Co-design and Social Work #socialwork #livedexperience #socialwork
In councils, the frameworks for action and the language of good intention are everywhere. Values have to be renewed all the time if they are not to become misplaced assumptions or platitudes. And to renew professional values authentically and honestly, the community must feel they can share in developing our professional practice
Reference
“Curating an intentional community development practice is an exciting period of evolution for a practitioner, which is even further enriched when attempted with other comrades or colleagues. When community development practitioners learn ‘in the field’ or ‘on the job’, when they listen to the stories of well-known and published author-practitioners, when they access professional supervision for reflection, when they hear different views and values, sometimes supportive, sometimes challenging and even divisive, then their sense of practice expands. As a collegial process to cultivate a practice, there is need for a robust spirit of give and take in which there needs to be both a confidence in having a practice, that is ‘I know what I am doing, with a clear intention’. Yet, there is also the need for humility, to accept we know very little and always need to be on the edge of learning something afresh or anew.
Practitioners need to play their part in providing an environment that is safe, challenging, respectful, and, of course, participatory – no different from any good piece of developmental work. Some ways we have learned for curating and cultivating a practice include:
Drawing a ‘river’ or ‘tree’ of life, as a way of reflecting on key influences (people/moments) that have shaped the practice – and sharing these with others”
Westoby, P., Palmer, D., & Lathouras, A. (2020). 40 Critical Thinkers in Community Development. Practical Action Publishing.
Harney, S., & Moten, F. (2013). The undercommons: Fugitive planning & black study. Minor Compositions.
Links to find Terri – Anne
x :
@tahamer80
and
@NIYAALTD
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