Research Guides: SCU Community Read 2025-26 We Need to Build: Fieldnotes for Diverse Democracy: Assignment Ideas

Assignment Ideas

“People’s Potluck” (see Chapter 5)

“A potluck is the ultimate civic form. No mayor or general or governor commands people to a potluck. People do it themselves. In fact, the genius of a potluck is the perfect illustration of civil society in a democracy—it is an activity that turns what might otherwise have been a random collection of people into a community because of what they do together.”

Faculty could develop their own version of the potluck described in this chapter — it could be an exchange of food, ideas, texts or other forms that brings together different elements or traditions in the context of a shared space, with the goal of fostering community and belonging.

Researching Builders in Our Community and Beyond

In chapters 2 and 3, Patel argues that builders work to create and foster institutions that bring people together for a shared purpose that serves the common good.

According to Patel, what are the qualities of a “builder”? Identify 3 examples of builders from the book (with quotations for each) to support your discussion.
What role do faith-based institutions play in Patel’s vision?
Who are or have been builders in our community (at SCU or in the broader SF Bay Area)? Are there any local institutions that reflect Patel’s ideas?
Explore organizations doing building work using Guidestar (https://www.guidestar.org/)