Big Meet Up 2024 - The Roots of ABCD

Thank you to everyone that joined us at Big Meet Up: The Roots of ABCD!

On December 4th 2024, CDLI hosted the annual Big Meet Up, Every year CDLI gathers people from different pockets of our work and brings them together in conversation, learning and connection over a theme that intersects many touch points within the network. This year’s theme was The Roots of ABCD. This event welcomed new members of CDLI, longtime supporters, as well as people excited to explore ABCD and how that relates to their roles in community.

One of the highlights was hearing the amazing Michelle Robinson, who spoke about what it can mean to be a treaty partner. Michelle continues to share her voice in various ways. One of them is through her podcast, Native Calgarian and her online book club which you can register to join here: Meeting Registration - Zoom. Thank you, Michelle, for sharing your wisdom with us!

During this event, folks were able to engage with the various projects that CDLI had facilitated throughout the past year.  This included Creating Just Futures, Storytelling for Change and some initial engagement with the new Building Connected Communities project. The CDLI team had stations that prompted conversation where you were able to reflect by writing your thoughts from the conversations onto cards or engage directly with the team and other network members.

Storytelling for Change

As part of the Storytelling for Change initiative, attendees were given “seeds packets” that had prompts on them as they entered the space. Each prompt encouraging them to plant, commitments, ideas and reflections throughout the event.  Folks were able to plant those seeds and watch them grow (while also given real seeds to take home and plant within their personal lives).

 Take a look to see the seeds that were planted!

Each conversation, commitment, and story shared helps us move toward a more just and equitable future. CDLI will continue to take the seeds that were planted and continue to apply them to the learnings that were shown throughout this gathering.

If you have ideas for Big Meet Up topics for 2025 and some time to work with us to host them, email us!