Kait Bell’s Post

Speaking on the importance of mentorship and why providing guidance to youth is key to creating lasting change. It’s about giving them the tools to thrive.

I’ve been amazed to see what can happen when businesses prioritize their responsibility to their communities. At the end of the day, there’s potential to uplift the surrounding community, the business, and the people in both. Research shows that 70% of employees feel more engaged when their company is involved in community initiatives. By approaching local communities with an open mind and a willingness to learn, businesses can build trust and foster meaningful relationships. To me, there's nothing more important than earning and maintaining the trust of teams and communities. What better way to do that than by acting with curiosity and sensemaking when engaging in community development? What’s your take? #Community #Innovation #Engagement #Leadership Source: MIT Sloan - How to engage your business in community and economic development.

Burnie Works exists to help the Burnie community make changes that improve lives. We do this by walking alongside community, ensuring every voice, no matter how quiet, is valued and heard in our mission to bring about positive change. We know that when we build the knowledge, skills, and experience of the people in Burnie, we strengthen our ability to drive positive change together. To help do this, we have designed a program to deliver Community Capability Building workshops for our community – get ready for an incredible twelve months of community empowerment in Burnie! The program consists of several workshops. Each is aimed at building people’s knowledge, skills and abilities. The program includes topics such as diversity and inclusion, community leadership, understanding generations, advocacy, power dynamics, and local data; how to collect it, how to use it, and why. These topics have been carefully selected based on our experience, conversations with community, and valuable feedback from past workshop participants. We have also chosen topics that align with our organisational goals and values. Burnie Works Chair Jacqueline de Jonge said, “We are incredibly grateful that our community has received funding for such an important program. When we learn together, we can apply what we’ve learned together. We can move forward with a shared aspiration and plan for change.” The Burnie Works team is eager to connect with new and familiar faces and is excited about the opportunity to learn and grow together to create positive change. Get on the mailing list to receive invitations to workshops when registrations open https://lnkd.in/gzsdewwq We are fortunate to be able to deliver this program thanks to funding from the Australian Government and the Stronger Places, Stronger People initiative. It acknowledges the urgent and growing need for inclusive engagement, local leadership and governance in communities. #burnie #burnieworks #capabilitybuilding #knowledge #skills #ability #strongerplacesstrongerpeople #diversity #inclusion #powerdynamics #communityleadership #understandinggenerations #advocacy #data #positivechange

🌍 "What can we do together to make a difference?" 🤝 Building a community isn't just about gathering people—it's about inspiring action and creating lasting change through collaboration. At our last meeting, we saw firsthand the power of collective support when one small idea sparked a wave of action. Together, we can accomplish more than we ever could alone. Let’s keep pushing for progress, because when we unite, anything is possible. #BuildingCommunity #CollectiveAction #SupportForChange #StrongerTogether #InspireChange

At Leadership Howard County, in our quest to nurture effective community leadership, we recognize the significance of trust at scale. As highlighted in this thought-provoking article, metrics alone cannot cultivate trust. Instead, fostering a deeper understanding of community dynamics and complex systems through active participation at the local level is key. We aim to empower participants to engage meaningfully with their communities, fostering a sense of efficacy and trust that transcends numbers. A lot to chew on in this article: "There's something about local community engagement that really matters for the health of a democracy, and something is really getting lost there. This leads me to the question that I'm trying to figure out now: “When we institutionalize all these abstract and quantified forms of knowing and engaging in civil society, does that cause our civic or democratic muscles to atrophy?” The follow up question is: “How? And how do we get back from that?”" Can we reshape the landscape of leadership by prioritizing local involvement and empowering individuals to influence their communities positively? I surely hope so: "Prioritizing more hands-on, engaged forms of participation and accountability are essential for a vibrant civic life" #LeadershipDevelopment #TrustBuilding #CommunityEngagement #LocalInvolvement #LeadershipHowardCounty https://lnkd.in/e2rhixum

Communities are part of every aspect of our lives, whether it’s our businesses, neighborhoods, or school. What makes these communities powerful and impactful is the sense of belonging they create for each member. Healthy and engaging communities recognize and respect the value of diverse experiences. Thriving communities are built on the foundation that everyone feels they are part of something greater. But how can these communities grow and drive change if we don't make space for learning and sharing? How can they thrive without the curiosity to explore and understand each other's experiences? If you've been observing the slow dismantling of DEI initiatives, you can see that this dismantling is driven by an unfounded fear of losing power and privilege. Yet, at its core, DEI is about inclusion and belonging, concepts that resonate with all of us. We all know the pain of feeling left out, the discomfort of being "the other," the frustration of feeling undervalued, and the hurt of being unseen and unheard. These experiences are universal and human. Feeling left out isolates us from the community, creating a barrier to connection and growth. These experiences don’t just affect people, they weaken communities. When people feel excluded or undervalued, it stifles creativity, collaboration, and progress. If we continue to dismantle DEI efforts, are we willing to accept the risk of our communities failing to thrive? #communitybuilding #community #belonging #leadership #curiosity

Wondering where to begin with “passion projects” or community engagement? Our best advice is this: just start doing something! Doing + Reflecting will help you find your way. There’s a cycle of reflection & action that will lead you to your best ideas that can have the most meaningful impact. #thebestucollegeadvising #collegeadmissions #passionproject #impact #parentlife #highschool #community

Engaging with the community goes beyond simply sharing information; it involves establishing connections, making a meaningful impact, and empowering diverse voices. In our recent blog, we explore how implementing genuine engagement tactics can bring about significant transformations in communities, fostering long-lasting change. Whether you hold a leadership position, are involved in planning, or advocate for causes, this content is tailored for you! Let's reimagine our approach to connecting with others and lifting our communities to new heights. Explore more at: https://buff.ly/3Yisj1b #CommunityOutreach #EmpowermentStrategies'''

I've been reflecting on this piece from the @ConnectiveTissue newsletter, featuring Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (Stanford PACS) sociologist Aaron Horvath's thoughts about the tensions between measurement and social trust. Is the question of evaluation and social trust an either/or proposition? Certainly not, but recognizing the complexity of their interplay has implications for how we understand the decline of civic life and the effectiveness of organizations. A critical point Horvath makes about this complexity: "There's no doubt that quantification and metrics often codify biases and prejudices and hide them behind the patina of objectivity. But the so-called old-fashioned way, where everything happens in-person and through interpersonal relationships is rife with problems, too... What I'm ultimately trying to advocate for is an intelligent use of different approaches to building, maintaining, and communicating trust—whether quantified, relational, or whatever. We need to recognize that different approaches have unique costs and downsides." For my colleagues working in the social sector, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts! #trust #SocialTrust #evaluation #measurement #CivilSociety #CivicLife

Throwing it back to a moment of purpose and passion, as #MachakosKenyattaUniversityStudentsAssociation. This is one of the numerous mentorship programs we held at schools in Machakos, which was a real success fueled by the commitment to giving back to the society and fostering positive change. In the realm of #communitydevelopment, #teamwork is not just a concept; it's a cornerstone of all endeavors. Among the topics we tackled, #mentalhealth and #menstrualhealth are not just topics but conversations that shape futures. By addressing these import aspects, we aim to break stigmas, foster understanding and provide support where needed most. As a community development agent, I believe that #empowerment begins with #education and #empathy. It's about creating safe spaces for dialogue, nurturing resilience, and inspiring confidence in the leaders of tomorrow. With #teamwork, we shape brighter futures, one heart, one mind at a time. #communitydevelopment #empowerment #teamwork #impact Rose Mwikali Naomi Kanini dominic kwanza