New Approach to Collaborative Problem Solving and Citizen Peacebuilding

New Approach to Collaborative Problem Solving and Citizen Peacebuilding
(being introduced by two companion websites and four key documents)

[Below is the first section of a 6 page introduction to the Community Visioning Initiative Clearinghouse website and the Community Teaching and Learning Center Clearinghouse website. The complete 6 page document is attached to this post—and is also accessible (with title "Intro to CVI and CTLC Clearinghouse Websites") from the websites themselves (see website addresses below).]

The websites, the documents, and the approach

We are in uncharted territory, for there is no culture or association of societies that ever existed on planet Earth which has had to resolve the kind of challenges the next few generations of people will have to resolve [see “A List of Ten Critical Challenges” (accessible from the last page of all four key documents below) and the longer Table of Contents for “Many Dangers Signs Flashing Red” (also attached to this post)].

This introduction provides an overview of an approach to collaborative problem solving and citizen peacebuilding which emphasizes Community Visioning Initiatives and Community Teaching and Learning Centers.

The websites which are introducing this new and comprehensive approach to collaborative problem solving and citizen peacebuilding are:

1) Community Visioning Initiatives Clearinghouse (at www.cviclearinghouse.net )
2) Community Teaching and Learning Centers Clearinghouse (at www.ctlcclearinghouse.net )

The “clearinghouse” part of the titles emphasizes that these websites can serve as gathering points for information, resources, model project case studies, and best practices which are contributions to realizing the potential of these problem solving and peacebuilding processes.

The key documents associated with this new and comprehensive approach to collaborative problem solving and citizen peacebuilding are:

1. "Many Danger Signs Flashing Red" (62 pages) (Nov. 2012) (attached to this post)


2. "The Potential of Community Visioning Initiatives (in 105 pages)" (Nov., 2012)


3. "The Potential of Community Teaching and Learning Centers (in 65 pages)” (Nov., 2012)


4. "Key Organizations, Initiatives, and Insights" (146 pages) (Nov., 2012) (attached to this post)

This writer advocates for a combination of preliminary surveys to 150 local leaders (as preparation for Community Visioning Initiatives), time-intensive Community Visioning Initiatives supported by many “Community Teaching and Learning Centers” (offering workshops suggested by the preliminary surveys), and “sister community” relationships as a way of creating local community specific and regional specific “constellations of initiatives” responses to the challenges of our times.

For a Peaceful and Sustainable Future,

Stefan Pasti, Resource Coordinator
Community Visioning Initiatives Clearinghouse
Community Teaching and Learning Centers Clearinghouse