“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
Bureaucracies are frustrating. Once a bureaucracy gets moving in a certain direction it can be quite effective. Numerous roadblocks often appear when one tries to change its direction, usually centered around secrecy and power. In light of the growing debate about the National Security Agency’s (NSA) surveillance practices and the changing perception of privacy, making community change on the local level similarly involves publishing data and analyses that will make some people uncomfortable. In making communities more sustainable, what should Margaret Mead’s “small group of thoughtful, committed citizens” do when they confront a roadblock?


