Community Solutions

The majority of poor individuals around the world live in rural conditions. To significantly reduce global poverty, we need to work alongside individuals living in rural poverty to best understand their assets, needs and priorities. Listen and learn strategies to effectively work with rural communities and in the process transform your perceptions of rural living.

Today our book club focuses on The Stop: How the Fight for Good Food Transformed a Community and Inspired a Movement, by Nick Saul and Andrea Curtis. Listen and learn about the multiyear effort to create a sustainable, internationally recognized community food center that provides for, and fights for, food equity – the process of providing opportunities for all to access good, healthy food.  

Community Solutions episode 25 discusses Muhammad Yunus’ autobiography,Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty. Learn how and why Muhammad Yunus established the Grameen Bank, the obstacles he faced, how the bank has succeeded to radically improve the lives of the poor individuals around the world. To learn more go to: muhammadyunus.org or on Twitter @Yunus_Centre

This episode of the Community Solutions podcast will be discussing key points from “The Idealist: Jeffrey Sachs and the Quest to End Poverty” by Nina Munk. This book is about Jeffrey Sachs, a world-renowned economist, and his Millennium Villages Project.This project was based in Africa with one major goal in mind - to raise people out of poverty in rural African villages. In this podcast, we delve into the planning, implementation, and progress of the Millennium Villages Project,including the achievements and pitfalls. Is this project the answer to end poverty once and for all? Keep listening to find out. We hope you enjoy the podcast and learn something new about how to better your own communities! To learn more about Jeffrey Sachs and his current work, please visit: www.jeffsachs.org

On this podcast three public health students discuss ‘The World Café’ by Dr. Juanita Brown and David Isaacs. They highlight the importance of facilitating conversations that are: inclusive of diverse groups of individuals, conducted in relaxed environments, and focused on building relationships while creating meaningful changes in communities.

MPH students at the IU Fairbanks School of Public Health engage in an enlightening discussion of the book “Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life” by the late Marshall B. Rosenburg, who was an expert in the field of nonviolent communication. Emily and Kelsey talk about key points from the book and give real life examples of how nonviolent communication can be utilized in the field of public health. Give it a listen and learn how nonviolent communication can be useful in your own life or career!

Margaret J Wheatley is an outstanding teacher and writer who travels around the world learning about different cultures and people. She has come to the simple conclusion: “We can change the world if we just start listening to one another again.” This novel, Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to restore Hope to the Future explores how simple conversations can turn into big movements. Simple listening to others and seeing them as humans can have a great impact on them. We should all make a more conscious effort to be active listeners and have more meaningful conversations with others. To learn more about Margaret J. Wheatley visit margaretwheatley.com.

Tune in to learn how to discover your community's assets and capacities by utilizing a capacity inventory. Every community member has skills and experiences that can help mobilize his or her community. Tune in to our podcast episode below to learn how you can revitalize your community!

You will get to know seven different communities across the globe, all featured in the book, “Walk Out, Walk On: A Learning Journey into Communities Daring to Live the Future Now” by authors Margaret Wheatley and Deborah Frieze. Join us as we discuss the unique ways these groups worked within their own neighborhoods to create thriving, sustainable communities and learn what it takes to be a public health leader that “Walks Out and Walks On”. Enjoy!

In Community: The Structure of Belonging, author Peter Block discusses how community is created through changing the narrative from one of deficiencies and entitlement to one of possibility and generosity. By utilizing six key conversations, we can foster accountability and acceptance within our world.