Some reflections as I wind down my brief run at a consulting practice and step into a new role with a start-up foundation.

Asked to provide a guest message for the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver for last Shabbat, I’ve adapted it here, with some thoughts as we approach the new Jewish year.

In my next post about Robert Putnam’s The Upswing, I look at grassroots organizing in your own hyper-local area, as a key ingredient in strengthening our social connections.

Continuing my exploration of themes from The Upswing, I’m focusing here on the critical aspect of building young leadership as a force for building collective responsibility.

Continuing my reflections on The Upswing, I look at the tensions in the balance between individualism and collectivism in American society.

In my second post about The Upswing by Robert Putnam with Shaylyn Romney Garrett, I review the key metrics that the authors researched to document their I-We-I curve.

In the period between the November 3 election and the January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol I read The Upswing, a timely new book by Robert D. Putnam with Shaylyn Romney Garrett. The book is a follow-up to Putnam’s Bowling Alone, published 20 years ago and documents the rising tide of collectivism in US society from the Gilded Age of the late 19th century, followed by more than 50 years in backsliding on the gains made on many fronts. This post introduces my reflections from reading The Upswing.