1. Kulin Nation
I would like to respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the Kulin Nation, a place now known by its European name of Melbourne.
May we acknowledge the traditional owners whose cultures and customs have nurtured, and continue to nurture, this land, since men and women awoke from the great dream. We honour the presence of these ancestors who reside in the imagination of this land and whose irrepressible spirituality flows through all creation.
Source: Jonathan Hill is an Aboriginal poet living in New South Wales.
Power to the People September 2016

2. Engaging CaLD & Refugees in Building Community
Power to the People September 2016

3. Engaging and Developing Communities
Community Minds Inc.
Engaging and Developing Communities
Power to the People September 2016

4. Head, Heart & Hands
Power to the People September 2016

5. WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
Applying ABCDE
Eliminates assumptions about what people “need”
Challenges cultural assumptions and stereotypes about groups of people (cultural, religious, ethnic language)
Helps eradicate racism (us and them mentality) and siloed thinking
WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
Power to the People September 2016

6. We need to challenge/change this way of working
ABCDE gives power to people, empowers them and doesn't’ take or deny power. We see this happening a lot in this sector through set programs and systems.
We need to challenge/change this way of working
Power to the People September 2016

7. We need to challenge/change the status quo
The deficit approach or ‘charitable’ model promotes reliance on services and keep ‘clients’ in a state of dependency, constantly seeking ‘help’.
We need to challenge/change the status quo
Power to the People September 2016

8. ABCDE aims to recognise the citizen as powerful, resourceful and valuable
We need to challenge/change our perceptions – redefine how we see people, how we see ourselves
Power to the People September 2016

9. ‘Human Hands’
True generosity consists precisely in fighting to destroy the causes which nourish false charity. False charity constrains the fearful and subdued, the "rejects of life," to extend their trembling hands. True generosity lies in striving so that these hands--whether of individuals or entire peoples--need be extended less and less in supplication, so that more and more they become human hands which work and, working, transform the world. ― Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Power to the People September 2016

10. Citizens are not given power by you or your organisation (or council or government) but rather citizens (often labeled as your ‘clients’) are already powerful and have valuable assets they can contribute to their community It’s our job to amplify their power (through resources, information and networks) and to help them realise and bring to life their assets and gifts (skills and passions)
Power to the People September 2016

11. Citizens driving Change
We need to perceive our role as caretaker, custodian and conduit not power-giver, problem solver or ‘professional’ (expert in assuming people want or need certain programs, services or help).
Working with communities within this framework creates citizen-led communities. People feel empowered, heard, valued and respected.
It creates the right breeding ground for communities to drive change and not wait for change to happen.
Power to the People September 2016

12. Power to the People September 2016

13. More and more, we will find ourselves living alongside people who have different experiences from ours and who come from different cultures. It’s vital, for their future and ours, that we should understand each other and build good communities together.
Gillian Cross
Power to the People September 2016

14. SAME PRINCIPLES AND APPROACH APPLY
What does this all mean when it comes to working with CaLD and New and emerging communities?
SAME PRINCIPLES AND APPROACH APPLY
Gain an understanding (this is ongoing) of the different communities and their experiences
An examination of how we view our own culture in relation to other cultures
Avoid viewing other cultures as a colorful addition to the dominant culture – Regardless of where you live, cultures intersect and we can learn from each other – it’s a kaleidoscope of beautiful differences in which communities can thrive
Power to the People September 2016

15. 3 enablers ‘There is no greater power than a
Dreams
Concerns
Gift giving opportunities
‘There is no greater power than a
community that has discovered what it
cares about.’
Margaret Wheatley
Power to the People September 2016

16. Understanding motivation to act
In every community there is work to be
done.
In every person there is the power to do
it.
People will support what they help to
create.
Power to the People September 2016

17. Negative Labels/Terms Disempower People
We don’t want to be community workers that “help” or “service”;
asylum seekers (boat people)
at-risk (children, youth etc.)
Anti-social behaviour
disadvantaged
welfare dependent
unemployed
Illiterate/uneducated
non-English speaking/poor English
Poor
Disabled
aged
Homeless
We want to be community builders that work on building the strengths and assets of community, building solidarity and connectedness rather than charity and dependency.
Power to the People September 2016

18. Youth with Promise & Purpose
Power to the People September 2016

19. “Youth are not vessels to be filled, but fires to be lit” (Plutarch)
Power to the People September 2016

20. Appreciative Inquiry
Appreciative ‭ ‬inquiry ‭ ‬is ‭ ‬a ‭ ‬positive, ‭ ‬strength- based ‭ ‬action ‭ ‬research ‭ ‬approach incorporating ‭ ‬narrative ‭ ‬inquiry ‭ principles ‭ ‬that ‭ ‬is ‭ ‬well ‭ ‬suited ‭ ‬to ‭ ‬working ‭ ‬with ‭ ‬culturally diverse communities.
Appreciative inquiry basically uses a 4D approach to:
1. ‭ ‬Discover – ‭appreciate the best of what is‬
2. ‭ ‬Dream – ‭imagine what might be‬
3. ‭ ‬Design – ‭determine what should be‬
4. ‭ ‬Destiny – ‭create what will be‬
Power to the People September 2016

21. Power to the People September 2016

22. Appreciating Culture through AI
Participants are empowered to share their own understandings of ‭ ‬what they value ‭‬as the best of ‭ ‬their social and cultural identity, to then creatively imagine what might be and together design what they could do to improve their community.
Power to the People September 2016

23. Appreciative Inquiry – Asking Powerful Questions
Assets, Gifts, Aspirations & Passions
What are you most proud of?
What do you love about your life?
When you do what you love, what’s happening? What conditions are present?
What do you most like about yourself?
What makes your eyes dance in your head? What ignites your fire?
What excites you? What are you passionate about?
Power to the People September 2016

24. Appreciative Inquiry Gifts that give to Community
What skill (talent, resource, idea etc.) do have that would make your community more vibrant (connected, inclusive, healthy) ?
What do you love about your community?
How have you felt welcomed in this community? Is there an example you can give of someone, or something that helped you feel welcome and settled in this community? How did that make you feel?
Power to the People September 2016

25. Appreciative Inquiry
How you have you contributed to growing community spirit and connectedness?
What would an inclusive and connected community look like? What could you do to help make that happen?
Power to the People September 2016

26. Food, Families, Friendships
Power to the People September 2016

27. Moving beyond Falafel
Power to the People September 2016

28. FAMILY FEASTING CROSS CULTURAL/CULTURAL ENRICHMENT FOR FAMILIES
Power to the People September 2016

29. Family Feasting Nutrition Trivia/Games Storytelling
Cook and eat together
Storytelling
Power to the People September 2016

30. Family Feasting – Post Engagement
Power to the People September 2016

31. Taste Food Tours
Power to the People September 2016

32. Taste Food Tours
Power to the People September 2016

33. Hummus Anyone?
Power to the People September 2016

34. Habib
"That was very hard to set up a business as a refugee coming to Australia, I never thought of my position now, when I came”
Power to the People September 2016

35. Tour Stories Taste Better than the Food
Habib Afghan-Baig fled his homeland of Afghanistan 15 years ago with nothing but bread recipes in his pockets, passed down from his father. His breads will be hitting the big name supermarkets. Like many refugees after arrival, the 33-year-old entrepreneur did shift work in a bakery, before saving to buy the place.
Power to the People September 2016

36. Superstar Sahar
Power to the People September 2016

37. Power to the People September 2016

38. ….Start Again at your Beginnings….
Power to the People September 2016

39. “I want to belong….I long for home”
Power to the People September 2016

40. A life with purpose
Power to the People September 2016

41. Purpose: A life of Purpose
Purpose: Living a life of Purpose is a Human Need. It’s the the difference between thriving and surviving Migrants and Refugees also desire to feel a sense of purpose, opportunities to give and to care, and opportunities to teach and to share.
Muhammad Sadiq
I wanted to give back to the community and to help others who have been touched by war and forced to flee their homes.
Power to the People September 2016

42. Power to the People September 2016

43. BANKSTOWN – “wild south west”
An enjoyable and vibrant place to live that essentially is no more dangerous than any other town in this massive city called Sydney. If you live in the region, please share this article and show to your fellow countrymen that Bankstown isn’t the bad guy, he is just misunderstood and misrepresented and we have the facts to prove it. Can’t argue with facts can we now?
Power to the People September 2016

44. Plenty of Gems
Bankstown Poetry Slam – Biggest Slam in the Southern Hemisphere
Sarah Mansour
Power to the People September 2016

45. BYDS
Power to the People September 2016

46. Bankstown: Live
4 days
1 Street
100’s of people coming together
A project by Urban Theatre Projects and Sydney Festival
Urban Theatre Projects (UTP) is a theatre organisation that has been developing work - stories - from within a 'community', of a community, for the community, in Sydney's south west for 30- years
Power to the People September 2016

47. Bankstown: Live
“As a company it’s so important to us, connecting to people who wouldn’t normally come inside a theatre and have them come in and experience art and meet different people is pretty great,” Curator Rosie Dennis said.
Power to the People September 2016

48. Bankstown: Live
Power to the People September 2016

49. Streets turned Theatre
The success of this project from Urban Theatre Projects is the ease of charm of neighbourly sharing of tea, food and human story.. Much effort from the team of professionals and volunteers, and the co-operation of neighbours and 'authorities', cannot be underestimated. (Kevin Jacksons Theatre Diary)
Power to the People September 2016

50. Ballroom Dancers Take over Northam Avenue
Power to the People September 2016

51. 69-year-old Walid did not hesitate when he was asked to take part in Bankstown: Live.
"I said 'yes, yes, yes, yes' because you like to boost these types of things," Mr. Walid Arends said.
I think it is a great thing that people are sacrificing their homes, their lives, to do something for Bankstown."
Power to the People September 2016

52. ‘Imagine Bankstown’
Imagine Bankstown Project a community building project that utilises an Asset Based Community Development approach. It brings together the people of Bankstown and and community organisations to work collaboratively to cultivate hope and civic engagement in a variety of cross cultural and intergenerational initiatives.
Power to the People September 2016

53. ‘Imagine Bankstown’
It harnesses the ideas, imagination and dreams of the people of Bankstown for public good. Younger and older people are engaged in creating hopeful futures for their families and communities through both discourse and action.
It focuses on the assets that exist in the Bankstown community rather than the needs and the problems.
It recognises that every single person has capacities, abilities, gifts and ideas which once shared can contribute to the well being of the community. Meaningful opportunities then exist for people to discover a place to belong and a way to contribute their considerable gifts to the communities in which they live. (Randa Kattan – CEO).
Power to the People September 2016

54. ‘Imagine Bankstown’
It recognises that every single person has capacities, abilities, gifts and ideas which once shared can contribute to the well being of the community. Meaningful opportunities then exist for people to discover a place to belong and a way to contribute their considerable gifts to the communities in which they live. (Randa Kattan- CEO)
Power to the People September 2016

55. Reconnection
An opportunity to Reconnect: not reliving bad experiences, but reconnecting to a reality that was theirs, stories of the past, remembering a time they felt most alive, happy and fulfilled (Appreciative Inquiry)
Power to the People September 2016

56. Recognition
Bringing to life skills of migrants that are often unrecognized or underutislised. What are these skills? How can we learn these skills? What traditional wisdom do they hold that is relevant today? Recognising their assets within a different cultural framework
Power to the People September 2016

57. Culture and Language
These are assets. Where we go wrong is that we view culture as a nice story, a nice picture, and a colorful addition to our multicultural landscape. Often tokenistic, we view it as something separate to us.
Power to the People September 2016

58. Cormac reminds us of ‘Putting citizens at the centre of community life… and “the urgent need for us to practice radical inclusion in which " we must welcome the stranger at the edge from within our communities and from outside our communities. Simply being nice to people who talk like us, think like us and look like us is not sufficient, in fact to do that is to live an entrenched and impoverished life." Cormac Russell
Power to the People September 2016

59. It's a challenge we face, but it's a challenge we need to accept if we are truly genuine in creating communities that care, communities that don't rely on services and programs for its survival, but rather communities that thrive because it's citizens have a place to create, contribute and connect.
Power to the People September 2016

60. There are also some excellent poems to read with children (age 10 and up) to encourage discussion about refugees: SOME PEOPLE by Wislawa Szymborska, WE REFUGEES by Benjamin Zephaniah, CITIZEN OF THE WORLD by Dave Calder, REFUGEE BLUES by W.H. Auden, PEACE by Yannis Ritsos
Power to the People September 2016