Bringing Community to Life

Due to health reasons, this event has been postponed. We are hoping to re schedule in April/May 2026. We apologise for any inconvenience

Bringing Community to Life

With International Social Explorer, Cormac Russell

Join us in building a stronger, more connected community!

Many of us feel disconnected, even with opportunities for connection all around us. This is especially so for people with disabilities and others who are at higher risk of loneliness and isolation.

Traditional systems often highlight what's wrong, offering commercial fixes that can isolate us. But imagine a different way: a community-driven approach that champions our natural connections and celebrates the unique gifts and skills we each have.

This one day, face to face workshop will focus on Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) and will teach you how to uncover the hidden talents, assets, and strengths within your own neighborhood. You will learn to build healthier, safer, and more prosperous communities by:

• Shifting your focus from deficits to assets, strengths and gifts.

• Connecting with your neighbours and others in your community to create meaningful relationships.

• Taking action to build a more vibrant community.

Through examples from around the world, you will discover that neighbourliness is a powerful force for change. Upon completion, you will be equipped to apply the principles and practices of ABCD in your own life and community.

Who is this event for?

This event is for those that have an interest in community and neighbourhood. It will also be of particular interest to those with a disability, their families and allies, interested community members and professionals. Preference will be given to people who live, learn and recreate in the City of Knox or those who have a connection with Belonging Matters.

Accessibility

The venue is fully accessible. If you need alternative formats or other reasonable adjustments, please advise when you register online.

If cost is a barrier to attending, please email info@belongingmatters.org

Guest Speaker

Cormac Russell is a veteran practitioner of Asset-Based Community Development from County Limerick, Ireland. For more than thirty years he has been fascinated by how people and places weave together to find common purpose. Like a three-legged stool, the themes of people, place, and purpose have grounded and defined his life and work.

Through his work in the early 1990s, Cormac realised the limits of institutional and care interventions, especially well-intended ones. In 1996, Cormac established Nurture Development, dedicated to discovering meaningful ways to build communities from the inside out, with a real welcome for the stranger at the edge. He has authored several books including a book with John McKnight titled The Connected Community.