Refugees Welcome

On  Monday evening I chaired the trustees meeting for Refugees Welcome MK. We discussed possible plans for future development, and the urgent need to address problems with housing and employment - not to mention the Supporters Summit on the 13th.

I'm continuing this work during the sabbatical. it's important in its own right, but I'm also convinced that the methodology of community organising will help us  build capacity and achieve action. This is therefore an important "case study" for my research.


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Leaders Forum

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This evening we had the Citizens MK Leaders Forum - which is the event where representatives from the twenty member institutions come together and agree a long list of campaigns for the coming year. The idea is that we end up with five or six "problems" that are then developed by "research teams". The research teams will then produce achievable goals that will be put to the "delegates assembly" in February. I've chaired this meeting for the last three years. It's a tough one because there's a lot to squeeze in - particularly the rounds of institutions where they present their two suggested problems. This year I took a back seat, operating more like an organiser than a leader. I wrote the script and supported the chairs. This was a great learning experience for me, and it was good to see the evening run smoothly. My main reflection is on the importance of leaders. At one point it looked like people were keen to pursue ten different campaigns....
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Agitation

I've been thinking about the use of "agitation" as an organising method today. At morning prayer, we reflected on the "agitation" caused by powerful rulers, which produces chaos - and is countered by stillness. We also reflected on the "agitation" caused by the Gospel which challenges people to life giving action. In organising, we want to avoid agitation which brings harm and division, in favour of agitation which generates good leadership and positive developments. My initial hypothesis is that there are six main ways that an organiser can positively agitate leaders: World View: What does the world view or belief system of the leaders say about society and the leaders imediate context? Does this need to be challenged? This is an issue of spirituality, beliefs and values. Skills: What new skills can be taught which create the possibilities of new understanding and action? Testimony: How can leaders listen to the experience of other people in a ...
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