Resilient Eden Community Workshops
The Resilient Eden Community workshops were two, full-day workshops held on Wednesday 23 November and Saturday
6 November 2022 in the Eden Library Event Space.
They were held to build on the themes that had emerged throughout the project's community engagement activities.
When the project team analysed the results of the Community Table Talks held in the second half of 2022, it identified consistent and recurring themes related to the community’s disaster preparedness needs:
The project team began referring to these themes as the community’s priorities and set about creating a way to :
The team determined that the most inclusive way to manage this important community engagement stage was via an open workshop format.
It was important to ensure that all community members had the opportunity to participate in this critical step toward creating practical, priority-focused projects that could be designed and driven by community members, drawing on existing community strengths and resources.
6 November 2022 in the Eden Library Event Space.
They were held to build on the themes that had emerged throughout the project's community engagement activities.
When the project team analysed the results of the Community Table Talks held in the second half of 2022, it identified consistent and recurring themes related to the community’s disaster preparedness needs:
- More information and education,
- Improved communication (between community members and between the community and emergency authorities), and
- Greater community connectedness.
The project team began referring to these themes as the community’s priorities and set about creating a way to :
- Test and confirm or adjust the priorities with the broader community, and
- Take the first steps towards creating solutions to address those priorities.
The team determined that the most inclusive way to manage this important community engagement stage was via an open workshop format.
It was important to ensure that all community members had the opportunity to participate in this critical step toward creating practical, priority-focused projects that could be designed and driven by community members, drawing on existing community strengths and resources.
Designing the workshops
The workshop flow was designed via another groundwork process hosted by Dave Newell. The workshops were made up of three sessions. An introductory gallery display session The gallery display showcased community strengths and assets and some of the outputs of the project to that point. This session was an opportunity to generate casual conversations framed by the Community Table Talk powerful questions. It was an opportunity for people with limited time to contribute and learn about the project without attending a full day workshop. A World Cafe and Open Space session These sessions began to tease out project ideas. A World Cafe is a simple, effective, and flexible format for hosting large group dialogue in a relaxed and inclusive setting. An Open Space session is when an issue of any importance, to any person willing to take some responsibility for it, is posted in a 'Marketplace', with people invited to choose the issue on which they most want to work. |
Resources to download |
Invitations
Invitations to participate in the workshops were emailed directly to committee and working group members, and community members who had participated in Community Table Talks. The workshops were also promoted through local mass media channels including local newspapers and radio and social media.
Invitations to participate in the workshops were emailed directly to committee and working group members, and community members who had participated in Community Table Talks. The workshops were also promoted through local mass media channels including local newspapers and radio and social media.
Inspirational video
To encourage participation the project team produced and shared an inspirational video featuring respected local community leader Cherie Mercado (right). Participation Almost 60 people attended the two workshops. The ‘calling question’ included in all invitations was: ‘What is possible when we work together and share the load to be prepared and resilient to future disasters?' |
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Powerful questions posed
The powerful questions posed across the two workshops were:
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World Cafe
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Open Space participants were invited to propose and discuss topics and also think about the ways that these topics could be developed into projects and workable actions.
The workshops successfully inspired and captured the early expression of project ideas to address community priorities identified through Community Table Talks.
The workshops successfully inspired and captured the early expression of project ideas to address community priorities identified through Community Table Talks.
Inspiration for the Eden Project Lab and Prepared for Disaster radio program
The ideas that came out of the workshop led to the creation of the Eden Project Lab and the launch of a fortnightly, information-based radio program on community radio 2SEA called Prepared for Disaster.
In the final six months of the project, the project team also began to work with the Australian Red Cross and other local partners to design and host fun and engaging community events focused on highlighting identified community disaster preparedness priorities. These included Tales as Old As Time, POP (Prepare Our People) Community Fun Day and the West of Eden Christmas Party.
At the same time, the project team worked on a draft Eden & Surrounds Disaster Preparedness, Recovery and Resilience Strategic Plan to guide the community's future prepararedness.
The ideas that came out of the workshop led to the creation of the Eden Project Lab and the launch of a fortnightly, information-based radio program on community radio 2SEA called Prepared for Disaster.
In the final six months of the project, the project team also began to work with the Australian Red Cross and other local partners to design and host fun and engaging community events focused on highlighting identified community disaster preparedness priorities. These included Tales as Old As Time, POP (Prepare Our People) Community Fun Day and the West of Eden Christmas Party.
At the same time, the project team worked on a draft Eden & Surrounds Disaster Preparedness, Recovery and Resilience Strategic Plan to guide the community's future prepararedness.