Creating Magic – Margaret Jefferies
On January 13th, 2020, Margaret Jefferies died and NZ lost one of its community-led development legends. Margaret played a key role as Chair of Project Lyttleton and in introducing Timebanks to NZ and other ‘local living economies’ like Savings Pools. She was passionate about engaging everyone’s strengths and diverse voices. She used approaches like Open Space and Appreciative Inquiry to facilitate community conversations around shared community vision and fun, collective action.
“We need to stand taller. We need to ask bigger. We need to be bolder.” – Margaret Jefferies
Late last year, Inspiring Communities worked with Margaret, Leadership in Communities (LinC) in Christchurch and some of Margarets’ Project Lyttleton friends to make a film with Margaret about her wisdom, journey, and legacy. We are grateful for all those who made this possible and all the insights Margaret has shared with us about her way of leading in communities. She encourages us to step into our own magnificence and power, to be bolder, to observe and ‘fan’ where the energy is, and to embrace life’s fun, chaos and adventures. But mostly she encourages us to put love at the centre of our mahi. Such timely wisdom for our current situation!
“I’m on the mission to reclaiming the word love.” – Margaret Jefferies
Thank you, Margaret, for inspiring community-led development locally, nationally, and internationally. Your legacy is an extraordinary gift to our work – past, present, and future.
