Engagement

Hey guys,

I just had to share this with you - I came across it in some of the files I was working on. . .

“The spirit is primarily one of engagement. To engage is to connect, and most of us are drawn to the Roulant because here it seems unusually possible to connect to the things that matter most to us. This sense of engagement has three faces. We connect to ourselves. We connect to other people. And we connect to a larger sense of purpose, though we might all describe that purpose quite differently . . . "

Does this not, like scream RC to anyone else? It really covers everything we're all about - personal reflection, community and citizenship (or purpose and meaning). It is said so eloquently . . I love it. And then it goes on to describe engagement, which is just interesting.

". . .Engagement lives in the way people lift their heads from their work when someone comes in the door; in the extra five minutes spent in conversation when delivering a meal; in the encouraging nod given to an idea for a new project or a new way to think about a role. Engagement is sustained by patience with awkward experiments and a kind of general faith and delight in eccentricity. These qualities, these little flashes of light, are created and diffused in the myriad of small encounters of our days. And as engagement breeds engagement a rare kind of authenticity is born and grows."

This comes from a progress report from an unbeilevable charity in Montreal. Set up about 11 years ago, two guys thought they'd start this meals on wheels like program, only youth on bikes. It's grown to be huge. But not only does it somehow succeed at being an incredibly cool cause and super well run and efficient, it is incredibly engaging. The people are wonderful (I've went, and they had this big '11th' birthday bash last night, which was such a party! And I am also organizing a day for my office to go and volunteer with them), and there is this uncanny comfort level with everyone there. The place was packed last night (and on a side funny note, just to show how small Montreal really is, 2 people I knew were there!) and the vibe was just joyous. The progress report I refer to is the Foundation's attempt to figure out how to disseminate this project effectively . . . meaning recreate it else where. They have already recognized that it isn't the 'idea' or the 'cause' or the structure they want to share, rather it is this incredible engaging factor. . .

I know, I sound like a tool, but reading this (and being lucky to have experienced it) gets me excited. Hope you enjoy/appreciate as much as I did.

Love love,

Em