbourhood. It’s aimed at empowering vibrant community life through building listening relationships, then activating the gifts and assets that already exist within our neighbourhoods.

I like the emphasis the book places on action, “community is a verb not a noun”. The authors suggest that their guide should be used as a compass rather than a map, allowing for discovery and adaptation at the local level.

I can highly recommend ‘The Connected Community’ to anyone interested in nurturing a healthier, safer and more hopeful community. This engaging book resonates with authenticity, inspiration and practical advice.… (més)