Chris Connelley, community activist and citizen journalist talks with Pierre Jones скачать в хорошем качестве

Chris Connelley, community activist and citizen journalist talks with Pierre Jones

In this episode of the SDG Vision podcast, host Pierre Jones welcomes Chris Connolly, a community activist, citizen journalist and friend, to discuss his journey through politics, journalism, and grassroots action. Chris reflects on his transition from local councillor to community organizer, sharing pivotal experiences from Hastings to Seven Kings. Chris discusses the Agenda 21 initiative, the formation of the Seven Kings Action Group, and later efforts such as the Seven Streets project. The conversation delves into the role of community engagement in sustaining local services, particularly libraries, and how building trust, listening to diverse voices, and storytelling help foster strong, inclusive communities. Chris also reflects on the interplay between activism, journalism, and governance, emphasizing the evolution of community dynamics and personal growth through collective action. Takeaways Chris Connolly has a diverse background in community activism and journalism. His early political experience was marked by dissatisfaction with local government processes. He transitioned from a councillor to an activist after realizing change could be more effectively driven from outside traditional structures. Agenda 21 inspired his early community engagement. The Seven Kings Action Group (SCAG) was a key development in his activism. Community work often arises from frustrations with ineffective local politics. Public engagement fosters unity and resilience across diverse communities. Local activism can lead to tangible outcomes, such as saving libraries and addressing safety concerns. Listening, trust-building, and storytelling are foundational tools in effective community organizing. Social capital grows through consistent, shared community experiences. Empowerment comes from involving residents directly in shaping their neighborhoods. Local governance must be more responsive, and journalism plays a crucial role in giving voice to underrepresented perspectives. Community groups evolve over time and need to adapt to changing local needs. Incremental, realistic actions often lead to more lasting change than sweeping ideological agendas. Personal development and leadership often grow alongside community involvement. Sound Bites "What makes a good community?" "We held the politicians to account." "There was a degree of anger from people." "We managed to keep both libraries open." "It was a beautiful moment." "It's about finding a measured response." "It was a lovely interview." "Those are the key tools." "Public safety was one of the key themes." "We had a problem with discarded needles." "We do a litter pick every Thursday morning." "You've got to get organised." "It's very easy to get into the old ways." Relevant SDGs and Their Connection to the Episode Content SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities Directly aligns with community activism, local engagement, sustainable communities, and urban resilience initiatives like Agenda 21, Seven Kings Action Group, and the Seven Streets project. SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions Reflected in the emphasis on accountability, local governance reform, citizen participation, and holding politicians to account. SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals Highlights collaboration across community groups, councils, activists, and journalists in grassroots action. SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being Referenced through discussions of public safety, trust-building, and community well-being, including projects that reduce harm (e.g. dealing with discarded needles). SDG 4 – Quality Education Connections to libraries as learning hubs and informal civic education through community engagement and storytelling. SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities Through empowering marginalised voices and ensuring that diverse communities are represented and engaged in local change. SDG 5 – Gender Equality Implicitly supported if inclusive community engagement ensures women and underrepresented groups have a voice and role in leadership. SDG 1 – No Poverty Grassroots action and local services like libraries and safety initiatives often support vulnerable or low-income groups directly. SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth Community empowerment and local resilience support economic participation, especially through volunteerism and skills-building in local projects.