Progressive Communicators Network (PCN)
Spirit in Action also has seen the powerful impact of the application of Circle tools in building the Progressive Communicators Network. Starting in June 2000 with a small handful of media activists who were uncertain about working together, the Progressive Communicators Network has grown to more than 100 members serving over 1,500 organizations. PCN brings together media and public relations practitioners committed to increasing the power and reach of grassroots voices in the media and in the formation of public policy and opinion through national gatherings, regional gatherings and collaborative projects. Half of this group returns for a second, fourth, or even sixth annual gathering and approximately a third serve on working committees or in a leadership capacity. read more>
ReThink
Rethinking New Orleans’ Schools, New Orleans, Louisiana
Under the guidance of a cross-regional “Elders Circle,” a collaboration of New Orleans community organizers, activists, graphic artists, architects, media experts, and educators came together to find a way to bring New Orleans youth into discussions about how to rebuild the city’s schools. The challenges that faced the community long before Katrina, including racism and poverty, had become visible in the aftermath of the hurricane as never before.
Rethink was established to bring together young people to develop a vision of what their schools could be; depict their concepts in art products and architectural models; and create a video documentary of their experiences and vision for the future. They used the visual materials as the backdrop for a highly successful national news conference, and they met with several key school and government officials. They have developed an evaluation tool that they will be using over the school year to “grade” their public schools from their point of view, and they have plans to publish a book.
