Learning Circles
Learning Circles are ongoing opportunities for intensive innovation among those working and living closest to our most challenging issues. Neighborhood Connections has used this framework to share information, develop new strategies and adapt legacy strategies to meet the needs of our communities in areas such as
- Adult Literacy.
- Asset Based Community Development and Community Network Organizing.
- Building Neighborhood Networks.
- Equity in Public Space.
- Food justice.
The four steps in the Learning Circle framework are reflection, learning, planning, and action, and are followed one after another, over and over. It is possible to begin with any of the four steps.
- Reflection – The reflection step is a pause in activities where we gather data, impressions, history, stories, and any other observations about what we have done. To do this effectively, we must develop and exercise the capacity for detachment from our preconceived notions.
- Learning – In the learning step, we carefully examine the observations made in the reflection step and “discover” new insights, skills, relationships, structures, failures, or any other conceptual changes. We search for the principles involved in our work. To do this effectively, we must develop and exercise the capacity to search for the fundamental beliefs underlying the work.
- Planning – In the planning step, we apply the conceptual understandings we have developed. We use these newly discovered principles to systematically create a plan of action. Planning should directly reflect each insight or principle we have uncovered. To do this step effectively, we must develop and exercise the capacity for love of learning.
- Action – In the action step, as an individual, team, or organization we carry out the plans we have created. To do this effectively, we may need courage to step into the unknown.
