Whether it is developing a food program for youth and seniors, creating a skatepark, saving a lighthouse, or addressing gender violence in schools, this program will provide you with the skills to effectively undertake community development efforts in your town, school or neighbourhood.
This program is a complement to the ASPIRE and DPC (Dialogue for Peaceful Change) programs – to allow more extensive in-depth theory and practice. We will explore the role of communication, how to know what your group or community wants or needs, and what the elements are key for effective and sustainable community development. There will be an opportunity to practice, assess and apply tools such as Appreciative Inquiry, Open Space Technology, world café (and others) and explore how they apply in community development contexts.
We will explore theories on social change and develop our analysis as to how to leverage power, mobilize resources, build momentum and effect change. There will be time for discussions, dialogue and storytelling around power and privilege, getting stuck and dealing with resistance, the use of creativity, and nitty gritty elements such as how to organize and facilitate good meetings. And you will have an opportunity to develop plans for the community development project you care about most.
Program Cost: $730 ($338 tuition+$392 meals/accommodations)
Local Price: $495 (program cost without overnight, without breakfast)
Please register at least 2 weeks in advance to secure your place in this program
Leadership
Steve Law
Stephen Law, Social Transformation Program Coordinator at Tatamagouche Centre, is an internationally certified DPC Coach who has offered trainings in Northern Ireland, India and North America. Stephen was the past chair of Peace Brigades International and has trained international accompaniers in conflict areas around the world. Stephen has mediated conflicts in community-based organizations, family structures and cooperative social enterprises and offered programming which builds bridges between groups, communities and organizations. Stephen is the author of the novel Tailings of Warren Peace.
Ishbel Munro
Ishbel Munro, Program Resource Group (PRG) facilitator, has been involved in community development work for over 35 years. She has worked with First Nations, fishermen, women, local development groups and youth, amongst others. Her approach is collaborative – building people’s strengths, self-reliance and hope supporting the development of their own leadership. For 15 years, she was Executive Director of Coastal Communities Network (CCN), a province wide grassroots, non-profit that works to ensure the future of Nova Scotia’s rural and coastal communities. Ishbel is currently the Program Director at Tatamagouche Centre and a member of the Staff Leadership Team that is working to change the Centre from a hierarchal management structure to a collaborative team model.