Having worked for years in the non-profit sector, I have seen community development professionals work hard with very limited resources. Now, as I transition to working within the post-secondary context, I meet more and more intelligent people who could have significant time and resources to provide to issues they care about. They ask good questions and are looking for authentic contribution and connection, not a mass-produced experience.
Options for being involved in community development part-time are limited. The most common ‘ask’ is for financial contributions, in a variety of forms. Many organizations suggest international or local volunteerism. There are a range of volunteerism opportunities – some as simple as manual labour, others focused on mentorship of clients/participants. What I do not see are ways for those interested in positive social change to build relationships with, learn from, and significantly support the work of community development professionals.
That’s where I’ve come to this idea what I’m (tentatively) calling “Part-time Changemakers”. It’s about articulating ways to connect those interested in positive change in the world with those who are doing this work full-time. The premise is that those who do community development work full-time have ideas, initiatives, and potential work that is currently not happening for lack of time, resources, or specific expertise. Those who want to contribute part-time can offer their skills, expertise, or networks for a defined period of time.
International Solidarity Retreats are a way to connect those interested in positive change in the world with those who are doing this work full-time. The journey starts with an ‘Launch’ –a getaway to the Gulf Islands, it’s a workshop on Bowen Island – that connects a group of people, an issue, and a full-time community development practitioner/leader. The weekend is a mixture of strategic planning, collective outdoor adventure, and social time. The focus, structure, and content of the Contribution Launch are co-created by a facilitator and project leader. More about those ideas here.
Mt Pleasant Drinks is a social evening with several purposes. The first is to bring together people who live in the same geographical neighbourhood for regular social gatherings, thus building a sense of neighborliness and connection. The second goal is to share ways that those gathering might be able to connect with project leader, and to begin to build relationships and connections with those people. The evening is primarily social – however, at one point in the evening there is an opportunity to say ‘cheers’ and gather briefly. An organization representative shares a bit about their current work and their ideas they’re interested in working on for the next Launch. After the event, someone follows up with those interested to set up further conversation or connection – primarily to see if participants are interested in the next Contribution Launch dates, and if so to determine whether they’re a good fit. Target audience for this event would be working professionals.
Although I first conceived of Mt Pleasant Mondays as a way to connect people to solidarity efforts, in the end the Mt Pleasant Monday idea has taken form as a community-building space, as shared in this post.
The Strategic Supporters of Change Series is designed for those who know they want to be involved in making change in a substantive way, but haven’t yet articulated what that looks like. Those who participate in this series may already be involved in local and/or international volunteering, charitable contributions, and support of the work of friends/relatives, but are looking to take a more thoughtful approach to their contributions. Participants ideally have an openness to learning, willingness to choose one or more areas of focus, and desire to take action. The ‘Strategic Supporters of Change’ series is designed to lead conversations about the following:
- Awareness of self: articulate goals (obvious and hidden), privilege (whiteness, gender, class), and resources (skills, time, money, networks) as a starting place for changemaking.
- Awareness of complexity: use a systems thinking approach to articulate what we know, ask questions, do further research, and then consider potential areas for influence and input.
- Changemaking Plan: For some people, the ‘plan for change’ may involve an Contribution Launch weekend; for others it may involve contribution of money, skill, time, or networks to places and projects where they already have connection.
The strategic supporters of change series could be offered as two full-day workshops (complete series), five evening sessions (complete series), or a single ‘taster’ workshop. Target audience for this would be retired or soon-to-retire baby boomers. The work on this idea has not yet begun, except through collaborative work to teach this course at the Vancouver School Board.
All of these ideas are emerging and evolving, as I find ways to blend my interest in international solidarity with my desire to facilitate and lead programs.
I am looking for those who have similar interest and willingness to be involved in articulating these ideas, designing sessions and curriculum to match, and leading the sessions in various venues.