Maverick Collective’s Post

𝗕𝘂𝘀𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱! There has been a buzz in the news this week about masterplan approvals and the many £millions in investment and grants flowing to support them. There are also lots of negative news stories about 'uncertainties' too. Well, thats complex regeneration for you. Out of sight, I have been mentoring the Dock Branch Community Panel in Birkenhead and we are now charging through the gears. On Monday we held a half day workshop to plan the year ahead, including: • Mapping our Social Networks • Co-designing a Social & Cultural Framework • Establishing a Project Action Tracker • Considering our Communications & Engagement approach • Lining up Partnerships & Collaborations Today the panel held a workshop with Maccreanor Lavington, architects of the Dock Branch Neighbourhood Masterplan, to map the next steps to breathing life into the plan. We concured that it should properly be described as a framework providing a strategic context to the dynamic changes and opportunities that will be growing in the coming years. However, it is not the only plan in town and the community-led framework the panell will co-design will act as an unbrella that puts the wellbeing needs of people at the top of the agenda and ensure that everyone is involved in shaping and delivering the process. We are not going to get involved in negative disccussions, but will be robustly possitive instead... and challenging. A final though today, was that 'communiy' has become so ubiquitous as to mean nothing at best, or to exclude at worst. We settled on referencing the folks living and working in Birkenhead as 'neighbours'. GroundsWell Consortium David Roberts Catherine Palmer

Yesterday, our team came together for a full-day staff retreat focused on "Question Zero": “How can The Stissing Center become the essential and sustainable cultural hub that meets the evolving creative and cultural needs of our community?”🌍✨ It was a day filled with deep discussions, strategic thinking, and collaboration as we worked to integrate OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) into our plans for 2025. With clear and aspirational OKRs guiding us, we’re setting our sights not just on meeting our goals but on exceeding them to create transformative change. 🔍 What did we achieve? ➡️ We tackled "Question Zero" head-on, aligning our programs with the true needs and aspirations of the Pine Plains community. ➡️ We set ambitious OKRs to drive our 2025 efforts, from expanding community-driven events to surpassing fundraising goals and enhancing our cultural programming. ➡️ We brainstormed impactful ways to ensure that every dollar spent, every event held, and every partnership built contributes to meeting both immediate needs and long-term community aspirations. We’re not just setting aspirational goals—we’re committing to a vision of lasting community impact. Yesterday was about more than planning; it was about making sure that our growth and initiatives are shaped by the voices of our community. Together, we’re building a cultural destination that reflects the heart and soul of Pine Plains and beyond. ❤️ Exciting projects and inspiring work are already emerging from the retreat. Stay tuned as we continue to share our journey! 🚀 #ArtsAndCulture #CommunityImpact #QuestionZero #OKRs #StrategicPlanning #TheStissingCenter #NonprofitLeadership #TeamBuilding #CommunityEngagement #CulturalHub

During a recent walk through the Sonian Forest in Brussels, I was captivated by ants running forwards and backwards across a tree stump. Their scurrying seemed random to me, but I knew that they were being immensely purposeful. They were likely feeding on the decaying wood and, in doing so, were playing a vital role in the nutrient cycling process that enriches the soil around them. Each small action performed by individual ants is therefore part of a larger pattern that sustains life. In the world of social and environmental impact, it’s all too easy to feel overwhelmed. The problems we face can seem vast and insurmountable, leaving us questioning the value of our individual contributions within such a complex system. It often feels like there is little time to make a meaningful difference, let alone to pause and nurture our own well-being. Yet, as Bill O’Brien wisely reminds us, "The success of an intervention depends on the interior condition of the intervenor." In this light, I want to honor the Humanitarians who took a full day last week to immerse themselves in the ‘Reframe and Reconnect’ programme that Elsa (Selva) Valdivielso Martínez and I put together. By making space to nurture self-awareness and emotional intelligence, they are creating inner shifts that ripple outward, influencing their interactions with others and fostering a more compassionate, balanced community. These inner changes are crucial—they don’t just impact personal growth, but also spark the collective transformation that drives meaningful, sustainable change. They also experienced the power of community. One participant captured it beautifully in their feedback: "Rich and positive in shares and experience. I loved the openness of each participant—and their contribution to make this journey what it is." Much like ants working together in harmony, they understood that their collective efforts—however small—can create meaningful change. (NB Whilst the same genus as the ant I drew here, the ants I saw were likely Formica rufa, a species that is found in the UNESCO-listed Sonian Forest, and which are vital in maintaining the biodiversity and ecological stability of this beech-dominated ecosystem.) #HumanitarianWellbeing, #CompassionFatigue, #MindfulHumanitarian, #HumanitarianSupport, #WellBeingInAction, #HumanitarianResilience, #BurnoutPrevention, #HumanitarianAid Olivia Collins Javier B. Edward Fraser Maite Irurzun-López

As I design sessions for the upcoming Online Retreat, I've been reflecting on the retreat's theme of "Community, Connection, and Curiosity." To me, community is the essence of human connection, the fabric of our external world woven with threads of shared experiences, values, and mutual support. It is within our communities that we often find a sense of belonging, purpose, and identity. These circles of connection, whether local or global, in-person or virtual, are vital for our emotional and spiritual well-being. They remind us that we are not isolated beings, but part of a larger, interdependent web of life. By connecting with and nurturing our communities, we tap into the collective strength and wisdom that enriches our lives, fostering a deeper sense of purpose, compassion, and security in numerous ways. 🌍🌐👥👫🤝🏽 Here is a simple yet powerful exercise to reflect on all the communities you are part of. Take a moment to see all the threads of human connection that run through you and sense the oneness of humanity. Share your community map in your stories and tag @bo_treeintegral I'd love to see how we are connected in different ways. 🌍📍🤝🏽 If you enjoy being in community or would like to make new connections, registration is still open for the Online Retreat 🗓️. We will be engaging in many creative exercises and thought-provoking conversations over two half-days. Registration link: https://lnkd.in/dexJ-f-U. I look forward to seeing you at the retreat! #community #connection #curiosity #virtualevent #onlineretreat #mindfulness #globalcommunity #humanconnection #personaldevelopment #communitysupport 

Indigenous event planning is more than organizing gatherings—it’s about creating spaces where communities heal together. By honoring our cultures and traditions in a way that respects their depth and significance, we foster unity, resilience, and growth. These events bring people together, reminding us that healing comes through shared experiences, stories, and the strength of our collective spirit. By connecting globally, we build bridges between Indigenous communities, creating lasting impact through the power of togetherness. #IndigenousLeadership #CulturalHealing #GlobalConnections #CommunityResilience #IndigenousEventPlanning #HealingThroughCulture #CulturalUnity #IndigenousEmpowerment #GlobalIndigenous #TraditionAndInnovation #CommunityHealing #InclusiveEvents #StrengthInCulture #IndigenousGrowth #BridgingCommunities

Disconnect to Reconnect 🕒➡️🚀 Our management team dedicated time away from our daily tasks to actively plan our future. The retreat was filled with intensive strategy sessions and discussions focused on how we can innovate and better serve our communities. The days were packed, but valuable for us. We came back not only with new ideas but also with a stronger promise to our work and each other. To go forward, sometimes you need to stop and plan carefully. Here's to working together to shape our future with innovation and teamwork.🌍

Does the word "retreat" conjure images of a relaxing lake or mountain view? Or do you envision a white flag of surrender? Does a "staff retreat" or "board retreat" feel like an extravagance? 👑 Does it feel intimidating? 😱 Agonizing?! 😖 Retreats don't have to involve an extravagant destination. And they certainly don't need to be scary or painful! I often tell my clients that while we call it a "retreat," the purpose is to "advance." You can use a retreat to serve so many purposes. You can: 🤗 foster relationships and build community among your team 🧠 build understanding about your organization and your work 🛣 shape future interactions 🎯 clarify common direction You can even use a retreat to roll up your sleeves and dive deep into action steps on a specific topic or project. Now, I would never use one retreat to accomplish ALL of these things! That's why the very first planning step is to be clear on your purpose and your non-purpose. What will accomplish or address and what will we keep "off the table" (at least for now). From there, your activities and agenda fall into place. What has been your experience with work-related retreats? Please share the good, the bad, the ugly, the lovely! Stay tuned for more retreat tips in coming posts! #staffretreat #boardretreat #nonprofitleadership

Dreaming of a venue that echoes your values of sustainability and social justice? Step into the enchanting world of The Freedom Hub Venue in Waterloo, Sydney, where each celebration turns into a powerful act of kindness! Nestled in a spellbinding 100-year-old industrial-style warehouse, this space offers the perfect canvas for your unique decor style, ensuring your special event is uniquely yours. 🎉 Located conveniently close to the airport for visiting friends and family, our venue offers flexibility with options to BYO food and drinks or choose from a range of ethical suppliers who share our commitment to social justice and ending modern slavery. When you host your party or wedding at The Freedom Hub, you’re not just creating memories; you’re making a profound social impact. Every event supports survivors of modern slavery in Australia, aligning your occasion with a cause that reaches and uplifts human spirits. 💌 Let your values shine through your next big event. Visit us at buff.ly/4aTArYM or contact us directly at events@thefreedomhub.org for more information on how to book our venue. Celebrate love, life, and the power of positive change, all in one magnificent of social enterprise. Your celebration will be remembered for years to come, not just for the joy it brought but for the change it inspired. ✨🌍 #freedomhuborg #SocialJustice #EndSlavery #ModernSlavery #BusinessForGood #PeopleAndPlanetFirst #HumanRights

Day 14 of my personal retreat. I'm sitting under a Fever Tree and couldn't be happier or more content. In the world of development and consulting people talk about 'purpose', 'meaning' and being 'people centric'.........a lot, though I'm not sure in many instances how honestly these manifest beyond board reports and vocalised intent in how people engage with each other and what they seek to achieve - other than to make ever greater short-term shareholder returns, and create pseudo cultures of caring! One organisation I am incredibly privileged to have known since its inception, in which Purpose, People, and Meaning are the lifeblood of what they do and how they do it, is Wild Tomorrow Fund. It's my absolute privilege to be in South Africa, and perhaps nowhere more so for the last few days of my retreat, than on the Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve. It's a 'natural paradise on Earth', where John, Wendy, and their incredibly dedicated team have fought for and are restoring nature's wild places for the benefit of us all and the natural world that we are so dependent upon for our own wellbeing and long-term survival. Just a few of the stories I've heard from the local people working for Wild Tomorrow are amazing. John, Wendy, and their incredibly dedicated team passionately and provably care deeply about both the environment they are rewilding and perhaps more importantly for sustaining the great work they have begun, the people helping them do so. I cannot applaud them enough for their human-centric approach to restoring, protecting, and conserving nature's wild places. With an unyielding purpose and mission that guides their strategy and decision making, they truly are making the world a better place for all its denizens - a world in which there really is a 'Wild Tomorrow' for us all. And, as I learned from my mother, we all need to: "love the wild places, for we are of them" #wildtomorrow #restore #protect #conservation #wellbeing #growth #people #planet #naturalworld #rewildyourself #hr #csuite #habitatrestoration #development #peopledevelopment #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #bolddevelopment #developmentexpeditions #adventurousdevelopment #letstalk #naturesdevelopmentspace

This 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, let’s celebrate the legacy we are creating together—across generations, across communities, and with hope for the future.” Read more from our President & CEO, Frank McCain, about the power of generational giving and how you can be part of this legacy: https://ow.ly/ZjXp50UbgBp #UWGGGivingTuesday #UnitedWayGSO #EndPovertyGSO