August 2018
WORD OF MOUTH
X
A SPECIAL COLLABORATION WITH NORN
Salon Summary
As we move around the world and cities become more transient there is a growing call for the search and return for community. But like many words that have become a buzzword and trend, we must stop and ask our self, what does community mean? This question was at the heart of the collaboration salon with Norn that was offered to both the WOM and Norn communities and gratefully hosted at the Norn residence.
Norn connects people for thought-provoking conversations in real life. See more at norn.co.
As we move around the world and cities become more transient there is a growing call for the search and return for community. But like many words that have become a buzzword and trend, we must stop and ask our self, what does community mean? This question was at the heart of the collaboration salon with Norn that was offered to both the WOM and Norn communities and gratefully hosted at the Norn residence.
Norn connects people for thought-provoking conversations in real life. See more at norn.co.
The Salon
The salon was attended by a wonderful group of people bringing with them an incredible range of diversity of backgrounds and personal experiences. The evening gifted everyone with some extraordinary insights and stories that further offered a deeper awareness of how experiences have shaped us and how hearing others share these experiences equally open us to better understanding.
The salon was curated around four questions:
* Which community have you felt most connected with? How did it shape your identity?
* How can community be a force for good or bad?
* How do you define community? Has this changed over time and space?
* Who do you know that’s been changed by being part of a community?
Like many of WOM’s events that focus on a conversation around a question or topic, the aim is not about finding an answer. It is simply about creating the time and space to explore, learn from others and consequently offering the opportunity to better understand our self.
This lack of need in always trying to have an answer was confirmed with the fact that the word ‘community’ has many definitions depending on who is talking. And thus, there is no one answer.
For one person it can mean a connection with others because of an interest. For another person it means connection because of a space, whether it’s a neighbourhood, an apartment building, a gym, and so on. And what about where and how community is formed and managed, for example, offline or online, social media or other online groups, meeting once a year or every week, are other examples of how community can be defined. And many times the type of community one seeks is reflective of what is happening in ones life.
Throughout our lives we need connection for many different reasons, sometimes the reasons are clear and other times not so. Take the opportunity to think about some of these questions as a way to better understand yourself and those around you.
The salon was attended by a wonderful group of people bringing with them an incredible range of diversity of backgrounds and personal experiences. The evening gifted everyone with some extraordinary insights and stories that further offered a deeper awareness of how experiences have shaped us and how hearing others share these experiences equally open us to better understanding.
The salon was curated around four questions:
* Which community have you felt most connected with? How did it shape your identity?
* How can community be a force for good or bad?
* How do you define community? Has this changed over time and space?
* Who do you know that’s been changed by being part of a community?
Like many of WOM’s events that focus on a conversation around a question or topic, the aim is not about finding an answer. It is simply about creating the time and space to explore, learn from others and consequently offering the opportunity to better understand our self.
This lack of need in always trying to have an answer was confirmed with the fact that the word ‘community’ has many definitions depending on who is talking. And thus, there is no one answer.
For one person it can mean a connection with others because of an interest. For another person it means connection because of a space, whether it’s a neighbourhood, an apartment building, a gym, and so on. And what about where and how community is formed and managed, for example, offline or online, social media or other online groups, meeting once a year or every week, are other examples of how community can be defined. And many times the type of community one seeks is reflective of what is happening in ones life.
Throughout our lives we need connection for many different reasons, sometimes the reasons are clear and other times not so. Take the opportunity to think about some of these questions as a way to better understand yourself and those around you.
