Don't just tell communities help will eventually arrive. But work with them, listen, empower them to develop real improvements with public support. 12 'Putting Communities First' recommendations: citizen-network.org/library/putt... @cormacrussell.bsky.social

Our next book discussion will focus on The Connected Community: Discovering the Health, Wealth, and Power of Neighborhoods by @cormacrussell.bsky.social and John McKnight. Get reading, and join us on October 21 for conversation!

"It is a famine we could have prevented.. food stacks up at borders because of systematic obstruction by Israel. It is a famine within a few hundred metres of food.. a preventable famine sustained by complicity" Tom Fletcher from the UN on famine being declared in Gaza City

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan... @profdevisridhar.bsky.social:- life expectancy “is much less about your own choices and is instead tightly linked to where you live and the political choices made by your government”.

Greater Manchester’s Live Well programme is doing what more combined and local authorities should: backing trusted local leaders like Leah Chikamba-Mulando to deliver health and wellbeing services in a way that works for their particular community. www.right-here.org/communities-... #CommunityPower

At #StrongerThings, @cormacrussell.bsky.social urged us to make “good trouble.” His latest think piece for New Local sets out how might we do that in practice & argues that certain things are best done with citizens in the lead. Read the full piece here 🔗 buff.ly/ffiAs3D

It is not enough to discover assets; we must connect those assets with one another in new ways that multiply their contribution, power, equity and influence. #abcd

"Community is a verb, not a noun." - Cormac Russell / Image by #BornFabulousPodcast

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Over half due to cold homes, plus damp and unsafe conditions. When will social housing finally be treated as health policy? Billions are spent patching up the NHS while ignoring the root causes — damp homes, cold flats, unsafe housing. 2/2 bregroup.com/news/bre-rep...

In a new thinkpiece, @cormacrussell.bsky.social‬ proposes 3️⃣ shifts for greater alignment between institutions & communities Issue-based ➡️ place-based responses Institution-first ➡️ community-first Provision determined by public services ➡️ co-produced alongside communities 🔗

One more thing from #StrongerThings 2025: I'm really keen for library services to be actively present in this space, so here's a list of the speakers' books. Obviously @hilarycottam.bsky.social and @cormacrussell.bsky.social there but a few others! [links support @librariesconnected.bsky.social]

Interesting discussion on silos but shifted to community driven national reform. Sahil Khan at Peabody on how we can shift to bottom up reform @njdavies.bsky.social - how gov can put in place conditions for this - non competitive funding, ministerial remit, longer LG funding #StrongerThings

Lots this morning about importance of what community facing organisations do in the face of increased inequality and volatility. Big q for libraries is how do we recognise and maximise what we do through collaboration - & how we build the robust & resilient partnerships we need. #StrongerThings

Cont from @indyjohar.bsky.social Biggest risk we hold is loss of the social contract and impact this has on local and national functioning and security. We as community engaged orgs have the agency - and responsibility - to transform the country to maintain this social contract. #StrongerThings

Hearing from @indyjohar.bsky.social about increased volatility as we head to 3 deg warmer. We exist at intersection of localism and planetary relationships. Need to be able to think in terms of multiple beneficiaries of our actions - again back to measuring value across different stakeholders.

He’s arguing a strengths based approach - you can centre people but still have institutions operating on their weaknesses. But centre people and give them agency to build on their strengths and access to services it shifts. Again, libraries are the perfect framework for this. #StrongerThings

Really good way to disrupt the usual “broadcast” model of keynotes - made us think about how we engage. Useful tool to use in future - start with asking questions of *how* the audience will engage before even starting to discuss *what* they engage with. #StrongerThings

Ooh - @cormacrussell.bsky.social up next - he’s been brilliant at our seminars. He’s starting very on-brand - coproducing his keynote! #StrongerThings

@cormacrussell.bsky.social ‘not needy, but needed’ a brilliant reframing of our role as professionals #StrongerThings

Nurture Development’s @cormacrussell.bsky.social joins us with provocations around community-centred renewal. “What’s really exciting about what we’re seeing today in the UK is not just great micro practice on the ground, but a lining up of the micro and the macro”. #StrongerThings

Nugget from @cormacrussell.bsky.social : "connect the gifts of an individual with the community" to mobilise #communitypower . #communitydevelopment #communitybuilding #healthandwellbeing #StrongerThings

📣 @cormacrussell.bsky.social introduces six building blocks for wellbeing that exist in every community: 🟡 Contributions of residents 🟡 Associations 🟡 Local institutions 🟡 Local places 🟡 Local economy & exchange 🟡 Stories & culture

Thank you @cormacrussell.bsky.social for the inspiration! #StrongerThings

Final points from @cormacrussell.bsky.social We have ability & responsibility to shift settlement in this country to strengths based, community led and enabled We need to think about communities we serve *and* communities we are part of. And never be afraid to make good trouble. #StrongerThings

Some years ago when I attended an introduction to ABCD @cormacrussell.bsky.social asked a question “What do you do where you live with your neighbours” This profoundly changed the way I thought about my role as a citizen. I can testify community-centred renewal happens over a cuppa, sharing lives.

Join us for #StrongerThings 2025 ONLINE! The community power event of the year ft. ‪@hilarycottam.bsky.social‬ @cormacrussell.bsky.social‬ & more amazing speakers ✨‬ Take a look at the agenda 👉 buff.ly/GD8vVAl Book your ticket 👉 buff.ly/9TzwL53

“The traditional model – which treats citizens as passive service recipients – has hit its capacity limits.” Following the publication of our new thinkpiece, #StrongerThings headline speaker @cormacrussell.bsky.social‬ advocates for a realignment between institutions & communities.

"The future of public service lies not solely in delivering better services but in forging better alignment between institutions and communities." @cormacrussell.bsky.social

Join us at #StrongerThings 2025 on 3 June to hear more from @cormacrussell.bsky.social on the potential of community-centred public services 🌟 www.newlocal.org.uk/strongerthin...

In a new thinkpiece, @cormacrussell.bsky.social‬ proposes 3️⃣ shifts for greater alignment between institutions & communities Issue-based ➡️ place-based responses Institution-first ➡️ community-first Provision determined by public services ➡️ co-produced alongside communities 🔗

As we develop JRF's communities + place policy work, this from @cormacrussell.bsky.social is v inspiring - especially the call to seek a 'good enough alignment' between govt institutions + community-based associations, as the perfect relationship does not exist. www.newlocal.org.uk/publications...

Delighted to publish a thinkpiece by social explorer and author Cormac Russell. One of our headline speakers for Stronger Things 2025. bit.ly/CormacRussel... To hear from him on the day, sign up here 👇 Last few in-person tickets left. Or join us online. www.newlocal.org.uk/strongerthin...

“Russell asks us to redefine how we see the world. He asks us to imagine a world in which everybody who is defined as a problem secures the power to redefine the problem. He asks us to rise to the challenge. He asks us to be the change we seek by creating space for others to be the change they seek”

There are four main modes of social change: to, for, with, and by. While there is a place for all four within community and economic development, avoiding the pitfalls of traditional ‘aid’ requires a well-delineated approach. researchoutreach.org/articles/wha...

Our ‘Lullington Neighbours’ VE Day celebrations sharing food, singing, chatting and a cuppa ☕️ The foundation of all good things 🦩 #Neighbours #Community @camerados-org.bsky.social @cormacrussell.bsky.social

Can't wait to listen to this conversation with 2 of my brilliant & wise colleagues, & leading light @cormacrussell.bsky.social "Dr Bruce Perry will explore the profound impact of relationships on healing from trauma, especially in children" communityrenewal.learnworlds.com/course/child...

@vibrantkatiekelly.bsky.social @cormacrussell.bsky.social @colintalbot.bsky.social @alirice.bsky.social @jesstud.bsky.social @hilarycottam.bsky.social on.ft.com/42IPouN

🥁 #StrongerThings 2025 speaker announcement 🥁 @cormacrussell.bsky.social, Managing Director at Nurture Development, will join us with provocations around community power, trust, dominant narratives, institutions and neighbourhoods. Make sure you're in the room. Book today 🏃‍♀️ buff.ly/ahDHhvH

Cormac Russell asking, when was the last time you got together with your neighbours and made things better? #letsengage25 @artscouncilengland.bsky.social

Great story. @cormacrussell.bsky.social

Join us on May 14 at 4.00 p.m. (London) for a free webinar event focused on Child Welfare through a Community-Centred Lens with Dr. Bruce Perry, Cormac Russell and moderated by Melissa T. Merrick, President and CEO of Stop Child Abuse America. Click here to register: lnkd.in/gTFq7sQR

Biased I may be given this is the topic of my doctorate, but this free webinar on the role of community and social support in child welfare really does look terrific. Registration link in Cormacs post 👇🏻

Join us on May 14 at 4.00 p.m. (London) for a free webinar event focused on Child Welfare through a Community-Centred Lens with Dr. Bruce Perry, Cormac Russell and moderated by Melissa T. Merrick, President and CEO of Stop Child Abuse America. Click here to register: lnkd.in/gTFq7sQR

Looking forward to @artscouncilengland.bsky.social National conference on Engaging Communities in Arts and Culture tomorrow @thelowry.com - hope to see lots of you there #LetsEngage25 #LetsCreate

Yesterday the National Engaging Communities in Arts and Culture Conference took place at The Lowry in Salford. The conference showcased the impact of arts and culture on improving wellbeing and broadening opportunities. #LetsEngage25

Thanks for hosting me, Rebecca, it was a wonderful event🙏 BW Cormac

An inspiring 2 days @thelowry.com and @phm.org.uk talking about engaging communities in arts and culture #LetsEngage25 @artscouncilengland.bsky.social discover, connect, mobilise says @cormacrussell.bsky.social

@hannahellisgray.bsky.social hi Hannah I’d love to read these findings in detail. Can you share or connect me with the researchers? C