[Pattern-language] Patterns and Solutions: From Liberating Voices to Lift Every Voice

Mon Apr 14 18:56:30 PDT 2014

I thought I'd share a blog post (http://t.co/NajbRYzUt7) from Ken Gillgren, a friend and colleague who's been working with the Liberating Voices pattern language (http://www.publicsphereproject.org/patterns/lv) since the beginning. He may have gone further with it than anybody. His approach may be useful for anybody who's trying to think about how best to use the Liberating Voices patterns or, even, other patterns. 

Just in case you're wondering, Ken's email address is ken at gillgrencommunication.com.

Thanks!

— Doug

An example of applying the Liberating Voices pattern language
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From Liberating Voices to Lift Every Voice
This article is a backstage cousin to the earlier summary of Rainier Beach projects previously posted on my Patterns of Engagement blog and is presented here as a personal thought experiment I used to initially guide my participation in these projects.

At the point I was beginning to get involved in providing support to the Rainier Beach Community Empowerment Coalition (RBCEC), I was also collaborating with the Public Sphere Project, particularly focused on Liberating Voices: A Pattern Language for Communication Revolution, including writing and editing patterns as well as designing and leading workshops for a series of Civic Intelligence classes at the Evergreen State College.

It only made sense to personally test drive the Liberating Voices patterns using the same templates and methodologies I was exploring with the Evergreen students.

The 136 patterns of Liberating Voices represent a snapshot of the collective wisdom of academics and practitioners into the vital centers of activity that constitute an enlivening flow of information and communication through community at every level. In principle, the patterns can be expressed in a rich variety of ways, reflecting distinctive cultural strengths, while maintaining a consistent role in realizing a community's highest aspirations.

I conducted a survey of patterns that seemed to be already present or emerging in Rainier Beach, based on conversations with local leadership and activists,and circled 27. I then plotted them over three phases (a general sense of relationship in time) and three levels of change (Foundational, Developmental, Transformational). [Personal confession: sometimes I have to play around with my rationality to get it to sing.]

Click on this image to view the full size version. The products of all the other exercises can be viewed on the blog-version of this article.

I must emphasize that this is the first time I have publicly shared this background “thought experiment.” The only reference I made to project leaders was through language I recommended in the preparation of grant proposals, notably the focus on Citizen Journalism as a pivotal area for engagement.

That said, The Control of Self Representation pattern could be seen in the desire of local leadership to shift public perceptions of the neighborhood and re-balance the images broadcast by mass media channels. The "Lift Every Voice" campaign, which began the series of projects, finds its parallel in the Voices of the Unheard pattern. The Power of Story infused all the efforts underway in the neighborhood, particularly expressed in the Rainier Beach Story Guild project.

I invite the reader to note other apparent areas of convergence and divergence with the project summary outlined earlier, some of which are noted in the full version of this article on my blog.

For me, the exercise did provide a useful map for conceptualizing existing trends, values, and energies as an alternative to any number of more rational, data-oriented methods of analysis and strategic planning and apart from direct cause-effect frameworks. It also helped to illustrate for me the power of a pattern language framework to identify and reinforce spheres of activity that integrate diverse values while stimulating related actions that may or may not have been explicitly planned or anticipated in advance.

Tools and Resources: Other pattern languages worth exploring
Here are blank versions of the tools and templates I used at Evergreen and referred to above.
GroupWorks: One of the best crafted and presented examples of pattern languages, in this case, focused on participation methods for group facilitation. The project lead was kind enough to credit me for an initial conversation, but I mostly watched this develop from afar. Available as a card deck, either printed or a free pdf download, as well as an iPhone app. Very active user community with growing examples of applications in different settings.
Design with Intent: 101 patterns for influencing behavior through design: Another well-thought-through implementation of a pattern language, with free downloadable toolkit and pdf card deck.
MASTER OF SOCIAL ARTISTRY: CHRISTEN BLACKWELL
Christen is another of out premier SE Seattle FreedomNet Citizen Journalists, and, in my eyes, a Warrior of the Heart. She is unapologetically fierce and compassionate in her various forms of artistic expression, including singing, dance, and poetry, and this dedication is clear in both the community topics she covered and the way she covered them. Here is her comment on the perception of Rainier Beach High School. All of her articles, reaching back to her PhotoVoice poster, can be reviewed from her profile page.

SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS:
Connect through these channels or watch for hashtags such as #civicengagement, #citizenjournalism, and #digitalinclusion. As a result of the Rainier Beach projects, I've become particularly interested in pursuing conversations/opportunities related to youth mentoring and recovering the role of elders.
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Douglas Schuler
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Public Sphere Project
     http://www.publicsphereproject.org/

Creating the World Citizen Parliament
     http://interactions.acm.org/archive/view/may-june-2013/creating-the-world-citizen-parliament

Liberating Voices!  A Pattern Language for Communication Revolution (project) 
     http://www.publicsphereproject.org/patterns/lv

Liberating Voices!  A Pattern Language for Communication Revolution (book)
     http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=2&tid=11601

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