Inspiring Communities Newsletter June 2015

The Power of the Small

Kia ora!

Think Big – now there is term that conjures up a myriad of contrasts from the Muldoon era to Sex and the City.

In amongst those contrasts community-led development lies, thinking big more often than not is seeded in something small that starts to create change. Locally- led change is not a journey of giant leaps and quick fixes, it is a process of small steps and intentional actions made by many, that cumulatively make a real difference and create big transformational change.

In this issue Inspiring Communities focuses on the Power of the Small. In a showcase of stories that observe and celebrate communities taking small steps towards big change, we highlight the value of contribution – no matter the size – it matters.

We feature two kinds of villages – one in the Waikato, the other is the sort you retire to; two kinds of giving – one time, the other money; and we share how you can get help to organise a good ol’ fashioned Treasure Hunt.

The Inspiring Communities team is looking forward to seeing you all at the Our Place Conference . The momentum is certainly building, take the opportunity to read about the speakers and make sure you register to ensure you are at the forefront of building inclusive, accessible communities in New Zealand.

We welcome our new Communications Leader Rachel Roberts to the Inspiring Communities Team. Rachel brings a wealth of experience having been a journalist for a number of years before working with not for profit organisations to further their communications goals. She is most interested in providing communication leadership that illustrates, supports and builds on the growing value of community-ed development.  Check out Rachel’s profile on our website. 

And thanks Peter for all your support and hard work running our communications – it has been much appreciated !

 Have you joined the 700 others who are now connected to our CLD Learning links new each week on Inspiring Communities facebook?

Barbara, David, Denise, Megan and Rachel from the Inspiring Communities Team

Inspiring Giving

Supporting those with Good Ideas

Small Things – Big Impacts 

Small Village, Big Vision

Our Amazing Place – A Community Treasure Hunt at your Place?

Mon 29 June – Weds 1 July 2015
@ Te Papa Tongarewa
55 Cable Street, Wellington 

• What it takes to work together successfully to create communities where everyone is welcome and able to realise their potential
• How we connect with and learn from each other
• How we can influence change
• What leadership in an accessible and inclusive NZ looks like
• How our experiences of inclusion affect our identity

Here’s a taste of the calibre of speakers:
Paul Dalziel Professor of Economics at Lincoln University. His book, Well-being Economics outlines a way of measuring economic growth that focuses on how well it enables New Zealanders to lead the kinds of lives they have reason to value, rather than measuring economic growth for its own sake. Issues such as unemployment and poverty can therefore be addressed directly.

Samira Yussuf was born in Mogadishu and spent her early years in refugee camps in Kenya before coming to New Zealand at nine years old. Now married with a daughter, Samira has made a home here, she will share her insights.

Tien Ung is one of the Our Place facilitators. She has vast experience in working with resilient people in marginalised communities and will be a huge asset to the Conference. Tien addresses among other things immigrant and refugee mental health and child and family trauma.

We are also pleased to also welcome Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon Bill English, the Minister for Disability Issues, Hon Nicky Wagner, and the Minister of the Community and Voluntary Sector, Hon Jo Goodhew, who will all be speaking at Our Place.

More details on these and the other speakers can be found at www.ourplace2015.com

Everyone has a part to play in ensuring New Zealand is an inclusive and accessible society where we all reach our full potential. The time to step up and collaborate to make this happen has come. Our Place will create ripples across the sectors – bringing together speakers with the expertise and the evidence to kick-start a cohesive plan that will enable everyone in New Zealand to fully contribute to society.

Be part of creating change, this is where it will start. Register here now!

Training Opportunities

Practicing Differently (August 2015)  Alan Kaplan and Sue Davidoff from the Proteus Institute  are returning to Aotearoa in mid August and offering a range of workshop opportunities focused on facilitating conversations and enabling activism and change.   For more information see here

Multisector Collaboration Training (October 2015) – Inspiring Communities and Thought Partners are pleased to bring internationally accredited Partnership Brokers training to New Zealand.  The inaugural four day intensive programme will provide those working in partnerships with in-depth tools, techniques and strategies on how to partner effectively.  For programme information see here or contact Trish Hall from Thought Partners –  Trish@thoughtpartners.co.nz