Mindpark’s Post

COMMUNITY RELATIONS- WHERE TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING The idea behind public meetings is either to pass information, recieve information or influence some decisions. In any of these situations, it important to choose where to hold the meeting for maximum impact. Consider accessibility, safety, availability of services like toilets. Holding such meetings at the communities backyard makes them feel valued. A place like under a sacred tree in the village will make the community feel that their culture valued and in return they will corporate. Incase you wish to influence certain section of the community, you can have the meeting offsite to a hotel or your offices, but, at the end hold in villages. Brand the venue with your corporate colours, have some corporate give-aways, plan a tree planting ceremony before the meeting. Consult widely with community to unstand their structures and protocols and follow them strictly. Use local master of ceremony who understands the community better. Acknowledge the community hereos, mention the recent happenings in the society, empthasise with them. Never wish away any comment by the participants, appreciate and interogate. Visit the community valued site as part of your tour to the community.

Thank you Creatives for Climate for the super connect last week at The Conduit Oslo. Lucy von Sturmer and Dickon Bonvik-Stone I admire your drive and passion for using the power of creative skills. In a world that’s constantly changing, creative thinking isn’t just an asset; it's a necessity. Creative skills propel massive movements and are pivotal in driving successful transformations. How can your business leverage creativity to innovate and adapt? Are you encouraging lateral thinking to navigate complex challenges and seize new opportunities? 🤩 Innovation as a Differentiator: Creative thinking fuels innovation, setting businesses apart in competitive markets. It's crucial for developing unique products, services, and solutions that meet evolving customer needs. 🤩 Adaptability to Change: Creativity enhances a company’s flexibility in response to market shifts and challenges. Businesses that foster a creative culture are better equipped to pivot and adapt strategies quickly, maintaining relevance and continuity. 🤩 Problem Solving Efficiency: Creative approaches in problem-solving lead to more efficient and often more sustainable solutions. This not only improves operational efficiency but also drives better outcomes in project management and conflict resolution, crucial for scaling businesses. I find these principles underscore the partnerships I have with organisations to drive growth and transformation. #CreativeThinking #Innovation #BusinessTransformation #LeadershipSuccess

Hot off the press! Here are the latest events for Innovation month. Some events have limited spots so get in quick. #GovInnovationMonth #InnovationCommunity #Community #DigitalProfession

What types of events do we offer at Vonder? Our committed Community Managers put in every effort to make sure that every aspect of the events is executed to the highest standard, whether it's a party or a talk panel. We usually organise six types of events: 1.   Smaller gatherings, such as Friday unwind, movie nights, culture evenings. 2.   Larger parties, such as the Spring Party or any themed ones. 3.   Fitness and yoga classes. 4.   Lectures, for sharing knowledge with others. 5.   Competitive events: ping pong tournaments, quizzes, etc., 6.   Exchanges: closet exchange, book exchange. We want to make sure our members have an opportunity to relax, exercise, socialise, and enjoy drinks and snacks while dancing or chatting. We make sure to transform the spaces accordingly to provide our members with the best experience possible. Healthy competition on our pub quizzes or ping-pong tournaments is something we love on our events. We work together with other organisations like with the Westminster students in the past or with our tenants who are willing to pass their skills and knowledge on to others! Since we are all about community, our objective is the same regardless of the kind of event: to bring people and community together.

These sessions always feel too short! I meet Joana C. Carvalho and Maria Carlos Oliveira during the unconf session I put together at the Outlier conference last summer. (I titled the session "Pain and gain of dataviz in scientific research". But that is another story). Thing is they were part of the team running Science Visuals Coworking Sessions and of course I joined right away. The networking sessions where we all chat with each other about our work etc are really useful. We all work in the same area, scientific visuals, which sound niche to most. Yet the amount of variation in skills, focus, career paths, and customer pool I find amazingly varied. To have a look at this landscape helps position yourself and become aware of where you stand. The working sessions I was more sceptic about. The one I attended, however, proved to be useful. The result of that was a redesign of the list or "Conditions and Rights" I now attached together with the quotes I sent to clients. I had been struggling with that for a while; I got inspired, motivated, by participating in this coworking session. Looking forward to the next one. Working by oneself can get lonely. Finding small tribes to share the path is nice. #scicomm #sciart #dataviz

I just read the article linked below, and it highlights the power of community events in fostering connections, personal growth, and boosting local economies. KUKUI Talks perfectly aligns with these principles by creating a space where stories, music, and conversation come together to build stronger relationships within our community. Just as the article emphasizes the value of gatherings for engagement and knowledge exchange, KUKUITalks provides a platform for meaningful interaction, promoting both individual and collective development through shared experiences. It shows how simple, well-planned events can drive connection and strengthen communities. https://lnkd.in/gn4PAhB2

RitualsToward #Change: The Power of #Belonging and #Community Change can be a daunting experience, but it becomes much more approachable when a sense of belonging anchors us. Belonging is a fundamental human need. When we feel we belong, we feel safe. From that place of security, we can grow, explore, and become our full selves. It’s not just about us feeling connected, though—belonging is a two-way street. You feel like you belong, and the community feels you belong. This mutual recognition creates a bond, a shared energy that allows the individual and the collective to expand and grow together. For many of us, feeling misunderstood has been a common experience. Sometimes, we try to fit in just to be seen or heard, but fitting in is the opposite of belonging (Brené Brown). Fitting in often means changing yourself to be accepted, while true belonging happens when a community is flexible, inclusive, and diverse enough to embrace you just as you are. When we share values, goals, and feelings with others, we’re understood on a deeper level—and that’s where the magic of community happens. I believe communities are built on these bonds, and over time, rituals arise to help strengthen them. Whether it’s gathering for meals, ceremonies, storytelling, or something as simple as a shared greeting, these traditions create continuity and deepen connection. But what if we could create rituals that help us embrace change within the community? That’s the exciting journey I understand from Bernd Gibson’s video, inviting us to his upcoming workshop! And if that’s not quite it, well—you’ll just have to attend and let me know what the real scoop is! In a world where change is the only constant, crafting rituals that embrace transformation—rituals that help us see, honor, and embody it—is part of strengthening these connections. Anchoring us as individuals within a community, and reinforcing the idea that we grow stronger together. For these new rituals to be truly impactful, they must be flexible and adaptable, allowing space for inclusivity and diversity. They should help us recognize that change is not something to fear, but something to celebrate and invite in. Thank you, Bernd, for reminding us of the power of community and for always making me feel like a part of yours. I’m excited to explore these rituals toward change with all of you! #Belonging #CommunitySupport #RitualsOfChange #EmbraceChange #PersonalGrowth #SafetyInCommunity #CollectiveGrowth #ChangeAndTransformation #InclusiveRituals #EvolvingTogether #CommunityBelonging #SupportiveCommunity #WorkshopOnChange #RitualsForGrowth

The biggest benefit of networking isn't business opportunities. It's community. I was asked about the purpose of our monthly Long Room event (that's been going on for about 7 years) at this month's installment. I fumbled through an answer in the moment, but thinking about it later I realized the real answer for me: It's a way to create community. It's certainly an informal, not-too-organized, just-once-a-month, community. But it's a group of people that are there to connect with each other. And right now, lots of research points to a huge void where we used to have communities. Membership in civic organizations, faith-based organizations, and other community groups has fallen. And much as I'm a fan of LinkedIn, social platforms can not replace the power of our in-person interactions in groups. My suggestion as we end 2024 and start 2025: Find ways to connect with others in your local area. Find communities to join and give to - I promise you'll get a lot more back in return. And if you can't find a place to join...make a place for others to join! Andy Crestodina Catherine Altman Morgan Megan Knee Haley Sutliff Danny Schuman Mark J. Carter Goldberg Joe Martin Keith McGorisk Anna Carbonara Zach Person Joshua Phillips Scott Dayton

Given our collective efforts to strengthen downtown, we want to emphasize the reasons why your involvement with the DBA is crucial. Join us and be part of the momentum! Together, we can achieve more for our downtown community. Joining the Downtown Business Association is a crucial step toward cultivating a more robust and dynamic downtown community. Here are several key benefits that businesses can gain by becoming members: ◾ Networking Opportunities: Membership provides ample chances to connect with local businesses, potential customers, and community stakeholders. These connections often lead to collaborations, partnerships, and increased visibility. ◾ Advocacy and Representation: Through collective action, the association can advocate for policies and initiatives that benefit downtown businesses. Members gain a stronger voice in addressing issues like infrastructure improvements, safety concerns, and regulatory changes. ◾ Marketing and Promotion: The association organizes events, campaigns, and activities to drive foot traffic downtown. Members can leverage these initiatives to enhance visibility and attract more customers. ◾ Professional Development: Many associations offer workshops, seminars, and training sessions to help members improve skills and stay current with industry trends. This ongoing development is crucial for business growth and sustainability. ◾ Community Engagement: Membership facilitates active engagement with the local community, fostering goodwill and providing insights into customer needs and preferences. ◾ Collaborative Opportunities: Collaboration among members can lead to innovative projects, shared resources, and mutually beneficial partnerships. Businesses working together can achieve more than they could individually. In conclusion, joining the Downtown Business Association is a strategic decision that offers numerous advantages for businesses seeking success in a downtown environment. From networking and advocacy to marketing support and professional development, association membership plays a pivotal role in enhancing individual business outcomes and the overall vitality of the downtown area.

Stick to the ABCs of community building at your next event! A: Aim for Partnership - Get everyone involved from the start. Invite others to step up, initiate, share their talents and abilities. They are not "attendees" but rather your partners in the success of the event. B: Bolster Relationships - Create spaces that encourage new relationships and celebrate every voice. Work on deepening existing relationships and providing opportunities for new ones. Remember that we might come for the "what", but we stay for the "who"! C: Cultivate Identity and Continuity - Embed your unique organizational culture into the event, use the event as an opportunity to strengthen a sense of pride and set the stage for future gatherings. Let’s design events that make a difference! Join us and make every event a milestone. Photo Credit: Emily Ranquist #vardainstitute #communitybuilding