Project Plan

Planning the Project
I thought I would make the project in Cairns and implement it when I'm up there next. I'm in Cairns from the 2nd April till the 12th April. So through Easter and a week after that. My aim of the project was to promote health well being, and positive lifestyle choices (i.e. alternatives to alcohol, drugs, violence). I was thinking of doing this Multicultural Arts and Dance performance. I thought during the day different cultural groups teach their style of dancing, then this will get showcased at night. This would be, I'm thinking in the Mooroobool area. The Community Housing area.

One of the dancers in my team is contemporary dancer from a Sydney Aboriginal dance company. She will choreograph some kind contemporary piece. There is a Cook Islander member who will teach her traditional dancing. One of the finalist from last years season of "So You Think You can Dance" Gianne Abbot is coming on board with this project. She is also the Ambassador of Multiculturalism here in Brisbane and Sunshine Coast. She will be doing Samba workshops and facilitating with me group movement workshops and aided choreography so the participants can show case this to the community at night. I also have a date that is Sat 10th April. Here's what I don't have

1) A VENUE!! (I was thinking of Mooroobool Community Centre since it's central to the community. It is available that day but may be too small. The Community members are looking to see if they can arrange stage, covers, lighting, and sound system in the Park Central within this Community.

2) An established association or community organisation we could (optional but definitely easier seeing time restraints) we could incorporate into.

3) Literature, brochures and pamphlets on health, detox help (if it's appropriate). I am planning to collect info advice and literature from Community Development, and Alcohol and drug detox centres here.

4) Funds I will apply for grants from Multicultural Development however 3 weeks is not a long time. (We can make this as cheap or expensive as we like). I also would like to make this sustainable so I would prefer to depend on funds as little as possible, in case the funds run out later on and the community feels that they can't reproduce events of similar quality.

I have an ATSI liason officer and Social Worker from Cairns Base giving me advice along the way of what is culturally, and morally appropriate.

I have connections with a news reporter from WIN news getting me in contact with media if this plan goes to fruition and I can find a venue, then I can start advertising.


The Following is the formal submission of my Project Plan:

SWSP7123 – Community Planning Engagement and Governance

Introduction
I am focusing my project on a specific community in Cairns, “Mooroobool”. The level of social cohesion within this community does not reflect the cultural diversity and potential that it encompasses. By using the different experiences, skills and resources of the community and its members, together they can transform the community to a more supportive, socially cohesive, sustainable environment. The reason for choosing this system to facilitate change in, has to do with personal affiliations with this community as well as being inspired by their creative talents.

Analysis of the system and the core issues
The main system involved here that I am trying to facilitate change in is a social system, a community called Mooroobool. There is an internal system within this system, a group of family members and friends whom form a smaller social system within Mooroobool. These members I wish to use as my driving force and facilitators to make my project plan come into fruition. There is also a larger system which has influences on Mooroobool and that is the city of Cairns, with many residents associated or linked to the community housing estate of Mooroobool.

Strategy for collective action to achieve social change
The strategy for social change comes in part from recognising phenomena present in System theory, Complexity theory and Chaos theory approaches. A mixture of bottom-up (Community education style) and top-down (uni assignments meeting certain criteria) approaches will be used. (Gilchrist, 2000). There will be times when using the Banking style of teaching ie. Teacher is the holder of knowledge, will be used but the majority or the time the Problem-posing approach will also be used where the facilitator provides a framework for thinking, creative active participants. (Hope, & Timmel 1995). This ensures the community owning not only the project, but the capacity to continue if they so wish to. Systems theory states; all "organic" systems, a term which includes human beings and their communities, are open systems: that is, each has a boundary which is open to some extent and which makes it possible for energy or influence (in various forms, such as information or goods) to pass into and out of its system. (Tamas, & Ontario, 2000). It is that energy coming across boundaries from Brisbane and the wider Cairns community, into Mooroobool, that is at the forefront of this agenda.
Using explanations and examples derived from quantum physics and chaos theory, Wheatley asserts that organizations are living organisms that, when given plenty of trust and freedom and inspiring leadership, can creatively adapt to changing times. Information flowing freely throughout the system (across boundaries) is the energy source—the catalyst for intelligent change. In self-renewing cycles, energies feed back upon themselves into new structures and solutions. The more open a system is to new information, both from within and out, the more creative its adaptations. (Wheatley,1999). The catalyst for change is the Community Developer, the vehicle in this project is dance. Einstein said that “No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it” . (Shevellar, 2010). It can be said that through raising the vibrations of one’s thinking in the presence of others doing the same with the simultaneous ingredient of joy, people can collectively and sublimenary create a vision of that future together. When people build connection, believe in their potential and self worth have creative expressive goals in place, solutions for problems and overall being increases.

Project Plan of Implementation
My project can be described as a “Meta-networking strategy” involving food and entertainment. (Gilchrist, 2000). Although usually workshops enter at the “Involve” level of the IAP2 Spectrum, this project aims to enter into the system mainly at the “Collaborate” level, where community members work with each aspect of the decision, including preferred solutions. (Department of Sustainability, 2010). This is useful at this stage because the creative nature of the project allows a lot of room for collaboration.
Dialogue is crucial in every aspect of participatory learning, and in the whole process of transformation. (Hope, & Timmel, 1995). This is going to be present at the lunch times and with general informal connections that are formed during the process. Dance often is an informal fun way of building trust with people. The practice of connecting people with their capacity to learn by using their lived experiences as a basis for learning is a politically transformative act. Education is also transformative when it empowers community members to develop a critical understanding of their world, which in turn leads them to undertake change activity. For this reason, a truly educational problem posing approach discussing alcohol and crime issues would not be useful. Making full use of the communities cultural diversity is essential because local cultural traditions are an important part of a sense of community, and help to provide the community with a sense of identity.(Ife, & Tesoriero, 2006). In considering all of the abovementioned theories, the agenda of this project is to aid, support and facilitate certain community members to use dance, expression and festival activities to build connections throughout their communities. It is starting with 3 weeks preparation from now till the 9th of June, then ending with a Multicultural Gathering organised by the group members. This Multicultural Gathering/Festival will be on Saturday 10th April. Each cultural dance team can teach different members of other dance teams and community members and spectators their style of dance. The team has expressed their interest in also facilitating a collaborative creative workshop which includes contemporary body movements and participants own choreography. A celebrity guest (Last seasons’ finalist of TV show "So You Think You Can Dance" - Gianne Abbott, will come on board for the day to facilitate with these creative workshops, learn different cultural dance styles from members of the community, and “hang out” with the kids. All of these activities will be show cased at the end of the day. During the festival there will be activities, games, education and hand outs of information which can assist members within these communities to create positive options, opportunities and alternatives for a healthier happier lifestyle


Risks

1) There is the risk that as I am not of any of the cultures present within this community, I may offend and therefore I need educating about Cultural Sensitivity. An ATSI Liaison officer has come on board with me to aid me in my cultural appropriateness and decision making along the way. I also have found a connector (Gilchrist, 2000) who appears to “know everyone” whom I have a close relationship with who will be with me at every interaction.

2) The micro community I want to use as facilitators will not want to participate or to the extent necessary. I may need to quickly find other members of the community that will want to come on board. I have used celebrity status (Gianne) and my former friendships within that community to minimise that risk.

3) Make them more isolated. There could be a big association of shame or "big noting" yourself in a community if you become proud or want to perform. I will liaise with members all along the way and let them know it is OK to change their mind and ask them of other alternatives to make this work. A big collaborative approach.

4) Time Constraints. I have made this project in 3 weeks time which leaves not much time for advertising, funds, or grants. This also can put a little pressure on the people working with me in Cairns as they are doing my leg work. With limited resources such as phones, computers or internet, combined with time constraints will make this challenging. To combat any feelings of stress, I have told the group that worst case scenario, we have a celebrity to party and dance with, even amongst ourselves! So no stress, we
just do as much as we can.

5) Lack of experience as a Community Developer. I have form alliances with the resident Community Worker working within the Well being centre of Mooroobool. This I feel is giving me huge insight to what appropriate community development should look like. I am also gaining and obtaining as much information, pamphlets, programs, and advice here in Brisbane from places like "A Place to Belong" and other Detox, ATSI, and multicultural organisations. This will show me how to set up the room. How to aid in the preparation the week before the showcase. What activities, language and materials to use in both preparation and Show Case days. How to maximise the community by implementing in a "true" community education manner.

6) Security. Alcohol and gang fights. This is thankfully a day project with a show case as the evening arrives. I want to promote this for obvious reasons as an Alcohol Free Event. Having the means to secure that and keeping peoples interest in the program will be a challenge. I am being connected with a local police officer who organises many community events within the area to aid me in this domain.

7 ) Money. There is a risk of me losing money in this project. I have out of pocket expenses for my and Gianne's plane ticket. There may be some food expenses also. A positive is that in linking up with the community centre, they are providing the hall, photocopies of brochures, facilities, and equipment for free.

8) Further Development and sustainability. I am implementing this in such a short timeframe and I am not even present for a lot of this. I have however already got a level of interest from an event in July "Cairns Ukelele Festival" for them to perform as a multi-cultural group. This may lead to other opportunities if they so wish to or get inspired by what we are doing.

9) No-one turns up. A very common thing especially given all the odds against us. I have with me a TV news reporter and local celebrity on board writing press releases and using her connections within the media. It's really a "watch this space". But apart from that I am going to connect with all the Drug, detox, community centres to get involved and I am planning to do the good old fashioned flyer drop and door knock around the neighbourhood a week in advance! Luckily for me the community workers have asked me to do workshops with kids and youth prior to my event and help out with the Easter celebrations within the week leading up to my project. This will help me connect with members and promote my project. Thinking of it now, it in many ways could be looked at as part of the project.

10) A huge risk is that my project turns into a production. While that sounds like a lot of fun. While helping build connections and excitement, but I do not wish this to be dance experts from Brisbane coming in and showing community how its done. For Community Development to be at play, constant negotiation, involvement and leadership with Community members need to be done on a daily basis.

11) Last but not least: Family and Friend involvement. This like with anything could lead to disaster. Unexpected circumstances, unrealistic expectations and miscommunications and attitudes of the past can all lead to reactions and coping skills that are not desirable and actually the opposite of what I'm trying to achieve. I need to keep communication clear as much as possible. I will be present for a whole week before hand to assist with the preparation so as much as possible can be smoothed over. Like I said before, I am just stressing to people of the importance to have a good time and enjoy our time together. "Life is not a goal, it's the Journey!"

References

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Shevellar, L. (lecture 2, March 10, 2010)

Tamas, A., & Ontario, A. (2000). System Theory in Community Development. Retrieved April 23, 2010 from,
http://www.tamas.com/samples/source-docs/System_Theory_in_CD.pdf

Wheatley, M. (1999). Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.

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