Communities of Heart: Conditions and Criteria

Unfortunately, their self-reliance often comes at a cost. These communities of heart often work in isolation from other island communities that are facing similar problems. Wheels are reinvented, collective multi-community appeals for public and private funds never get off the ground, and competition between communities rather than cooperation among communities and the sharing of knowledge, resources and interpersonal support doesn’t exist.

Certainly, there are many instances of single-focused, short-term collaborative projects involving multiple communities and their leaders. However, there typically is not a long-term consortium-based structure in place that can be sustained and expanded over many years. We propose that just such a consortium of island communities be established on a pilot basis that brings together a small number of these island communities – these communities of heart. This collaborative community program builds on the several conditions first identified by de Tocqueville.

Criteria for a Community of Heart

1. Equality of opportunity, knowledge and status exist in the community
   1. No one person has all the answers or all the authority
   2. Collective wisdom
2. Setting exist in the community for vivid and sustained dialogue
   1. Meetings in the town square
   2. “Soap-box” democracy
3. Shared interests and reasons of mutual support are to be found in the community
   1. Self-interest is served by assisting others
   2. A systems-based understanding of mutual support
4. Civic associations (non-government community-oriented institutions) are prevalent in the community
   1. The great value to be found outside government
   2. NGO collaborations
5. Emphasis is placed on useful action within the community
   1. Watch and evaluated what I do, not what I say
   2. Everyone in a small, isolated community sees everything: the front porch
6. Emphasis is placed on experience-based action within the community
   1. Informed action based on experience, not theory
   2. 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
   1. A spiritual life (not necessarily religious)
   2. Commitment based on dedication to a higher principle/purpose