Rocks, Marbles and Sand
An insightful metaphor has been offered by Ron Kitchens and his colleagues (Kitchens, Gross and Smith, 2008) regarding community capital. He suggests that a community is vital when there are rocks, marbles and sand in the community. The rocks are major institutions (such as businesses, schools, banks, government agencies). Marbles are the small organizations that make the community attractive and diverse (such as art centers, museums, nature preserves, sports facilities).
Finally, there is the sand which is to be found in the informal and often unplanned activities and interpersonal interactions that contribute to the warmth in a community (such as the way in which people walk with a feeling of safety through the streets, the way in which people care about the appearance of their homes and businesses, the way in which new residents are welcomed to the community rather than being isolated). We suggest that there is a similar need for rocks, marbles and sand in those communities where expertise is being acknowledge and engaged in a collective manner. Furthermore, we believe that these communities are now to be found in many societies – and that their existence in American societies can be traced back to the founding of this country.
Communities of Heart
During the formative years of North American democracy (1830s), an observant historian from France, Alexander de Tocqueville, wrote about “Habits of the Health” that exemplified the best of North American communities. This term, “habits of the heart”, was used more recently (1985) by Robert Bellah and his colleagues in their own examination of North American communities.
What conditions seemed to reside at the heart of North American communities (and North American democracy) in 1831? According to de Tocqueville, these are:
1. Equality of opportunity, knowledge and status exist in the community
a. No one person has all the answers or all the authority
b. Collective wisdom
2. Setting exist in the community for vivid and sustained dialogue
a. Meetings in the town square
b. “Soap-box” democracy
3. Shared interests and reasons of mutual support are to be found in the community
a. Self-interest is served by assisting others
b. A systems-based understanding of mutual support
4. Civic associations (non-government community-oriented institutions) are prevalent in the community
a. The great value to be found outside government
b. NGO collaborations
5. Emphasis is placed on useful action within the community
a. Watch and evaluated what I do, not what I say
b. Everyone in a small, isolated community sees everything: the front porch
6. Emphasis is placed on experience-based action within the community
a. Informed action based on experience, not theory
b. Show me what you have learned by trying it out
7. Abiding belief is to be found in the community with regard to human progress and a sense of greater purpose in life
a. A spiritual life (not necessarily religious)
b. Commitment based on dedication to a higher principle/purpose
