Mordecai Ndlovu Foundation’s Post

It has been a privilege to work on this campaign while at The Shape Agency. It has shown me how alternatives to incarceration are significantly more effective at reducing crime and reoffending than prisons. When communities are in charge they build programs that work, keep offenders accountable and break the cycle. Community helping community means people are better supported to turn their lives around, which means a safer community for all of us. Groote Eylandt once had the highest crime rate in the NT. Local leaders came together to establish the community-led law and justice group under the Anindilyakwa Land Council which has helped to reduce crime by 95%. The knowledge of what works and what’s best for community lies in community. Amplifying those voices and better supporting programs that work is key to breaking the cycle.

🔊 A Voice for Change at the NSW Legislative Assembly Inquiry into Community Safety Yesterday, representing YP SPACE MNC and as Chair of Macleay Youth Network Interagency, I had the opportunity to address the challenges facing our young people in regional communities. We spoke on crucial issues, from the complexity of grant access to drivers of youth crime like intergenerational trauma and poverty, and emphasized the potential of the BASS program to make a real difference when fully utilised. It was inspiring to share the platform with remarkable organisations like ShoreTrack and One Vision Productions. 😊 The Realities We’re Tackling: Youth crime is often a reflection of a deeper struggle. These young people carry the weight of intergenerational trauma, poverty, overcrowded housing, hunger, undiagnosed disabilities, mental health issues (including fetal alcohol spectrum disorder), and exposure to domestic violence. We’re seeing rising school refusal, with youth disengaging and struggling with a lack of after-hours activities, which further fuels disconnection and antisocial behaviours. Local organisations, constrained by funding and staffing limitations, often lack the capacity to provide critical after-hours support, despite knowing this is the most impactful time for engagement. Additionally, these organisations face stiff competition for limited funding, often competing against each other instead of working together to maximize resources for the community. Our Community Solution: Soon, YP SPACE will open a youth drop-in within the Ngurra Youth Housing Project, staying open three nights a week until 8 pm. This drop-in, estimated to cost $152,000 annually (excluding specialty programs), will rely on grants, fundraising, and sponsorship to sustain operations, as there is no dedicated funding for a drop-in service. The drop-in's mission is to provide a safe and supportive, diversionary space focusing on wellbeing, life skills, and community connection. Programs, shaped by feedback from Kempsey youth, will include essentials like cooking, free access to food, clothing, toiletries, showers, laundry, life skills workshops, gardening, recreational activities, and community events—all at no cost to participants. This initiative will be youth-led, guided by a committee of local young people, to ensure the drop-in truly reflects their needs and voices. Path Forward: Meaningful change must start within our community, rooted in local understanding and guided by our elders. Flexible, accessible grants are essential to allow local organisations the freedom to design programs that truly meet our community's needs. It’s time to invest in our youth and support our families to foster healing and generational resilience. Together, let’s create the opportunity for our young people to lead healthy, positive lives—right here in their hometowns. #YouthEmpowerment #kempsey https://lnkd.in/geX2AaSv

Discover the power of community engagement and its pivotal role in driving meaningful pretrial reform. In collaboration with CG&G Consulting, this course offers an in-depth exploration of centering all voices, especially those most impacted, to achieve equitable outcomes. ✨ What You’ll Learn: - Understand the fundamentals of community engagement. - Gain insights into the core principles that guide successful community involvement. - Discover why it matters for lasting change. - Learn how effective engagement can lead to sustainable improvements in justice systems. - Implement equitable practices that uplift all voices. - Equip yourself with strategies to ensure that every voice is heard and valued. 🌎 Who Should Attend? This course is ideal for public officials, advocates, community members, and anyone passionate about building meaningful connections and fostering change. Bring your real-world goals and challenges to the table as we discuss practical solutions for community engagement. 🗓️ Sign Up Now! Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of the movement towards equitable and inclusive community engagement! Register today at https://lnkd.in/gktQnduW 📩 Contact Information For more information, reach out to courses@pretrial.org. #CommunityEngagement #LocalAntiracistPretrialJustice #PretrialReform #Equity #TransformYourCommunity #PretrialJusticeInstitute #PJI

Why Young People Should Engage in Local Government We explore the critical lack of participation from younger generations in community governance. Join us as we discuss the importance of civic involvement and how we can inspire our youth to take an active role in shaping their communities. #YouthEngagement #LocalGovernment #CivicParticipation #CommunityInvolvement #YouthVoice #EmpowerYouth #PublicPolicy #MunicipalGovernance #CommunityLeadership #FutureLeaders

Building Solidarity | Understanding the Political and Societal Context of Racist Violence in Northern Ireland Join the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, Africa House, Social Change Initiative, and NICVA (Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action) for a two-day conference following the scenes of violence in Belfast in the Summer of 2024 to discuss key causes, build a collective response to the violence and seek to address the systemic issue of Racism in Northern Ireland. Key Themes   Across two days this conference will explore key themes including: Current Policy Context: Examining the landscape of policies affecting racial relations in the UK and Northern Ireland The Impact of Racism: Discussing how racism and recent violence have affected people and communities Understanding the Violence: Analysing the sociopolitical factors contributing to the current situation Learning From What Works: Sharing successful strategies and initiatives for combating racism and enhancing community relations Places are limited, learn more and book this two-day conference below. 🔗 https://bit.ly/buildsol25

Results from the CNPP Evaluation assessed the implementation of the Hub and Spoke model, with a focus on underserved groups. See Optimal's Community Navigator Pilot Program Evaluation to learn more: https://hubs.li/Q02GxLSc0

This week #R2AImpactPractitioners highlights an insightful brief from the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) It identifies 6 key mechanisms for enhancing citizen engagement in public service governance, fostering stronger community involvement and accountability. https://ow.ly/1uYS50SqPve

The Role of the Private Sector in Providing Additional Services Explore the importance and potential of the private sector in delivering additional services. Discover whether their involvement is necessary and how it can benefit communities. Join the discussion now! #PrivateSectorRole #AdditionalServices #CommunitySupport #CollaborationOpportunity #BusinessInvolvement #CommunityNeeds #SocialResponsibility #PublicPrivatePartnership #EnhancingServices #SustainableDevelopment

📢 The Central Australian Women's Legal Service welcomes the announcement made by Minister Amanda Rishworth MP last week, representing an additional investment in our service which is vital to enhancing the safety and wellbeing of women, children and families in the Northern Territory 🚨 ℹ️ CAWLS will receive funding to develop and pilot an Integrated Community Justice Partnership (ICJP) program. The program will adopt a partnership-based model to strengthen capacity and capability for community-led multidisciplinary responses to DFSV in remote communities including integrated elements across the prevention spectrum - primary prevention, early prevention and crisis response. 🗣️ This is welcome news following another challenging year for CAWLS service delivery in Central Australia and the Barkly with all areas of our multidisciplinary practice at capacity. We supported 1596 women across our region through our crisis-drop in service and outreach models 👐 📍 We look forward to working more comprehensively with remote communities to achieve safety, wellbeing, and access to justice for all women in our jurisdiction ✊

Why Young People Should Engage in Local Government We explore the critical lack of participation from younger generations in community governance. Join us as we discuss the importance of civic involvement and how we can inspire our youth to take an active role in shaping their communities. #YouthEngagement #LocalGovernment #CivicParticipation #CommunityInvolvement #YouthVoice #EmpowerYouth #PublicPolicy #MunicipalGovernance #CommunityLeadership #FutureLeaders