Update: Multimedia is here

New formats and fresh ideas mark the next step in my journey to create thriving communities, one innovation at a time. Here’s the plan, starting with video messaging.

Writing for Community Innovation, a Collaboration with ChatGPT

My ideas in this edition are conveyed first in the video below, then in text. But the text is not a literal transcript, nor is it a word-for-word reproduction of what I said. It’s something new—a written adaptation that remains true to my spoken thoughts but is shared as words to be read.

I created this text using ChatGPT as an AI assistant—first to generate a transcript, then to tighten my ideas and arguments, and finally to refine the text to match my writing style. I completed the process by collaborating with my human editor to ensure that the words are mine.

If it’s not a transcript, what is it? ChatGPT suggested I might call it a “narrative synthesis” or a “conversational essay.” I’m not sure yet, but words matter, and I plan to provide similar text to accompany future videos. My goal is to offer words that reflect what I say—but in a way that is clearer, more engaging, and easier to absorb than a traditional transcript.

New and improved

Hello, Mark Dancer here. Thank you for joining me for this Update edition of my newsletter, Mark Dancer on Innovating Communities. I’d like to restate my purpose, share why I believe communities are key to solving our biggest challenges, and introduce my three newsletter formats—two of which are new.

My mission is simple, yet—I hope—far-reaching: I believe that thriving, innovative communities can help us address many of today’s most difficult issues while balancing the opportunities and pitfalls of our digital and AI-driven world.

Communities are where we come together to live and work—our neighborhoods, towns, and cities. They are places where human interaction is naturally fostered, allowing us to do what we cannot accomplish alone. I see them as vital institutions that, if creatively innovated, can help us maintain real human connection in an increasingly digital age, alleviate polarization by emphasizing shared pride and collective well-being, and serve as laboratories for new ideas that support both individual and collective prosperity. Yet, communities are often neglected in public discourse, and most of us aren’t sure how to innovate them effectively for the digital era. My goal is to explore that gap—discovering and inspiring fresh approaches to how communities function and how we can strengthen them together.

To do this, I offer three distinct newsletter formats.

First are my long-form essays—the nearly 200 editions I’ve published over the past three years. They’re typically around 2,000 words, offering in-depth explorations of ideas that reflect the culmination of my ongoing investigations and learning. They’ll be less frequent than before but just as detailed, with each essay having a unique title and structure. I start each essay by outlining my thoughts, then writing and editing carefully to ensure depth and clarity. I encourage you to read them, reflect on them, and share your feedback, as your insights shape my future research and writing.

The second format is new, and I’m calling it a “What If?” edition. These are shorter—maybe 750 words—with a few links for deeper insights. What If? editions are designed to spark discussions. Each will introduce an idea—a fresh concept I’ve encountered through conversations, podcasts, reading, or perhaps a long-standing tradition we’ve forgotten—and then pose five key questions you can use for dialogue.

I encourage you to think of What If? editions as tools for strategic planning sessions at work, dinner table discussions with friends, or brainstorming chats in your community.

For example, if we’re talking about community engagement, a question might be: “What if a digital platform enabled every skilled worker, business owner, and charity volunteer to help debate and create a future vision for the community?” Then you’d explore feasibility, community response, and potential impact through five structured questions. I’d love to hear about how these What If? questions work for you in your real-world conversations.

The third format is also new and is the one you’re experiencing now—an Update edition. Here, I give you a behind-the-scenes look at what I’m learning, thinking, or doing in a more spontaneous way. These editions might share an insight from an expert or leader, answer a question from a reader, or provide an update on my evolving goals and progress.

I begin by recording a video, with only a few notes to guide me, sharing fresh observations and reflections. The written portion of these editions is a refined adaptation—first shaped with AI assistance, then edited for clarity and style by humans.

By using these three distinct formats—long-form essays, What If? editions, and Update editions—I hope to expand our collective knowledge, spark new innovations, and encourage tangible action in our communities. My ultimate goal is to build collaborations among readers and doers who believe in the power of communities to improve how we live, work, and connect. I’ll keep refining my purpose as I learn and experiment, and I hope these new formats will make our conversations more varied, interactive, and productive.

Staying connected

I appreciate your help and your feedback as we move forward. Let’s shape communities that embrace both our digital future and our deep human need to connect, collaborate, and thrive.

If you’d like to continue the conversation, feel free to reach out. You can email me directly at mark.dancer@n4bi.com, DM me on Substack, or scroll to the bottom of this newsletter to leave a comment.

Together, let’s build thriving communities, one innovation at a time.