The 20th century was the era of burgeoning services designed to meet growing needs. However, the unintended side effect has been a cultural shift. Most people are now defined as filled with “needs,” problems, and deficiencies to be resolved by experts, professionals, and specialists. As a consequence, the role of the local citizen and community leader as productive problem-solver has been greatly diminished. The capacity of local communities has been severely limited.
John McKinght is the founding father of the Philia idea. Several years ago, while consulting with the J W McConnell Family Foundation, he suggested convening a round table of individuals in Canada who were working in the 'heartland' - that is, nurturing communities and neighbourhoods where everyone is welcome. That gathering eventually led to the creation of the Philia Dialogue.
Philia is the Greek word for neighbourly love - the bonds of friendship that bind us together in community. More formally, we define philia as "the reserve of human warmth, enthusiasm and generosity that nourishes and stimulates the fellowship at the heart of civic life." By "reserve" we mean that these qualities already exist in our communities; we just need to draw them out. In other words, our communities are inherently resilient. The lens of resilience is fundamental to Philia because it makes us re-examine our assumptions about how individuals and communities function and grow. It reminds us that we are not merely passive recipients in need of outside support and intervention, but have a built-in capacity to heal, adapt, transform and survive.
Discover The Philia Dialogue
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