In 1996, I helped found Focusing Our Resources for Community Enlightenment (F.O.R.C.E.)- an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in the City of Syracuse. It emerged from a series of “kitchen table” and “street corner” discussions among friends and neighbors. Margaret Mead, world-renowned anthropologist, said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." We created some number of program and held many successful community events over the years including the “Community Cash” Carnival, “An Evening with Family and Friends,” the PEACE project, the S.T.A.R.S. program, the “A Chance to Be Seen” Variety Show, and our newest initiative- the United Neighbors Common Council. We also sponsored local bus trips to participate in the Million Family March and the Millions More Movement.

After several years of success, we felt a need for a more comprehensive, collaborative and coordinated effort. This led to the idea of the United Neighbors Common Council (UNCommon Council) - a group of citizens that decides what is needed, creates actions and then dedicates or locates resources to its fulfillment. The plan is to develop the Council so that it broadens FORCE’s initial scope and approach to empower people and connect small pieces into a greater vision. The Council is the evolution of the initial idea and builds on the excitement, accomplishments, dedication and energy of F.O.R.C.E. In short, FORCE is the impetus for the Council. We are moving from FORCE, the small group, to a broader forum (the Council) that connects, touches, and empowers more people. Our plan is that the Council will eventually spin off as an independent entity with a life of its own.

The leadership team F.O.R.C.E., Inc. with support from Syracuse University and the Gifford Foundation will initiate the process and then fold into a “Circle of 24 Elders” which will spearhead the community engagement process. The Circle of 24 will recruit 10 additional citizens, each with interest, knowledge or experience in one of the 10 issue-areas to serve as selected committee-heads (Selected Councilors) in the Southside area. The new leadership team will sponsor a “Showcasing Event.” The “Circle of 24” in conjunction with the “Additional Ten” will attend the “Showcasing Event” to learn community engagement practices, the method of “Lawful Dialogue,” and develop the function of the Council. This body, now numbering 34, will apply the recruitment strategy to engage the public in the process. The council will develop several products and activities as tools for engagement and relationship building: Project Website, Newsletter, Contact Networks (Personal and Project), Public Meetings, Advisory Committees, and Collaborative Task Forces. The community will elect new leaders (Community Elected Councilors) to repeat the process and expand to become the official UnCommon Council- a boundless and self-determined entity governed by YOU, the people.