"The new governance context in Auckland will mean lots of changes for everyone - communities included. We're going to have to now think and work locally and regionally all at the same time."

This is the call from the establishment group holding the newly formed Auckland Community Development Alliance (ACDA).

The ACDA establishment group, which includes Inspiring Communities Auckland Convenor, Megan Courtney held its first gathering on 28 April to discuss issues including:

• The proposed Auckland Social Policy Forum
• exploring what working regionally could look like and how communities can collectively influence what happens
• the role of ACDA and how people want be linked and involved.

The event was a huge success in numbers alone - a "diverse and positive crowd" of over 140 people attended, with 30 organisations having to be turned away due to over filling the venue (even after shifting to a larger one!)

Those attending offered strong support for ACDA's establishment, with many organisations wanting to take an active role in helping strengthen regional community voice around the Region. Workshop recommendations on the proposed Social Policy Forum will also be forwarded to Minister of Social Development, Paula Bennett.

Want to know more?

• Download the 10-page backgrounder provided to those attending the workshop: April 2010 ACDA forum workshop briefing (450.08 kB)
• Download the presentations and workshop summaries from the forum: April 2010 ACDA forum presentations-summaries (1.38 MB)
• Download a one-page background about the ACDA: AkldCommDevAlliance_Info (334.98 kB)

About the ACDA

Arising out of community dialogue in 2009 came calls to build new ways for communities across Auckland to come together and maximise the community voice into new Super City. People also wanted the community sector to start building a long term plan for communities in Auckland.

Keen to progress from talk to action, a small number of organisations from across the region came together to start thinking about what working together in the community development space might look like. The ACDA - which includes both community organisations and communities of place, has been initiated as a result.

The establishment group includes people from:

• North Shore Community and Social Services
• Raeburn House
• Community Waitakere
• Parnell Trust
• Auckland WEA\
• Manukau Community Foundation
• Papakura District Council of Social Services
• Inspiring Communities