ASENZ ConferenceWellington: September 2009

“Despite the deep insecurity of our times, community is more important than ever.

…. We have the power to create a new story and ignite a new movement for

community”. Eric Young, Canadian Social Change leader, President of EYE

(We need to) harnessthe internal productive capacities,

both money and people, that already exist in communities

Barak Obama

Covering today…

• Conversations, connection, intention

• The ‘Great Start’ Taita story….

• … and others

• About Inspiring Communities

• Community-led development

Setting the Scene…

• Where do you live now?

• When is your community at it’s best?

• What makes ‘the best’ possible?

Great Start Taita

Taita

A “supported” community

Lower Hutt, North Island NZ

Taita,

Taita

A “supported” community

6,000 population

Barnardos NZ

Beyond Silos toIntegrated

Services

The Old NunneryA building from which to base services

30% of Taita’s population under 14 (Hutt City 23%)

Knocking on 1000 doors

And ending up on front lawns, around kitchen tables, on doorsteps, in lounges, at front gates, on street

corners and in offices.Those houses: 70% (49%) rental; 60% government rental (29%); median income $36,000

($56,000)

It’s all about connecting and

re-connectingPerson by person, opportunity by opportunity

From the kitchen table to the community table

Larger conversations – getting to know you events, public meetings, open homes, celebratory gatherings, learning

forums, planning days.

Learning

Learning how to notice – what happens, patterns, the unexpected, the familiar,

strengths, the spaces in between .. building intention and possibility.

Presencing

Staying with the “not knowing” until something new emerges

Having faiththat what you have done is enough, rather than simply doing more and more. This leaves others

space to come and stand beside you.

Developing the local economy

Small steps to start• Market Days

– 1st market, 30 stalls

• Small businesses– Two men and their toys– Roopu harakeke

flax weaving, language art and business

The story of the children and the council

.

Inspiring new energy and new perspectives

The world has changed for expectant parents

. Access to midwifery, pre and post-natal care almost impossible 2 years ago... then

• Because of energetic midwife and Great Start a pregnant mum, partner and children can visit midwife and get all support locally

• Connect with other families• Be linked to support once baby born

While at Great Start:• create ‘memory box ‘ for new baby• Local mum taken another step –

baby packs for each new baby to celebrate and welcome to the community

A community that notices

More than Taita

Communities that notice, act and build change together

Neat Streets, Masseywww.waitakere.govt.nz/

OurPar/masseycommunity.asp

Community rat trap makingStewart Island/Rakiura20% community involved

35,000 visitors– for 1/3rd bird life is key attraction

What is Inspiring Communities?

NZ as a network of strong, interdependent communities who connect, collaborate and thrive .. To be authors of their own destiny

We support local communities to achieve their goals by:• Promoting the power of working together• Supporting leadership and learning in

community-led development• Linking people, projects and place with

resources, tools and new knowledge through the Inspiring Communities Exchange

What drove us?

• Connecting with the ‘wish for community’ in place

• Understanding the magic?

• Stop re-inventing the wheel – connecting and learning

• Three levels of collaboration 1. Across the country- between

communities2. Across organisations and institutions 3. At resident/street level

What is Community-Led Development?

• Outcome: thriving and resilient communities• Intentional focus on communities of ‘place’

– Local residents at the heart: actors not clients– Intersection with communities of interest

• Co-creating a shared way forward– Collaborative multi-sector tables– Look for commonalities – Celebrate diversity & difference

People In

CommunitiesCentral

GovtLocal Govt

Funders Iwi Maori

Business Community groups

Academic

“You need champions willing to

step off the kerb”

What is Community-Led Development?

• Building from strengths and assets

• Unleashing creative solutions

• Supporting catalytic leaders

• Increasing connections and participation

• Learning and adapting

• Celebrating tangible results and changes

• Whole systems change

People In

Communities

Central Govt

Local Govt

FundersIwi

MaoriBusiness Community groups

Academic

Core Learning ClusterGaining focus - Strengthening local leadership-

Building collaboration

Massey Matters, Waitakere

Tamaki, Auckland

Stewart Island/Rakiura

Good Cents, PoriruaGreat Start Taita, Lower Hutt

Mataura, Southland

Opotiki

Inspiring Communities Exchange, Guiding Group – business, Maori, funders, community organisations, government

The Exchange

WellingtonNetwork

Auckland Network

Experience from core learning cluster of 8 initiatives spiraling out to regional networks and a growing national network supported by the Exchange

Core Learning Cluster

National

Network

What we are learning….• The Cathedral within…

– “Small steps not giant leaps”– “It takes as long as it takes”

• No ‘one size fits all’ model – But transferable principles and tools

• Relationships and trust– Go to people where they are– Active and deep listening– Add value to others first– Mentor, inspire, support and resource

• Invest in passion, energy and opportunity

What we are learning….• Understanding the ‘unknowing space’

– Innovation and new knowledge found at the ‘edge’– Be prepared to take risks– Emergent– Be prepared for living with uncertainty

• Quick runs to show change is possible– Seeing is believing

• A learning journey…– Expecting and accepting failure – Growing our evidence base– Telling and Valuing stories– Developmental evaluation

• What are we seeing and learning? How could it change what we do?

“There will be failures along the way – we need to make them smart failures”

Mark Cabaj

What we are learning….

• Social capital - often missing…– Bonding– Bridging– Leveraging

• The what and the HOW– Growing movements for change– Egos at the door

• Expect and manage the ‘tango’ – Tension healthy and normal!– Top-down meets bottom- up– Analytical vs intuitive styles

• Empowering resident voice and action– Door knocking – Local events

“We can do it ourselves, but we can’t do it on our

own”

“Faster alone, further

together”

FundingTrue partnership based on agreed purpose,

trust, shared learning and joint responsibility.