The image shows many familiar entities that are allies and assets for helping to bring about paradigm shift. They include the Scouts, PTA, almost any community organization. Faith groups have a vital part to play for paradigm shift. Many are already helping to lead the charge. Many city programs can help advance the cause of paradigm shift.

Allies,  Assets and Actions

There are many surprising allies and assets in almost any city or town to work with on behalf of paradigm shift. Almost every civic organization exists to help make the community a better place to live. Some are allies and might not realize it.  They could be part of the enormous horizontal Movement ready to discover itself. 

An advocate of paradigm shift can help allies and assets realize they have a place in paradigm shift for taking action - these allies can Be The Change.

Allies and assets can include schools, faith groups, community centers, ad hoc groups, neighborhood associations, non profits of all kinds, friends, neighbors, city programs. Every individual and work place can be an asset. We all have an interest in making where we live healthier, more secure, cohesive and resilient; especially given the news we read about every day.

What is the difference between an ally and an asset?  In general, an ally is human based and an asset can be a tool, an opportunity, infrastructure, a skill. A person who knows how to set up a rain water collection and distribution system is both an ally and asset. An e mail list with 100 people is more an asset than an ally but can certainly encourage those on the list to become allies.  An asset usually needs a human push to set it in motion.

Many of those community organizations exist to repair some kind of social, economic or environmental damage caused by capitalism even though they might not identify with such an observation. That means these groups are on the same team. Sometimes we just need to change our perceptions to recognize allies and assets that have been in plain sight for years. Changing conditions will change our perceptions. With time, more and more people will recognize the need for paradigm shift and see reason and opportunities for making common cause not yet come into focus.

A run down, derelict apartment complex can be an asset when turned into a thriving eco village. [see kailashecovillage.org] Having a permaculture convergence at a neighborhood recreation center is a great benefit to the community. Our own time and money are enormous assets for helping to bring about sustainability and paradigm shift when we learn to recognize that opportunity, recall edges above.

One can create a more resilient property with a smaller eco footprint and produce more basic needs at home instead of a kitchen remodel or one can donate to a school garden project instead of paying to see a slasher movie. One can volunteer in countless ways for a worthy cause instead of watching so much TV.

Assets can include a suburban property to transform into a paradigm shift role model thousands can visit so they can do likewise. [See a video tour of my place. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsO4K1gG2Ao] 
A city’s neighborhood program can advocate permaculture and more neighborhood gardens. An existing asset can become far more valuable.  In Port Townsend, WA, local people have created a financial tool to invest in local eco friendly start ups.  Allies create an asset for taking action.

The internet, such as Meetup groups can be a great asset. One could offer free zoom presentations about paradigm shift. 
We used our neighborhood recreation center for a large permaculture event that counted over 700 participants. We had workshops, plenary sessions, an outdoor expo, site tours in the nearby neighborhood and a lot more.  Any rec center, church, temple, mosque could host progressive community events. Some already do.  We have far more allies and assets than we know.

The virtuous triangle - allies, assets and actions.  Allies can use assets that create actions. Allies can make actions to create more assets. More assets and more actions lead to more allies. Actions, in say a work party, can create more allies when people make friends and more assets when people learn new useful skills.  Making creative and positive use of what we have available is a core ideal of paradigm shift.  

Thousands of allies, public interest organizations with untold assets, could advocate more fully on behalf of paradigm shift to encourage many many actions for moving towards uplift and sustainability and by doing so, create even more positive allies, assets and actions. 

We will explore the topic of allies and assets in another part of the Primer, “Taking Paradigm Shift To A Wider Audience.”  The consumer culture provides us with a near endless number of opportunities to put the virtuous triangle to work to move past the consumer culture.


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