"When we let go of our usual categories and the productivity-oriented measuring systems so common in our culture, we can be surprised by the abilities that people with developmental disabilities often reveal - their keen sensitivity to interpersonal situations, the depth of their empathy, their willingness to overlook and to forgive, their faithfulness, their acceptance of difference, their originality, their capacity to be present and to cut through pretense, their resilience, the creativity of what they produce, and their gift for celebration."
From: More Than Inclusion, L'Arche Canada, 2005

Plan Institute hosts a week-long leadership training retreat each year and invites leaders from around the world to attend. Each of these leaders is interested in applying the model of social networks to address the aspiration of a good life for people whom are vulnerable to isolation and loneliness. This year the Institute invited The Belonging Initiative to host a dialogue with the leaders to explore contribution, citizenship and belonging.

The conversation was rich and many ideas were put forward to encourage our society forward in this work. We tried to harvest some of this inspiration, collecting 151 Ideas to Nurture Belonging and 90 Contributions and Gifts that connect people together - some of these will need a little interpretation on your part.

151 ideas to nurture belonging and citizenship
95. start a neighbourhood newsletter
96. know your neighbour...
97. offer encouragement
98. organize a neighbourhood garage sale
99. shake hands
100. invite someone in
101. stand up for someone’s rights
102. offer hope
103. care for somebody else
104. advocacy
105. be part of someone’s social network
106. charity
107. sacrifice your own comfort to give to another
108. start a book club
109. teach a child to read
110. talk

Open Cities Toronto 2007 is a weekend-long web of conversation and celebration that asks: how do we collaboratively add more open to the urban landscape we share? What happens when people working on open source, public space, open content, mash up art, and open business work together? How do we make Toronto a magnet for people playing with the open meme?
Open Cities is an unconference where Torontonians discuss - and show- what open cities are about. Belonging Initiative collaborators will be there to lead discussion about nurturing belonging in our "open cities." Stay tuned for the report-back! For more information, visit http://www.opencities.ca/

The Governor General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean, has developed a new website called CitizenVoices. Within it they have identified Belonging as one of the major themes. Here's her introduction:

The motto I have chosen is Briser les solitudes, which means “breaking down solitudes.” In this increasingly complex world, where individualism prevails and bonds of fellowship are crumbling, the marginalized members of our society are sadly increasing in number. Indifference, the every man for himself and his clan mentality serve no other purpose than to deepen inequities and widen the gaps that separate us. Now more than ever, we must gather our strength. As I travel this country, what I find most striking are the efforts made to live together in a fairer society.

Living together is not a problem; rather, it is a wonderful opportunity for citizens to reflect, speak up and act for the common good each and every day. By using the forums, blogs, and live chats on this site, we will be able to talk about what we can do so that we may live in harmony.

Let’s talk, right here!

Michaëlle Jean
Governor General of Canada

Some pretty analysis of social network sites...particularly if we start to extrapolate some of the thinking to identify why certain people are more or less likely to be isolated and lonely.