Joyful Steps To Community Advocacy
Written by Dr. Aimee Anderson-O’Connor
Strategy, Research, Creative Development at Creative Waikato
There is a lot going on. A lot to hear and see and listen and learn and do.
There are lots of big decisions being made, and big changes on our horizon. And a lot of the stories we encounter everyday are complex and often negative. It can be hard to know where we fit, or what to do.
We want to remind you that:
- your voice has power
- we all have a role to play
- together we can make change
We’ve created a handbook to help.
To help explain what it means to be a citizen, and to explore the power of community. We’ve unpacked a bit around the role of government–both local and central. There are some tips about how to talk about arts, culture and creativity, in all sorts of different settings.
Care is at the core of advocacy.
Our handbook emphasises the importance of rest, community and wellbeing, and the importance of digging deep into joy and hope in this hard work.
It’s created to be joyful and gentle. It takes a general approach, and can be useful in your everyday kōrero, and in things like storytelling and funding applications, consultations and reporting… and more!
There are some short exercises to play and dream, and facts and key words you can use and share. There’s stuff you can copy and paste, and fill in the blanks.
He aha te mea nui o te ao? Māku e kī atu, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
What is the most important thing in this world? It is people, it is people, it is people.
We know that people are at the heart of our communities. Creatives, arts groups, tinkerers, volunteers and supporters breathe life into spaces and places, and make our lives vibrant. Arts, culture and creativity help us to thrive.
It’s important that we share about this.
So grab a cuppa and dive in. Dip in and out. Share it with your friends and family. The next time you find yourself doomscrolling, or stuck in a cycle of bad news, pull this out instead. Download yours below:
We’re here if you want to talk more about advocacy, email us: hello@creativewaikato.co.nz