Neuroscience tells us that by the age of 35 up to 95% of what we do is habitual and unconscious. How much of that time do we spend worrying and wishing that our life, community, or world would change, yet doing the same thing we did the day before? We rush from one thing to the next and hope things will change themselves.
We don’t need a degree to create change, we already have what we need to create change within us! That said, if we don’t slow down and make the time to connect with people around us, learn new skills, step into new places and try on new roles, we will end up with the same results over and over.
If you’re looking to make new connections and get inspired to be more involved in your community, come and learn alongside people who stretch themselves to create change in their pocket of the world every day. Who knows what could happen?
Full Overview: First we will look at common community strengths and challenges. Then we will begin to identify what role we want to take on to create change in our community (our own community of origin, or our community of choice). Or, if you already have a role, what role you want to take to the next level? We will then be joined by some inspiring local change agents, Anzala Alozie, Jamil Hood and Jill Peckenpaugh to do a Q & A session and discuss what roles they play in changing their communities, how and why. Then we'll move into an exercise to help us envision a new future showing up more fully in our community. We'll finish by learning about and planning steps, or "action steps," that we can make for ourselves to make moves towards a better future. See below for the full workshop agenda.
Who is this for? This workshop is for both veteran and beginner change agents who understand that -change begins with me-. You would like a "booster shot" to your current way of being in, or taking part in, your community and aim to achieve a grounded path to sustainable change-making and well-being.
Tickets: The workshop ticket cost is a donation made on a sliding-scale-basis. Pay what you can comfortably afford: $25, $37 or $50. All funds raised will help cover the event costs including: the event space, modest honorariums for volunteer guest speakers and some marketing. Any additional funds raised by ticket sales will be donated to Charity: Water, a non-profit organization bringing no-cost clean water solutions to developing countries around the world.
Workshop Agenda
Section 1: 1pm-2pm - Assets, Challenges & Roles in Community
- Grounding exercise and introductions
- Review common community assets and challenges
- Group discussion: what change-making roles do people take on in communities?
- Small "community group" activity: Break into three small groups and discuss:
- What community do you want to improve?
- What role do you want to take on (or improve upon) to facilitate change in that community?
- Individual journaling exersise: what assets or strengths would (or do) you bring to that role? What challenges or barriers would (or do) you bring to that role?
Section 2: 2pm-3pm – Guest Speakers
- Guest speakers: What roles do they play in changing their communties, why and how?
- Particpants ask questions and get answers
Section 3: 3:00pm-4:00pm Visioning and Action Planning
- Do individual visioning exercise adapted from Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith
- Break into small "community groups" to discuss what came up
- Overview on action planning: what new thing will I do, when will I do it, how often...
- Participants will decide on one action step to take and create an action plan
- Complete the workshop evaluation
Guest Speaker Bios -
Anzala Alozie J.D. is the Executive Director of Youth Development and Albany YMCA, a community organization providing a variety of financially accessible health and wellness opportunities locally. Anzala has a decade plus experience of building successful community collaborations, strategic partnerships and transformational programs. Her expertise also spans women and youth empowerment, motivational/transformative coaching and public speaking. She is devoted community chamption and Board Trustee for Albany Leadership Charter High School for Girls and Board Member and Treasurer for National Women of Color Network.
Jamil Hood Sr., is Founder and CEO of Hood’s House of Hoops and active board member for ALERT (Albany Law Enforcement Response Team). Jamil has worked in several public and private schools for more than 20 years coaching basketball. He serves as a community activist tackling many concerns and issues that directly impact our communities. Jamil believes that through prayer, faith and commitment our children and families will live healthier and more prosperous lives.
Jill Peckenpaugh, Director of U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) field office in Albany, NY, which resettles refugees arriving from Burma, Iraq, Bhutan, Afghanistan, and various African nations. She is has over twenty years of experience in organizational development, specializing in multicultural populations in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Prior to joining USCRI Albany, Jill was the Director of Program Management at Cross-Cultural Solutions, an international volunteering organization. She is also a local community volunteer who, among other things, teaches children about sexual consent at a local faith based organization.
Facilitator Bio -
Madeline Kennedy is a Licensed Master Social Worker and holistic coach for everyday people and emerging leaders. She has successfully coached people to live healthier and more successful lives for over twenty years and has facilitated dynamic workshops that address health from holistic perspectives for the last ten. She is a consultant for NY Department of Health where she leads systems change activities related to a federal regulation that promotes the civil rights of older adults and people with disabilities. Madeline was a successful organizer in the Albany area who led a community coalition to achieve two influential Albany public health initiatives; "Take Back Your Streets" and "Underground Railroad Historical Walking Paths." Her masters degree from University at Albany focused on creating individual, community and organizational change. For more info and testimonials go to: kennedycoaching.org