Ideas and Influences

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The ideas behind The Working Centre revolve around the basic building blocks necessary to create community. Some of these ideas, as we have defined them are community tools, access to tools, lack of hierarchy and bureaucracy, building relationships, work as gift, respect for the enivronment, producerism, humility, cooperation and serving others. All of these ideas are developed in the following articles that have appeared in Good Work News.

Related Articles

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Expanding our Ethical Imagination
Tue, Oct 16 2012

By Joe Mancini

If we are serious about creating a sustainable society, then we must ask “What new practices will expand our ethical imagination?”. We have too easily accepted the notion that our economy works best when we are individualistic and competitive in our actions. The single minded goal of increasing wealth, personally or wider, in the long run, leads to job insecurity and emotional stress.

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Work as Gift: The Path of Cooperation and Sharing
Fri, Sep 7 2012

By Joe Mancini, Good Work News, December 1999

The Working Centre has from its inception attempted to walk along a path that is often not taken. At the heart of this journey is a way of thinking and acting with a conscious understanding of principles and ideals. We continually define our direction through practical projects while creating space so that others can explore these directions.

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Using Tools for the Common Good - Revisting the Ideas of Ivan Illich
Fri, Sep 7 2012

By Joe Mancini, Good Work News, June 1998

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Good Work and the Environment
Fri, Sep 7 2012

By Joe Mancini, Good Work News, December 1997

Canadians have started an earnest debate on global warming. The Federal government has looked deeply at the issue, put all the options in a hat and plucked out an almost laughable policy. Canada, the Federal government assures the world, will reduce the emissions of global warming gases to the level of 1990 by the year 2012.

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Remembering Our Underlying Aboriginal Heritage
Fri, Sep 7 2012

By Joe Mancini, Good Work News, September 2011

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Disaggregate Inequality Indicators
Fri, Sep 7 2012

By Joe Mancini, Good Work News, December 2010

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Walking with People's Stories
Fri, Sep 7 2012

By Christa Van Daele, Good Work News, September 2010

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Journeys Through Unemployment
Fri, Sep 7 2012

By Stephanie Mancini, Good Work News, June 2010

The Working Centre began as a drop-in centre focusing on the issues of unemployment in the early 1980’s. The pages of Good Work News, or a glance at our website, reflect many of the projects and activities that have grown from the responsive-listening model of community development that is a characteristic of The Working Centre. We start with each person, their particular situation, and an open engaged approach that looks for creative responses.

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25 Years of a Community Kitchen
Fri, Sep 7 2012

By Joe Mancini, Good Work News, March 2010

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Personal Action Toward the Common Good Teaches the Way Forward
Fri, Sep 7 2012

By Joe and Stephanie Mancini, Good Work News, December 2009

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Environmentalism and Common Work
Fri, Sep 7 2012

How the Virtues are Essential to Daily Living

By Joe Mancini, Good Work News, December 2007

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Ecological Restoration
Fri, Sep 7 2012

Integrated Models of Cooperation

By Joe Mancini, Good Work News, December 2006

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Work as a Gift - Part 2
Fri, Sep 7 2012

By Joe Mancini, Good Work News, December 2004

When another year goes by at The Working Centre, we are really just thankful that everyone has worked so hard to pull together again. The place operates by the natural rhythms of the seasons. The services, projects and even fundraising events, all ebb and flow through the different seasons. By the end of the year, we are well aware that already, the cycle is starting again. It is a hard lesson, but from this unending rhythm we learn the meaning of work.

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The Unpopular Front for Personalist Democracy
Fri, Sep 7 2012

By Joe Mancini, Good Work News, June 2003

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Informal Community Development
Fri, Sep 7 2012

By Stephanie Mancini, Good Work News, December 1999

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Building Relationships: Community Tools and Producing at Home
Fri, Sep 7 2012

By Joe Mancini, Simple Living Guide, September 2001

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Alternatives to the Overdeveloped Society
Thu, Jul 19 2012

By Joe Mancini, Good Work News, September 2008

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Looking Forward to Sustainable Growth
Thu, Jul 19 2012

By Joe Mancini, Good Work News, June 2008

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20 Years at The Working Centre
Thu, Jul 19 2012

By Joe and Stephanie Mancini, Good Work News, June 2002

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How Sharing In Common Is Like Forest Ecology
Thu, Jul 19 2012

By Joe Mancini, Good Work News, September 2000

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Developing a Philosophy for Community Tools
Thu, Jul 19 2012

By Joe Mancini, Annual Report, September 2001

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