You know, “The culture of community begins with the invitation” is such a powerful truth. It’s not about grand plans or programs, but that simple, human act of asking someone to join in. That’s where it all starts.
Share Image Quote:At its heart, this quote means that a connected, thriving community isn’t something that just happens. It’s intentionally created, and the very first step, the foundational act, is the invitation.
Let me break this down a bit. So many of us, we wait for someone else to create the community we want. We complain about the lack of connection. But McKnight and Block hit the nail on the head. The “culture” – that’s the feeling, the norms, the trust – it all springs from someone having the courage to initiate. It’s a shift from being a passive consumer of your neighborhood to being an active creator of it. That invitation, even something as simple as “Hey, a few of us are getting together, you should come,” is a tiny act of leadership. It’s the spark.
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3669) |
| Category | Community (61) |
| Topics | culture (27), participation (7) |
| Literary Style | minimalist (442), poetic (635) |
| Emotion / Mood | warm (182), welcoming (2) |
| Overall Quote Score | 77 (179) |
This wisdom comes straight from John McKnight and Peter Block’s 2010 book, The Abundant Community, which was published in the United States. You sometimes see this idea floating around unattributed, but its true home is in their work on asset-based community development.
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | John McKnight (51) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | The Abundant Community: Awakening the Power of Families and Neighborhoods (51) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3669) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
John McKnight, Professor Emeritus at Northwestern University had spent decades of his life helping people rediscover the power of relationships. Being, co-founder of the ABCD Institute, his core idea revolves around communities that grows by identifying and connecting their assets. You’ll find the John McKnight book list here which are anchored by Building Communities from the Inside Out, The Careless Society, The Abundant Community, and The Connected Community.
| Official Website
| Quotation | The culture of community begins with the invitation to come together |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2010; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9781605095844; Last edition: 2012; Number of pages: 192. |
| Where is it? | Chapter: The Invitation, Approximate page from 2012 edition: 22 |
In the book, they’re pushing back against a “consumer society” where we outsource our well-being to professionals and institutions. They argue that the real abundance – the care, the wisdom, the joy – is already present in our families and neighborhoods. The “invitation” is the mechanism to unlock that latent potential and move from isolation to collective action.
This isn’t just theory. I’ve seen it work. Think about:
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Theme | Concept (265) |
| Audiences | leaders (2620), organizers (18), residents (10), students (3112), teachers (1125) |
| Usage Context/Scenario | community events (16), educational programs (3), motivational writing (240), social gatherings (7) |
Question: What if people say no to the invitation?
Answer: They will. And that’s okay. The point isn’t a 100% success rate. The point is that you’ve shifted your own role from passenger to driver. You’re creating a culture of invitation, and that energy is contagious, even with some rejections.
Question: How is this different from just planning an event?
Answer: Great question. Planning an event is transactional. An invitation is relational. It’s the difference between “The PTA meeting is at 7 pm” and “I’d value your perspective at the PTA meeting, would you join me?” One informs, the other connects.
Question: Can an invitation be digital, like a social media post?
Answer: It can be a start, but it’s a weak substitute. The most powerful invitations are personal and direct – a phone call, a face-to-face ask. That’s where the real sense of being wanted comes from, which is the bedrock of community.
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