Welcome to the March / April, 2019 Edition of the 'Community & Economic Development Matters' Newsletter.
This Introduction is being penned as I travel across the stunningly beautiful snow drenched landscapes of Northern Ontario, Canada. I am here helping facilitate a series of Teeny Tiny Town Summits, sponsored by the Rural Ontario Municipal Association and local rural communities interested in rural reinvention. Click here to see the flyer from Thorndale, Middlesex County. I am struck by the similarity of small rural communities across the globe, and the critical role that local leadership and positive mindset plays in community and economic renewal. It is exciting to see the innovative behaviours, attitudes and actions of local community builders and leaders here in rural Canada as they reinvent themselves in times of change, challenges and new opportunities.
These Summits have reinforced the importance of certain critical leadership roles; namely -
Making things happen;
Creating vision and inspiration
Facilitating collaboration;
Instilling positive mindset; and
Fostering leadership development and renewal.
The next Newsletter will include a wonderful set of stories, teachings and tools from rural Canada.
In other recent news, Bank of I.D.E.A.S. is also excited to be part of an initiative to bring the Seniors Village Hub to WA . If not familiar with the concept, check this paper and this flyer from the first Seniors Village Hub created in Australia - The Waverton Hub. It is a wonderful mutual support network that allows people to age well in their own home, street and neighbourhood for as long as possible.
Enjoy this month’s Newsletter - another amazing and inspirational collection of community innovations, as well as some important future events and tools. In particular, we want to highlight the Power to the People Conference: Building Citizen Driven Communities being run in Canberra in August, in partnership with the dynamic Canberra based NGO Communities@Work.
Enjoy and learn.
Peter Kenyon (Director)
Maria D'Souza (Executive Officer)
Don't want to wait two months between hearing from us? We are now social.
EVENTS
"We have not come here to beg world leaders to care. You have ignored us in the past, and you will ignore us again.
We have run out of excuses, and we are running out of time.
We have come here to let you know that change is coming,
whether you like it or not.
The real power belongs to the people."
(Greta Thunberg)
Power to the People Conference: Building Citizen Driven Communities, 15-16 August, 2019
This pivotal community building event is returning in 2019. The theme of the Power to the People Conference this year is 'social capital'. The dates are 15-16 August, 2019 and the location is Canberra. An exciting range of presenters and workshop facilitators are currently being assembled. The Conference will be preceded by optional Masterclasses on the 14th August, 2019. Partnering with the Bank of I.D.E.A.S. to make the event happen is the innovative Canberra based NGO - Communities@Work.
Inclusion Solutions is proud to be launching the second round of Social Inclusion Forums to promote the development of inclusive communities across Western Australia. The Social Inclusion Forums are an opportunity to engage with like-minded people and ignite change within our communities.
This forum will include presentations from industry professionals and community representatives who are passionate about social inclusion.
Art of Participatory Community Building Workshop, 14-16 May, 2019
More than just a training opportunity!
The 3 day Art of Participatory Community Building training (AoPCB) to be held in Launceston, offers a bespoke framework underpinned by asset based community-led development (ABCD) and art of participatory leadership practices, patterns and processes in a participatory co-design framework. These approaches have been used effectively in community, business, government and non-government contexts worldwide to enable the inclusion and connection of diverse perspectives for deeper outcomes. This is an opportunity to learn and share in new ways of working to co-create action in our communities.
Citizens at the Centre: A Community Engagement Thought Leader Series, 1-7 May, 2019
Tamarack is excited to present a special one-day workshop with Max Hardy, a leading Australian Community Engagement consultant, along with Liz Weaver and Sylvia Cheuy of the Tamarack Institute to learn core principles and innovative practices to better engage your community.
If you are seeking new, high-impact ways for organizations and communities to work together to create social change, this is a learning opportunity you won’t want to miss. Drawing on case studies from Australia and Canada, as well as techniques and activities that demonstrate alternative ways to meaningfully engage communities/citizens throughout the lifespan of your project. Workshop participants will leave with the confidence to design and lead efforts to generate effective solutions to address our most challenging community issues.
"When Bob Dylan sang the times they are a'changin' he was well ahead of the curve.
Change is occurring in our communities at an unprecedented rate. The white-bread towns and suburbs we grew up in are now selling injera and hokkaido. Women are shouting, "Me too!" and "Time's up!" Gay people are getting hitched. Refugees are fighting back, shining a light on their plight tweet by agonizing tweet. Entire towns are opting out of the black power grid. The downtrodden, the ignored, the maligned and the disenfranchised are shouting, "We're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore." And finally people are starting to listen. The ground is shifting.
For those on the frontlines of the battles for social justice, it can at times feel like a slow grind. They poke and prod at society's constricting structures, sometimes breaking through, many times watching as the holes scab over. For those happy with the status quo, the pace of change can seem inexorable and startlingly rapid. They buy Bandaids in bulk.
So how do we proceed? Tear it down and damn the consequences, or slow and steady wins the race? Is there a place in between? We are the government. We are communities. It's up to us to decide. Come to Communities in Control 2019 and do your bit."
The 2019 Liveable Cities Conference theme will be 2020 and Beyond –Leadership in healthy and connected global communities and regions and will be exploring the progress and implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, leadership from all sectors that contribute to vibrant, inclusive and well appointed cities and towns.
This annual conference will provide a two day educational program to facilitate presentations and conversations on the liveability indicators, managing and guiding change, happiness, health and wellbeing, strategies for the plan and design of people within regional and urban communities and the benefits of effective leadership.
Return visit of Cormac Russell, 16-27 September, 2019
Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) global practitioner and Managing Director of Nurture Development, Cormac Russell, will be returning to Australia in September, 2019. If interested in utilising Cormac's services for training / workshop opportunities within your organisation, please contact Maria D'Souza (m: 0404 957 780 or e: md@bankofideas.com.au). Click here for a summary of services offered by Cormac.
8th National Men's Shed Gathering, 10-12 Sept, 2019
The 8th National Men’s Shed Gathering will be held at Morphettville Racecourse, SA from 10 -12 September 2019.
Delegates will come from a broad spectrum of backgrounds, including ‘shedder’s’, shed coordinators, health and aged care providers, educators and policy makers. The 2019 Gathering, themed Our Community, will include traditional content such as information on Men’s Shed operations, however, there will be a strong focus on acknowledging and celebrating the community of Men’s Sheds and the impact they have on community capacity building. Men’s Sheds are not isolated, stand alone community facilities but rather an activity that is well enmeshed into their community network.
World Art Deco Congress in South America, October - November, 2019
Taking part in three phases, click here for a schedule.
RURAL & SMALL TOWN DEVELOPMENT
'People in small towns, much more than in cities, share a destiny.' (Richard Russo)
'Small towns make up for their lack of people by having everyone
be more interesting.' (Doris "Granny D" Haddock)
The Great Quack Quest
The small New South Wales town of Temora has come up with a zany recruitment campaign to attract new doctors to the area. The toe-tapping advertisement called on a cross section of the community for its production.
(Photo courtesy ABC News)
Small town footy club faces closure after 100 years
The Smithton Football Club, in north-west Tasmania has announced it will have to cease operating due to a lack of players. It raises many questions as to what young people will do in a small town with limited options for entertainment and recreation. Click here to read more.
For the first time in 100 years, students at this WA rural school have green grass to play on
Thanks to a community led project, students at Gnowangerup District Highschool can now enjoy a grassed oval. The community worked together to install pipes, tanks and a sustainable water collection system. Thanks to Cassy Beeck for sharing this story.
(Photo courtesy ABC News)
‘Community has the power to change everything. No amount of innovation, individual brilliance, or money can transform our broken society as effectively and sustainably as building community.’
(John Kania)
10 Ways to have a Better Conversation
This TED talk by Celeste Headlee is certainly one of the best TED talks we have seen. Digital communication in the 21st century is killing the art of conversation. As the world becomes more polarised, the ability to listen, understand and compromise is a skill we cannot do without - in our workplace, in our families and in our communities. Celeste is witty and helpful with her 10 tips on improving your conversation skills. Strongly recommend viewing it.
Wellstead Whisper Coffee Shop
This is the story of how the tiny WA town of Wellstead responded to save their Community Resource Centre when their funding was about to be cut. The video was put together by a tourist travelling through, who loved it so much they donated their time and skills to developing this little video for the cause. Thanks to Tammy Flett for sharing this story. Explore more
One Wave
One Wave is a surf community initiative tackling mental health issues with a simple recipe - saltwater therapy, surfing and fluro. One Wave lets people know they are not alone and encourages them to get into the ocean, surf it out and talk about it. Groups operate on beaches around the world. The key activity is a weekly fluro Friday sunrise event where participants dress up in bright outfits. Fluro makes people smile and gets people sharing conversations and questions about mental health that are often avoided. Everyone is welcome and it is a free event. The movement was recently highlighted by the participation of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Bondi Beach, Sydney. Explore more
(Photo courtesy http://onewaveisallittakes.com/)
What does Community Look Like ... the importance of building community
A must read article ... "This was community. And what I would come to learn, slowly, is that community is about a series of small choices and everyday actions: how to spend a Saturday, what to do when a neighbor falls ill, how to make time when there is none. Knowing others and being known; investing in somewhere instead of trying to be everywhere. Communities are built, like Legos, one brick at a time. There’s no hack."
(Thanks to Kevin See for sharing).
This amazing TED talk by David Engwicht reminds us, in terms of place making, to keep it simple. For more on David’s work click here.
ABCDE Learning Sites
The ABCDE (Asset Based Community Driven Efforts) Learning Sites model is an initiative of the Bank of I.D.E.A.S. developed in partnership with Nurture Development, The Municipal Association of Victoria and a host of communities across Australia. With the pilot phase of the project now complete, the model has been revamped. ABCDE Learning Sites provides both a framework to guide the implementation of ABCD initiatives and, a tangible model to seek support and funding to implement community building and strengthening initiatives within any community.
‘The great lesson is that the sacred is in the ordinary, that it is to be found in one's daily life, in one's neighbours, friends and family, in one's backyard.'
(Abraham Maslow)
The Art of Making Friends and Finding Community
This article describes a social research project in the UK which studies the dynamics of local communities in the era of e-commerce and friend networks over social media. It is a practical and positive glance at how the art of making friends and finding community is changing.
(Photo by Kiran Chahal, courtesy yes! Magazine).
Be a Better Neighbour, Build a Better Neighbourhood
There are lots of fantastic articles out there with tips on how to become a better neighbour, or how to get to know your neighbours better. This well written article offers some practical advice on things you might do around your home to become more neighbourly.
Supporting our Seniors...
A great example of both a social connection activity and a community supporting its local aged care facility in Wellington, Ontario, Canada.
(Photo courtesy Wellington Terrace LTC Home).
Bread Clubs ... Crumb Together!
This is another great idea around using food to get people to connect. A Bread Club is where a group of neighbours / residents come together and make interesting forms of bread. Beer brewing groups is another version.
With One Voice is a social connection initiative of Creativity Australia. The nationwide movement is about strengthening communities and inspiring individuals to find their voice. More than that, its ethos is to build bridges between all members of the community and 'level the playing field' so that community members from all walks of life can connect through a mutual passion. Or, just come along, sing together and have fun!
If you have a passion for bringing people from all walks of life together, for nurturing community spirit and connection, for singing and for changing the world one voice at a time, then apply for Round 10 of Creativity Australia's 'Start Up' grants.
To celebrate their 10-year anniversary, Creativity Australia are offering grants of up to $10,000 to people or groups who are wanting to start their own With One Voice choir.
The closing date for Round 10 applications is 5:00 pm, Sunday 30th June 2019.
“You don’t build a business, you build people, then people build the business.” (Zig Ziglar)
“Make something people want” includes making a company that people want to work for.” (Sahil Lavingia)
Working for the Future
Wonderful to see a University involved in local business development through innovation. Click here to read the story of the The University of Western Australia's new IQX co-working space in the old Masonic Hall in Nedlands, Western Australia.
How to Reinvent a Rural Economy $100 at a time
This article describes an interesting grassroots co-op model in Elkin, North Carolina. Elkin Explorers, is a group that acts a bit like a grassroots economic development co-op. Instead of the typical strategy of soliciting local businesses for donations (although they do that too), Explore Elkin urges residents to put their money where their mouth is by joining a group that sponsors and creates events to draw visitors and potential residents to town.
Elkin Explorers focuses on town and community assets to develop and promote events, and attract tourists and potential residents. The community gets involved and it provides an opportunity for locals to appreciate what a great place they live in. An excellent story.
(Photo: Food Truck Friday in Elkin. Photo Courtesy yes! Magazine and Elkin Explorers)
In this article, Alan Greig summarises the progress made in the evolution of social enterprise legal models during 2018. As social enterprises develop and expand, so to must relevant legal models keep pace. The article also gives a run-down of what’s to come in 2019.
Community Business in 2030: How could entrepreneurial communities contribute to a thriving economy and civil society?
"Drawing on the views and experiences of more than 40 community businesses and 20 experts, Community Business in 2030 illustrates the transformative effect the sector could have on both local people’s lives and society as a whole. The report, commissioned by Power to Change, predicts that by the end of the next decade, community businesses will have proven that there’s a radically more inclusive, democratic way to run local economies – owning assets, sharing power, and putting people first. As a well-established part of the UK economy, they will have transformed lives, while contributing to bigger shifts in society – redefining meaningful work, regenerating the natural world, and enabling people to impact global issues, locally."
Thanks to Alan Greig for sharing this excellent resource.
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you.
Hopefully, you leave something good behind.”
(Anthony Bourdain)
'Designer toilet' to put small town on the map
Click here to read about how the small Queensland town of Kenilworth plans to attract tourists to the town with an eye catching 'designer toilet'.
(Photo courtesy ABC News)
How Tasmania Quietly Became Australia's Gin Capital
Great story about combining local entrepreneurs and a production industry with tourism. Also, a great example of the benefits of having a chat with your local member!
Click here to read about the story of a local business and a mural artist bringing alive one of the City of Mandurah's treasured heritage icons - it's recently demolished traffic bridge, that thousands of locals and visitors can remember and recommend as their favourite fishing location. Well done Bar Therapy and Jos Coufreur.
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT & PARTICIPATION
Community Minded Kids at Chullora Public School with retired NRL Bulldogs player Hazem Elmasri, known as “ElMagic”. The Community Minded Kids program at Chullora Public School was sponsored by Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs.
Community Minded Kids
Community Minded Kids is a program linked to children’s education to inspire and instill community mindedness and civic participation at a young age. Children learn about their community and ways to contribute to make it a better place. This is a practical model that can be incorporated into the school syllabus. It has been developed for both an Australian and International context.
Community Minded Kids is a program of Community Minds Incorporated, a not for profit organisation based in Sydney, Australia.
Bush school movement in Australia is growing with great results
The concept of 'forest schools' started in Europe and has been popular for decades. The concept is now gaining ground in Australia. Bush schools conduct learning outdoors. Students have greater control over their learning, are more active and teachers say they are seeing some amazing results. (Photo courtesy ABC News and Upper Sturt Primary).
Read about the inspiring passion of a young Mundaring local, Owen Briffa who has taken some amazing initiative in terms of celebrating and connecting his local community with their historical assets. (Photo courtesy Echo News and Claire Ottaviano).
Remote disadvantaged community thriving thanks to native bush food it's cultivating
This is a great story that explores economic development and sustainable food production for remote Aboriginal communities that aligns with culture and tradition. After being inspired while attending a Native Foods Conference in Dubbo, Tania Edwards enlisted the help of Mike and Gayle Quamby (owners of Outback Pride, the nation's largest grower and supplier of bush foods) to help the community at Clara Hart begin to cultivate bush foods for commercial purposes.
(Photo courtesy ABC News and Landline - Tim Lee).
Stripes of wildflowers across farm fields could cut pesticide spraying
This attractive and safe way to control pests is currently being trialed with positive results. They are also very visually beautiful!
(Photo courtesy The Guardian and Matthias Tschumi/Agroscope).
'Sustainable development is the pathway to the future we want for all. It offers a framework to generate economic growth, achieve social justice, exercise environmental stewardship and strengthen governance.'
(Ban Ki-moon)
'Sustainable development requires human ingenuity. People are the most
important resource.' (Dan Shechtman)
A natural solution to the climate change disaster...
A straightforward and positive article that makes the case for an achievable solution to both climate and ecological breakdown championed by scientists and activists. If you are despairing at the idea of climate change and the state of the environment - read this article. 'Rewilding' is something we can all have a hand in; along with the many other changes we can make to our lifestyles that will have a positive effect on climate change.
(Photo: The Wash, Lincolnshire. ‘Salt marshes can stash carbon 40 times faster than tropical forests.’ Photograph: Michael David Murphy/Alamy, courtesy of The Guardian)
How to talk to kids about climate change (and have fun too)...
Our children will ultimately pay the price for current climate inaction. Either way, how we inform them makes a big difference. Some great tips in this article.
Winning the war on poverty...the Canadian experience
This article refers to the work of the Tamarack Institute and their instrumental role in creating a collective impact model to address the root causes of poverty. It highlights the difference between simply giving handouts to those experiencing poverty and actually addressing the complexities that lead to widespread and entrenched poverty. (Thanks to Amie Leggett for sharing).
Opening up closed car parks to the homeless at night...
It's the brainchild of an Australian man, and he has the support of one of the country's biggest car park providers. Those sleeping rough have realised the value of these spaces themselves in terms of basic shelter. In response, most car park owners have ramped up security. However, assistance to facilitate the use of car parks to become more hospitable, safe, comfortable and friendly, as a place to house rough sleepers at night, is a proactive response that takes it to the next level. It is also a good use of an unused resource. (Video courtesy Channel 7 news).
This is a wonderful story of how a group of local residents in Seascapes in Western Australia have connected with their local IGA Supermarket to build community and create opportunities for recycling and community care.
"We have not come here to beg world leaders to care. You have ignored us in the past, and you will ignore us again.
We have run out of excuses, and we are running out of time.
We have come here to let you know that change is coming,
whether you like it or not.
The real power belongs to the people."
(Greta Thunberg)
Greta Thunberg
This edition we had to highlight the amazing child activist Greta Thunberg who has candidly put climate change on the agenda from the perspective of current and future generations that will bear its brunt. Thunberg has been diagnosied with both Asperger's and selective mutism which only makes her powerful call to action even more inspiring. This article on Greta Thunberg from The Guardian is a fabulous report of the impact she has had and her personal story. (Photo courtesy The Guardian and Michael Campanella).
The disarming case to act right now on climate change - Greta Thunberg, TED Talk
HUMOUR
(Image courtesy Buffi Duberman Facebook Page)
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