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But No One Ever Wants To Change© 1
No one goes willingly into an initiation. Leaving a place that is familiar and entering the unknown is upsetting and causes considerable anxiety. Think about birth. This is the first initiation and rite of passage from the womb into the world. It is almost always announced with the screams from the newborn. A harrowing experience. And, that’s not just for the newborn, but for the mother, father and family as well!
A Conversation with Richard Geer, David Isaacs & David Blumenkrantz
Integrating rites of passage into community organizing effects individual, group and community transformation that result in collaborative actions, which support continual adaption. When the Story Bridge process works as an explicit rite of passage, the bedrock wisdom of that ancient human tradition helps a community move from being a collection of alienated individuals to a cohesive force for committed action. Join the conversation in Staging Change Institute – 2 April 25-28, 2013. Read more
William Lavine, DMD, MsD & Hyacinth Douglas-Bailey, JD
With David Blumenkrantz, PhD, EdM
© 2013 The Center for the Advancement of Youth, Family & Community Services. Inc.
William Lavine, DMD, and Hyacinth Douglas-Bailey, JD., members of the leadership team, Rite of Passage Experience© - ROPE®.
There are two significant and related challenges defining human progress. One is the need to adapt to a constantly transforming world. The other is the need to communicate and incorporate those adaptations into functioning and diverse communities. Indeed, the integration of adaptive strategies into viable social institutions has charted the course of human history.
Today, cultural changes, coupled with scientific and technological advances, are occurring with such rapidity that we find ourselves in a continually emerging “new world” – one that requires constant awareness and adaptation. Having to continually develop strategies to reconcile the conflict between what we know and what is constantly changing presents us with a set of ongoing challenges. The 21st century is clearly emerging as a crucial time. Recognizing the major transformations associated with the unanticipated consequences of technology and climate change is essential for adaptation, strengthening community, and ultimately, our survival. Read more
What’s the story? is the 10th element in the architectural structure for youth and community development through rites of passage. Stories, myths, legends passed down from previous generations convey values and ethics that serve survival. Everyone has a story that informs their world-view and beliefs, guiding their lives into meaningful actions. Read more
2012 offered many opportunities to stop and pay attention. Whether it was a major weather event like Super Storm Sandy or the random acts of violence culminating in the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut. What’s going on? How are events related. Read more
by David G. Blumenkrantz
It’s been an amazing vibration here in CT…. I’ve had an outpouring of calls and e-mails. Plus, everywhere I go around town conversations occur. I live in a small New England town about the size of Newtown…. Feels like being close to the epicenter of an emotional earthquake.
Kasserian Ingera?
This is the traditional greeting passed between Masai, one of Africa’s most fabled and accomplished tribes. It means: And, how are the children? Are the children well?
The Children are not well. Read more
By David G. Blumenkrantz♥ & the ROPE® Community
What if these weather events are the Earth’s way of initiating humans?
A curious possibility.
Earth is a living, sentient organism in an intimate interactive and interdependent
relationship with all living species, including human beings – a truly symbiotic
association. This is a constantly evolving and adapting ecosystem where Earth and its ally,
weather, when needed, serve as an initiator of humans in order to transmit essential
lessons necessary for whole planet survival. Read more
I’m reminded of a story. In 1984 Wethersfield Connecticut was celebrating their 350th anniversary. At the time I was the Director of the town’s Youth Service Bureau (YSB). To honor the event I had the “brilliant idea” of having students, who had been in ROPE®, break the world’s circle sit record. Notice I didn’t say, “try to break the world’s circle sit record.” The formulation of brilliant ideas rarely considers that they may not work or the energy, resources and effort necessary to “try them,” let alone have them succeed. Read more
Curiosity, a one ton roving robotic laboratory landed today on Mars. We continue to make amazing advances through technology. What if we applied this amount of intellectual capital, resources and time to improve the way we raise our children?
This article was first written about ten years ago. In celebration of Curiosity and our unbridled capacity for creativity and technical ingenuity, I’m releasing it again. Perhaps it can nudge policy-makers to consider our children as a frontier worthy of exploring and devoting resources and time to helping them grow up better. How are our children doing? Read more
M. Kalani Souza, outgoing IKE Hui Steersperson, officiates the appointment of new co-steerspersons Kesner Flores, Jean Tanimoto, David Blumenkrantz, M. Kalani Souza (left to right), Penny Larin, PRiMO and NOAA Pacific Services Center administrative support is in the foreground.
In the March blog I discussed our work with PRiMO – the Pacific Risk Management Ohana, which is a collaboration of local, national and regional agencies, institutions, organizations and academia. Over the past several years a growing number of federal agencies have begun to recognize the essential value of youth engagement and the role of rites of passage. At the March PRiMO meeting a major shift occurred. The Indigenous Knowledge and the Environment Hui (IKE Hui) chose “youth integration” through the youth and community development through rites of passage framework as its project for 2012-13. It was a great honor to be appointed “Co-steersperson” (chairman) of this distinguished group, along with Kesner Flores, Kapay Allaince and Jean Tanimoto, Pacific Services Center. Read more
David Blumenkrantz, Ph.D., Ed.M., Founder & Executive Director, The Center for the Advancement of Youth, Family & Community Services
