I spent a very pleasant afternoon recently in the offices of New Start Magazine researching what makes for an inspirational or transformational relationship and I came across this wonderful quote:
In my ethnographic work, with a head full of American methodologies and theory, I thought I knew a bit about local government, urban and social policy and the theory of community and activism. However, I knew as Betty was to tell me, “Bugger all!”. All I knew was learned, abstract and distinct from reality. Betty knew it from 60 years of lived experience.
Neil McInroy Chief Executive, CLES
This is why we need to have a process for community development that is not controlled by local government but by the lived experience of local people.