Inspiration & Influences

​Peter Block is an author specializing in community development. His book, Community: The Structure of Belonging, has been structured to define a healthy, functional community. The author does not intend to create a conceptional idea that illustrates an ideal community through which individuals strive to live. Rather, the author intended to motivate the individual to a mind shift about a community that develops a sense of belonging. It is an inspiration due to its in-depth details.

​The book is authored by Mike Green, a community organizer based in Chicago ABCD institute, John O'Brien, an innovator, and Henry Moore, co-founder of ABCD training Group, as main leads. It was published in response to Asset Based Community Development (ABCD). The authors use material tailored to help create workable approaches for collaborative efforts within a community. It gives appropriate principles to use ABCD; thus, it inspired me to use it as a guideline.

​Michael West is an Australian investigative journalist specializing in business, finance, and taxes news. He is an independent media publisher who founded Michael West Media. His input regarding society changes in the contemporary world in the video is comprehensive. West offers compassionate insight on leadership in a cultural shift in the video. The video is an inspiration as it creates a sense of responsibility in the current cultural changes for all individuals to take an active role.

​Janet Vinzant Denhardt is a professor at the University of California and focuses on governance, behavioral organization, and leadership. The book subjects the reader to critical thinking on public service, its importance, and the values that guide the practice. I was inspired to use the boo because of the objective analysis of public services depicting ideals that could lead to best practices.

The book's author is unknown, but Edwin A. Burtt edited it in 1982. Edwin A. Burtt is an American philosopher with extensive publications about religious philosophy. The book gives an in-depth philosophical analysis of religion depicting imperfection in religion. It was an inspiration because it helped to shape beliefs on religion.

In this book, White investigates the relationship between history and the Columbia River with attributes from human history in Pacific Northwest and Native Americans. It was inspired to explore factors that bring people and the Columbia River together.