I love posting quotes or short documents on my office door when something catches my attention. It provides me another way to engage with the people around me. I have been searching for a document I had posted on my office door last year. I can’t find it. I emailed a professor to see if she could remember the piece I had shared in class. She did not remember the title of the document but she did remember his name, Paul Carr. Lucky for me this person was someone she knew personally or else my brain would still frantically be searching for the connection. (I love those moments when the universe clicks.) She also sent a link to some web based information on him.

I began poking around the website and discovered a blog and many articles and books by him. One of the phrases from the web pages that stood out for me is “Doing Democracy.” Hmmm. What an interesting concept.

At TCDI we often talk about democratic processes. We encourage workshop presenters to approach their topics with this sensibility. We strive to use democratic processes in the way we relate to each other as TCDI organizers. Democratic processes are used by people who believe that everyone has a right to fully participate in all aspects of public and private life. But doing democracy, what does that mean?

In the context of Carr’s work, this means examining how educators shape democratic learning in schools. Are we just talking about it or are we doing it? It also acknowledges that democratic education is political work as it includes resistance to unfair practices and strives for change. I feel curious about how each of us is “doing democracy.” I invite you to share your questions, thoughts or experiences on this topic.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives newsletter, the Monitor, reports that the Quebec National Assembly  has adopted  a Bill that will provide better protection  for citizens exercising their right to freedom of speech and public participation.  The Bill apparently limits the use of SLAPPS [strategic law suits against public participation] which have been a major tactic used by corporations and their allies to suppress criticism and intimidate activists  and organizations acting in the public interest. The threat of the  huge costs involved in defending these suits and the fear of even greater costs if the corporate interests win in court has often been enough to effectively stop progressive protest and organizing on many urgent issues, perhaps most often in the  resourse and environmental protection areas.  If the suits do go before a judge, the community groups are often overpowered by the array of corporate lawyers and purchased experts easily available to corporate wealth.  As Normand Landry of L’Association Quebecoise de Lute Contre la Pollution is quoted as saying, ” It is urgent that all Jurisdictions in Canada follow the example set by Quebec’s National Assembly.” That includes Ontario!

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TCDI – Mission Statement (first draft – presented at Planning Group mtg. 09/07/09):
To advance community development and social justice in Toronto by creating inclusive spaces for learning and sharing, and facilitating networks across different groups which results in community mobilization.

Some Feedback Comments – TCDI Planning Group mtg. 09/07/09:

• The term “democratic” is missing from the statement.
• We need more reference to concrete activities.
• “Building community capacity” is a more attainable goal than “community mobilization”.
• We should have a separate “vision statement” to add concrete ‘ends’ (mobilizing for what?) to the ‘means’ of the mission statement.
• We could compose a grouped “statement of purpose” that includes together a vision statement, values statement, etc.
• “Facilitating” is a vague term, but appropriately vague for the context of a mission statement.
• Should it be “networking” rather than “networks”?

TCDI – Mission Statement (alternative draft – based on Planning Group feedback):
To advance democratic community development and social justice in Toronto by creating inclusive spaces for learning and sharing, and facilitating networks across diverse groups which builds community capacity.

The workshop Painting Our Stories – Engaging Community in a Storytelling Process (with Catherine Campbell, Deborah Barndt and Chris Rahim) produced this poster on the theme of this year’s Institute. Click on the image for a larger version (500K)