Shining the Spotlight

Regular learning forums - bringing key individuals from the Core Learning Cluster initiatives together to share, probe, develop and deepen their theory of change and build on the learning that is occurring.

Critical friends - providing leaders in each of the initiatives with an experienced mentor who can both probe and provoke while at the same time offering support and encouragement.

Case studies - providing support and resources to record the community's story, in a written form and/or using audio or video as appropriate, in order to understand, analyse, amplify and disseminate the learning.

Individual learning calls - supporting key individuals in the Core Learning Cluster initiatives with regular phone calls allowing them to meet their needs and find their own solutions in their own ways

Monthly email updates - providing brief information on key developments and ideas as well as useful resources to the core learning cluster communities

Learning conference calls - offering opportunities for people from each of the communities, as well as those working in the Exchange, to meet together by phone to share their stories, ask questions of each other, acknowledge their frustrations, admit their mistakes, and celebrate what's working.

Shining the Floodlight

Regional learning clusters - establishing regional forums (currently Wellington and Auckland) where those from the Core Learning Cluster communities and others who are interested in a new way of working come together to inquire and discover.

E -Newsletter - a newsletter available via email and also through the website that highlights collaborative community led development, offering information, examples in practice and links to resources.

Visits Between Communities - going on the road and finding out firsthand from each other is proving to be very worthwhile. in May 2009 people from the Marfell community in New Plymouth, convenors of the capacity building initiative SCOPE and the Chair of the TSB Community Trust visited Tamaki and Massey in Waitakere. They were delighted to see firsthand how the Tamaki community and Housing NZ worked closely together in redesigning Talbot Park. Then at Massey Matters found:

Megan's passion, to the point, clarity - no frills delivery on the journey of Massey Matters inspired our Marfell Culture Trust (MCT) members. Lots of questions, lots of sharing by MCT members made for a very rewarding experience for everyone.

Mentoring support offering support and encouragement to people who are interested in the new way of thinking and linking them up with others, either formally or informally, where appropriate.

Leadership development - exploring and supporting community-based leaders and style of leadership that foster community-led development

Models - Utilising leading edge social technologies such as The U Theory, Open Space Technology, Appreciative Inquiry, understanding and addressing complex  or 'wicked' issues, and The Global café that bring people together in unexpected ways to allow them to talk across their differences and discover their commonalities.

Shining the Searchlight

Website - using the website as a forum to provide information, stimulate thinking, explore what is being learnt and better understand the impact of what is happening

Presenting or faciliating at workshops, conferences and in learning institutions - about what we are doing, what we are learning and how vital it is to have everyone involved.

Learning conversations with thought leaders and social innovators - providing opportunities for the trailblazers, and others involved in place-based, community-led development, to dialogue with those working in collaborative community led development processes in NZ or in other parts of the world.

Guiding Group - bringing together key individuals from across the sectors, exploring and leveraging their unique contribution to help amplify our learning.

Learning conversations with thought leaders and social innovators - providing opportunities for the trailblazers, and others involved in place-based, community-led development, to dialogue with those working in collaborative community led development processes in NZ or in other parts of the world.

Growing evaluative thinking - connecting with evaluators and other social innovators, both in NZ and overseas, to develop evaluative thinking and build capacity in evaluation processes that support innovation.

Meaningful reporting - developing conversations with funders, funding recipients and other interested parties, to support a realtionship that moves beyond funder and fundee to working through issues together

Developing a transparent reporting process - ensuring that our own funder/fundee relationship allows exploration of what's not working and encourages true partnership and shared responsibility.