Issue #3 — “Forming Contributist Communities”
Issue #3: Forming Contributist Communities
Issue Contents
Hue (theory)
Is Contributism Naive?
On Learning to be Generous
Hearth (practice)
“They love having the opportunity to give”: How generosity powers the homeschooling community in Atlanta
Becoming Helpers in a Hurricane
Reflection Question
Pablo’s Note:
In this month’s issue, we learn how contributist communities form. The Hue entries urge us to see the spirit of giving not as something innate (either you have it or you don’t), but as something that anyone — and any society — can learn. The Hearth entries show what that looks like in practice, first in a homeschooling community, then in the ways we come together to overcome tragedy.
Thank you for giving us your time, and a special thank you to everyone who chose to contribute.
Pablo Parabola
Hue (theory)
Is Contributism Naive?
(Est. Reading Time: 7 minutes)
“A contributist society does not simply arise from good intentions; it is the product of careful thought and policy. But we can’t get anywhere unless we start believing that we can design better systems, and that we can inhabit them.”
On Learning to be Generous
(Est. Reading Time: 8 minutes)
“We do not have to have a perfect past or present to create a better future. We must only be able to recognize what skills and values we have been teaching ourselves, and be willing to correct our course.”
Hearth (practice)
“They love having the opportunity to give”: How generosity powers the homeschooling community in Atlanta
(Est. Reading Time: 4 minutes)
“It is my belief that every community is rich with talented people who can provide opportunities that will benefit not only their own families but the community of families around them.”
Becoming Helpers in a Hurricane
(Est. Reading Time: 5 minutes)
“But if we look tragedy in the eyes and also look beyond it, to its inevitable repair — if we pay attention to what healing looks like — we can become people of hope and generosity.”
This Month’s Reflection Question:
Consciously and unconsciously, we are always learning from the behavior of those around us, and we are always teaching as well. What is one way that you, simply by your behavior, are teaching generosity or contributism to the community around you?