(Originally published at "A Year of Service" 10/23/16)
It takes only one person to identify a social problem. Sometimes, that one person can imagine a workable solution. But implementing the solution? Making it permanent? This takes a team.
I don't have a lot to say about this so it will be a short post but this may be the most important lesson I have learned from working in my community: no two teams are alike and as much care must go into constructing the team as into any other aspect of the project.
We installed a quarter acre of prairie restoration along Hwy 44 a few years ago. That project worked because we rallied hundreds of allies including neighbors, local politicians, city departments, non-profits and grant funders. That team was able to accomplish the planting, publication of the project, community involvement and continuing support. As the project has aged the original team has contributed a little less each year. This year we began building a new team that is aligned with the evolving needs of the project. We no longer need community volunteers to dig holes. Instead, we need botanists to monitor specific species. We need public relations work. We need a specific piece of maintenance equipment. New needs, new team.
Similarly, the Shaw Memorial Forest began as a project requiring a lot of neighbor support and manual labor. We accomplished that by writing tree grants and inviting neighbors to plant a free tree for a loved one. The project has been a smashing success so far. As we look towards the beginning of the third year we anticipate changing project parameters. Planting and watering will be minor needs for the future. Mowing the grass and developing the public experience of the forest will become the main needs. That will require a large mower and small group of people who are passionate about memorials, place making and perhaps the Shaw neighborhood. Whether or not these people like to dig holes is immaterial. New needs, new team.
Both of these projects began as the idea of one or two people. They would have never gotten off the ground without our strategic efforts at team building. By the same token, the projects will fade away if we can't master the art of team succession. Stay tuned.
I don't have a lot to say about this so it will be a short post but this may be the most important lesson I have learned from working in my community: no two teams are alike and as much care must go into constructing the team as into any other aspect of the project.
We installed a quarter acre of prairie restoration along Hwy 44 a few years ago. That project worked because we rallied hundreds of allies including neighbors, local politicians, city departments, non-profits and grant funders. That team was able to accomplish the planting, publication of the project, community involvement and continuing support. As the project has aged the original team has contributed a little less each year. This year we began building a new team that is aligned with the evolving needs of the project. We no longer need community volunteers to dig holes. Instead, we need botanists to monitor specific species. We need public relations work. We need a specific piece of maintenance equipment. New needs, new team.
Similarly, the Shaw Memorial Forest began as a project requiring a lot of neighbor support and manual labor. We accomplished that by writing tree grants and inviting neighbors to plant a free tree for a loved one. The project has been a smashing success so far. As we look towards the beginning of the third year we anticipate changing project parameters. Planting and watering will be minor needs for the future. Mowing the grass and developing the public experience of the forest will become the main needs. That will require a large mower and small group of people who are passionate about memorials, place making and perhaps the Shaw neighborhood. Whether or not these people like to dig holes is immaterial. New needs, new team.
Both of these projects began as the idea of one or two people. They would have never gotten off the ground without our strategic efforts at team building. By the same token, the projects will fade away if we can't master the art of team succession. Stay tuned.
