Big Meet Up - Big Anniversary 10 years of CDLI Recap & Reflection
On November 18th CDLI hosted the annual Big Meet Up, this year was unique in that it was an opportunity to celebrate CDLI, the way CDLI works, and launch the way forward with the re-imagined Vision and Mission. The event welcomed long time CDLI supporters, some who helped to shape CDLI many years ago, as well as people new to CDLI and keen to explore what the network way of working can offer to their roles in community.
Recap
In January of 2013, a feasibility study was delivered to a project team which explored the research question “How best can Calgary citizens, community development practitioners, and supporters be served with the knowledge, tools and means to learn and practice community development?” The commissioning of this study was in response to a call for ongoing community development learning opportunities and mutual support expressed by those working to strengthen Calgary’s communities. Many residents, community development practitioners, academics, funders and folks from a diverse set of experiences had been exploring ways to meet this need for a number of years.
The Community Development Learning Initiative that the feasibility study proposed could respond to this need was “a collectively owned community development learning and resource exchange that invites groups to share ideas, stories and experiences; align priorities, attain and pass along skills and combine efforts toward making Calgary an even better city for all.”
One of the consulted sources for the feasibility study was June Holley’s “The Network Weaver Handbook” in which June Holley describes the way networks change systems. The feasibility study proposed that CDLI engage core staff as network weavers to have the best success of achieving what they described. After years of operating as a network the Big Meet Up highlighted a bit of the path that CDLI has taken to get to today and asked others who work within networks to contribute their experiences as well. All toward a better understanding of “The Network Way of Working” and how networks change systems.
*Due to an unforeseen circumstances we had a day of substitution of Marla Kailly, who wasn’t able to join us from Healthy Aging Alberta (HAA). Lisa Stebbins is involved in the advisory committee for HAA and was able to bring that perspective to the panel while Lee-Ann from CDLI stepped into the panel. Thank you to all of our panelists including Marla.
Reimagined Vision & Mission for CDLI
From the end of 2022 into the beginning of 2023 CDLI invited network members to tell us their stories about CDLI. Three prompts were given:
What does the world need most that we through CDLI are uniquely able to provide?
Why did you want to be a part of the CDLI community?
Share your favourite story relating to CDLI! Why is CDLI so special to you?
Through the volunteer dedication of a group of network members (participation was open to all network members) each and every story was considered to inform the reimagining of CDLI’s Vision and Mission. Through a series of three sessions held between April - October of 2023 network members worked with the stories, drafted statements and then refined them. The Vision provides the guiding star for CDLI to follow, and the Mission gives us the tools for how we can do the work to get to the vision.
Our mission tells us:
The Who of CDLI is community-minded people.
The How of CDLI is to gather.
The What of CDLI is to explore new possibilities, to innovate and take tangible actions now for a socially equitable future.
If you are interested in more detail on the reimagining process CDLI undertook you can find a one pager here.
What does a socially equitable future look like?
Network members at the Big Meet Up said a socially equitable future includes:
CDLI will continue to dig into this in 2024 asking network members what a socially equitable future looks like to them through our gatherings.
Reflection
Offered by Lee-Ann Baines, Co-Lead CDLI
When folks arrived they were invited to weave themselves into the network. When we had dreamed up this activity as a way of welcoming for this special event we had intention of creating a sense of belonging and also demonstrating the varied ways people show up at CDLI. We wanted to demonstrate that all ways of showing up are important. Everyone who shows up is supporting the network even if they don’t know one another or never interact.
The more I reflect upon the “Weaving In” art piece the more I see interdependence. As part of our learning journey in 2023, the CDLI team read "Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Shaping Worlds” by adrienne maree brown which speaks to the ways interdependence exists in our world, has always existed and is a healing force. If we pair the knowledge of interdependence with the knowledge of network weaving offered to us by June Holley in the Network Weaver Handbook this helps me put tangible language to why CDLI has always felt like a joyful place for me, a place of inspiration, connection and action even when the topics being discussed may feel huge - systemic in fact.
It was an incredibly humbling experience to be the planner and speaker honoring 10 years of CDLI, knowing so many of the network weavers and members who have contributed so much to what CDLI is today. And even more humbling knowing that I don’t know so many who had just as much impact.
I am grateful to walk away from this CDLI event as I have from so many others in the past with increased connection, inspiration and some new to me knowledge of language I can use to create change. As June Holley says:
A few kind network members took time to contribute video interviews at the event and we look forward to sharing some of that video footage as well as reflections from others soon.
CDLI 10 Year Anniversary
Video and photos of the Big Meet Up event by Benjamin Butcher.