How do we...

1. foster a sense of connection between people that transcends age, gender, ethnicity, social class, sexual orientation, political or religious beliefs, and other differences?
2. create temporary and permanent venues where a vibrant exchange of ideas will take place?
3. encourage those ideas to lead to real efforts that bring progress to our community?

What is a Third Place?

From the cover copy to Ray Oldenburg's The Great Good Place:

The "third place" is a place where people can gather, put aside the concerns of work and home, and hang out simply for the pleasures of good company and lively conversation. They are the heart of a community's social vitality, the grassroots of a democracy, but, sadly, they constitute a diminishing aspect of the American social landscape.

We believe that the answers to the three questions are tied to fostering vital third places in our community.

Talk About It!

Visit the jepstone.net wiki and add your thoughts.

Suggested Reading

• The Great Good Place (paperback); Ray Oldenburg (buy this book).
• The Problem of Planning a Sense of Place (online essay) by Shawn Wallace.

About this Site

The Third Places, South Kingstown, RI web site is operated by jepstone.net, a site geared towards software engineers who use open source technology.

For more information on the Third Places, South Kingstown, RI web site, contact Brian Jepson. Brian Jepson is a 1985 graduate of South Kingstown High School, the author of seven books on Internet technology, and a Writer for O'Reilly and Associates.