All posts tagged: Community Development

#26 | Collaborate to create change with Zizi Charida

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“To invigorate and inspire community mindedness for better connected, inclusive and resourceful communities across the world” – Vision of Community Minds Inc. Zizi Charida is a strong advocate of empowering people and building their capacity and skills as opposed to just “helping” people and communities. I also strongly believe that in working with people there is an exchange of learnings and benefits regardless of the context in which that exchange takes place. Zizi is the Founder and CEO of Community Minds Incorporated. Community Minds Inc aims to work with community (sector, as well as groups and citizens), schools, businesses, corporate and government to strengthen and build capacity of staff, services and programs and to work collaboratively with community stakeholders to build, engage and strengthen communities, to ensure that communities are empowered, resourced and citizen-driven. They also believe Community Minds Inc believes that no desired change can occur in our local, national or global communities if we do not instill and harness community minded thinking in people, to encourage thinking, perceptions and actions that benefit others, …

Julia Spicer - Engage & Create Consulting

#25 | Change-maker for Regional Business Futures with Julia Spicer

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Julia Spicer is a vibrant rural woman, a real Change-maker for Regional Business Futures. Growing up in a small rural community, Julia learnt from an early age the value of everybody contributing. Julia was named in the Top 100 most influential women in 2018 by the Australian Financial Review, has completed the Australian institute of Company Directors course and has held many roles and positions on boards at a local, regional, state and federal level. Founder of two regional businesses based in Goondiwindi, Qld – Engage & Create Consulting and the Goondiwindi Business Hub; Julia’s mission is to contribute to the vibrancy and viability of rural and regional Australia by helping businesses grow. She founded Engage & Create Consulting upon these principles – that by helping to achieve something much greater than ourselves and contributing our unique skills and leveraging our community, we bring together diversity and empower people to create their destiny. Engage & Create consulting helps rural, regional and remote businesses and nonprofits to grow! We do this by facilitating strategic planning sessions, …

Sarah Prime

#22 | Champion of revitalisation in rural communities with Sarah Prime

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Sarah Prime is an award winning social entrepreneur, speaker and change agent. In 2015 when she returned to her roots in Eyre Peninsula to find many communities had reached a tipping point of no return. This spurred her into action to establish the Champions Academy – an initiative to champion change in rural communities at the grassroots level. Her flagship program which was initially delivered through sporting clubs, is now a social enterprise in its own right, with programs and events for schools, government and a range of business and community groups. Champions Academy’s mission is to teach people how to recognise their human potential and show them how to apply it to a cause greater than themselves to catalyse positive change on the people and communities around them. Sarah is an authority on rural contraction, decline and exodus, and is widely regarded for her experience in community resilience, revitalisation and next generation empowerment. Sarah has also recently launched The Global Rural Community, this will be a place where visitors are able to connect directly …

Jenn Donovan

#21 | Taking Bush Businesses to next level with Jenn Donovan

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What started as a whim of an idea whilst driving through the canola fields of rural NSW lead Jenn Donovan to create a platform that seemingly exploded overnight and has seen her win 2020 Ausmumprenuer People’s Choice Award for Making a Difference. After chatting with this vibrant, lively and down to earth woman, it is easy to see why she won one of the most prominent award for women in business. Jenn started a Facebook group called Buy From a Bush Business. Encouraging rural and regional crafters, artists, producers, suppliers to showcase their business and wares. In less than 12 months the group now has nearly 280,000 members! More than that it has created opportunities for people to promote their products in an engaged environment which has seen many business soar in trying and difficult conditions.  Millions of dollars has been exchanged through the group, seeing money come back into remote and rural communities where drought and bush fires has caused devastating effect on many regions. Now Jenn has partnered with 2 other women to …

#04 | Retired Engineer finding his passion and purpose in advocating for Climate Change and renewable energy – Colin Lambie.

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After retiring from a well established as an Electrical Engineer that Colin Lambie found his calling to provide support and assistance to companies, community groups and residents on the benefits and cost effectiveness of solar power. Always being curious about the power and versatility of natural power; it was his work with the Y Service Club of Bendigo which he had been a member of for 20 years. That lead Colin to become a founding member of the Bendigo Sustainability Group in 2007 whose focus is environmental sustainability, which includes reducing greenhouse gases by replacing electricity coming from coal burning power stations in Latrobe Valley with solar. Incredibly his work through both community groups merged and  resulted in me running classes about climate change science, greenhouse gases and how to reduce them across Asia. Big fan of Colin’s story and his dedication to supporting those around him and serving his community it’s awe-inspiring.  Here are the links to connect with Colin and his community involvement groups. https://www.facebook.com/BendigoSustainabilityGroup/ https://www.facebook.com/YsMenBendigo/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/333509920165721/

#03 | Shining the light on Communities with Vanessa Rawson

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Born and raised in the city Vanessa and her husband made the tree change to regional Victoria. Being a driven and avid journalist she made her own way in connecting into the town through her genuine passion about sharing the stories of those in the area. Out of necessity Vanessa founded Join The Crew a movement like no other! Giving these community services, causes and groups the opportunity to share, connect, meet and attract people to them.  An exciting and inspiring journey with big ambitions! Join in with Join The Crew TV – follow their Facebook page for more information.  http://jointhecrew.com.au/ https://www.facebook.com/jointhecrew.community/