16 September 2013

Nelson-Tasman’s local ‘change makers’ set to learn from inspiring Kiwi communities, including each other, at upcoming workshop

Time banking, community gardens, local markets, social enterprise activities, hapū and iwi-led developments, neighbourhood strengthening, community hubs, local community plans… if any of these sound familiar then you’re probably already attending the Communities Leading Change workshop being held in Victory Village, Nelson next week.

The workshop, the first of a series being held around the country run by Inspiring Communities, is expected to be both inspiring and informative for around 35 attendees – with only a handful of places still left.

Workshop facilitator and Inspiring Communities co-convenor Megan Courtney notes there are already many examples of communities leading locally in Nelson Tasman. "We share the Victory community's story and achievements in our work across NZ. In Motueka, there are also some amazing change efforts underway, many linked to the Vision Motueka initiative. Locals have been creating community murals, kicked off new local events, have plans for a new town hub and have set up a local awards programme to celebrate local people doing great things in their area. Motueka's Community gardens also continue to pump out produce while the organic food club cooperative located at Riverside Community is thriving, gaining new members every week."

Those attending next week's workshop will include leaders from Motueka, a range of community and government agencies, Nelson City Council and other community-passionate local residents.

The workshop is being co-hosted by Victory Community Health, with Nelson Bays PHO and Nelson Community Workers and Training and Support Network sponsoring places for community leaders.

“It will be a really neat mix of people and organisations”, she says. “The will provide a great environment for people to learn from each other and see their own work in a new light.“

Kindra Douglas (QSM) of Victory Community Health says she regularly refers to Inspiring Communities book Learning by Doing, on which the workshop is based, and she can’t wait to spend a day with other locals exploring the “gold” it offers. “I love the maps and models, the quotes and real community examples… it's both inspiration and practical help for us at the coal face in Victory too.

Megan explains the workshop is not about creating the perfect model or plan. “We hope to dispel the myth of ‘getting it right’. In community-led development there is no perfect model, no complete analysis. We actually have to just get started, be committed to working creatively and collaboratively with others and get used to learning as we go.”

“The Communities Leading Change workshop is all about equipping local people and organisations with some new knowledge, some practical tips and tools and a strengthened the confidence to go on creating great things in and with their communities.”

Communities Leading Change Workshop details:
When: Tuesday September 24th September 2013, 9am – 3pm
Where: The Whare, Victory Community Centre, 2 Totara St, Victory.
Cost (includes lunch): $100 Community leaders/NGOs; $180 Local/Central Govt/Business

You can Register online (http://inspiringcommunities.org.nz/events/community-led-development-training-workshops)

For further information:
• Panui: Notice about the 24 September workshop
• Backgrounder: About Inspiring Communities - About Learning by Doing
• Media release 15 April: Launch of Learning by Doing

ENDS

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