Zayed F. Zeadat’s Post

With a fully funded trip to Stockholm , Sweden for the Summit : Apply for the We Are Family Foundation’s Three Dot Dash Global Teen Leader Program *Area of Focus* - In 2025, WAFF will bring the Three Dot Dash Just Peace Summit to Stockholm, Sweden, a city known throughout the world for its sustainability, to bring together young activists who care about the environment and how it intersects with their other basic needs, such as food, shelter, safety, health, and education. - ⁠They encourage applications from people who just work on environmental concerns or who combine sustainability with other areas of interest, such as social justice, STEM, education, or youth empowerment. More details and how to apply https://lnkd.in/dqmFtCes

IAEE Preferred Partner 4imprint celebrates National Volunteer Month by offering tips on how organizations can foster a culture of volunteerism among their teams in 5 simple steps. https://lnkd.in/gb99D79B

🤝 ENSIE, together with a number of European and national networks of providers of notfor-profit social services, released the paper "Social Services’ Key Messages for the Next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)." 📃 The document features actionable recommendations to ensure the upcoming MFF prioritises social inclusion, innovation, and equity across Europe. As a proud contributor, ENSIE worked alongside key European networks to emphasise the importance of dedicated funding for inclusive employment and social services, with the aim of driving forward the EU’s Social Agenda. 🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/41m3yTH CEDAG - European Council of Associations of General Interest EASPD - European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities FEANTSA Eurodiaconia Caritas Europa UNIPSO Red Cross EU Office European Platform for Rehabilitation (EPR) Federation of European Social Employers Consorzio Nazionale Idee in Rete Social Services Europe

BRUSSELS—26 March 2024—"In order to respond to challenges at the local level, it is important to have individual encounters, which is why we work at the neighborhood level. Before our Neighborhood Day, I didn't know the people, but since then, I greet them and there is the beginning of a conversation." Rina Rabau Nkandu, Alderman for the City of Mechelen responsible for social cohesion, education, participation, communication, seniors and accessibility, shared this reflection at an event titled Fostering Inclusive Communities: Leveraging Social Cohesion for Thriving Societies. Hosted by the Bahá'í International Community’s Brussels Office and the Office of Public Affairs of the Bahá'í community of Belgium, the event explored the need to create inclusive spaces where individuals from various backgrounds feel a sense of belonging and can actively contribute to community progress.  While emphasizing the importance of understanding the local reality of a neighborhood to effectively address ongoing challenges, Didier Vanderslycke, Coordinator of ORBIT VZW, an organization that fosters coexistence and democratic cooperation among people of different backgrounds, said "It is important to meet and get to know each other, but we will now focus more on working together in solidarity. We will look around the neighborhoods, the cities, what is a problem here, what is an obstacle, what is a threshold. And how can we work together to find a solution?" And Philippe Seidel Leroy from AGE Platform Europe, a European network that promotes solidarity between all generations and the participation of older people in society, added “If we say ‘more inclusive’ for the elderly, that means more inclusive for everyone.” By focusing on the interplay of European Union, national, and local policymaking, the event underscored the significance of ongoing conversations and collaboration among residents and institutions to strengthen social cohesion at the grassroots level. “Organizing these events is crucial for establishing inclusive and creative environments where policymakers from all levels can interact with grassroots organizations. By doing so they can draw insights from community perspectives and shape policies that embrace diversity in a more collaborative way”, said Sarah Moser, representative of the Office of Public Affairs of the Bahá’ís in Belgium. The event underscored the critical role of social cohesion in shaping resilient and thriving societies, emphasizing the need for concerted efforts to create inclusive spaces where all individuals can actively participate and contribute to community well-being. #InclusiveCommunity #SocialCohesion #Communication #Education #BahaiInternationalCommunity #BahaisOfBelgium

Educational institutions derive advantage from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by enhancing reputation, fostering loyalty, and improving satisfaction. They contribute through eco-friendly initiatives, community service, ethical practices, volunteer efforts, sustainable campus operations, promoting diversity and inclusion, and ensuring quality education. These actions support long-term success and sustainability. #CorporateSocialResponsibility #CSR #EducationForSustainability #EcoFriendlyCampus #CommunityService #EthicalPractices #VolunteerEfforts #DiversityInEducation #SustainableEducation #QualityEducation #EducationalExcellence #SocialImpact #SustainabilityInEducation #InclusiveEducation #EducationLeads

I have lots of curiosities about this report and this approach.

For all of my nonprofit development folks, be sure to give this a review for your GivingTuesday planning!

I recently attended a welcoming event at my son’s school for the new school year, where a quote attributed to Richard Cornuelle stood out: "Community is a consequence. It results when people come together to accomplish things that are important to them and succeed. People who are uninvolved cannot feel this connection." As a cultural heritage practitioner, these words resonate deeply, especially when I have the privilege to engage with and learn from local communities. The source article, "De-nationalizing Community," offers even greater insights. It delves into the evolving concept of community, influenced by American history since the early 20th century, shedding light on the prevalent sense of alienation in our our so-called 'communities'. The narrative highlights how individual agency in creating communities has been undermined and 'nationalized', reducing 'community' to a token term dictated by Big Man institutions like government, industry, and leadership structures. The result is a near homogenous concept of what and who ‘community’ is, which then further dictates how, when, where and which ‘community’ is heard. This has immense repercussions on not only decision-making, but also learning from community and thereby truly be able to gain any understanding. Embracing and fostering individual agency in the creation of community must logically lead to acknowledging and appreciating the diverse, ever-changing, and multifaceted nature of communities. The notion of a singular, monolithic 'THE COMMUNITY' is therefore not possible. Individuals can, do and should, simultaneously belong to varied, sometimes conflicting communities. I invite those intrigued by these concepts to delve into the full article for a deeper exploration. Although published in 1996, it speaks to so much of what is happening today. [https://lnkd.in/d553FXZM]

Little England or Great Britain? This was the title of an article in the Economist I read back in 2013 sitting in a school reception. That was when we had the option to vote 🗳️ between isolation & openness. I returned to the UK today from Denmark reading the headlines & social media which made uneasy reading & made me think about this article & the choices we make as a nation. Jim Minton’s post jumped out this morning, ‘these are dark times, it is really up to us all to stand strong together to challenge hatred and make sure that we keep our cities, towns and communities safe and welcoming for everyone’. This made me think about a film I watched last week, "The Old Oak," by Ken Loach. Although it's a work of fiction, it vividly depicts the fractures in Britain (in 2013), highlighting the struggles of communities that feel (and have been) left behind. The film’s message, "When you eat together, you stick together," resonated deeply. Despite its critical portrayal of societal issues, it also paints a picture of hope and solidarity, showing how we can rebuild our local communities. I remember well the day after the 2011 Clapham riots the community in the streets & the feeling that together we are stronger. Jon Alexander this week has shared heartwarming stories of citizens showing that love can beat hate. He asks us to imagine if we did this every day rather than waiting for tragedy. This aligns with the work we’re doing with CanTeam. We are transforming school canteens into community hubs after school, serving food to young people, their families, and local communities. These canteens are co-designed with young people to provide a space where everyone can come together to enjoy nutritious meals, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual support. The idea behind CanTeam was born out of a Summer programme Future Foundations organised in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy - in the playground of Ark Burlington Dane’s we held community dining events which showed me the impact community eating can have. This week, I’m holding a CanTeam strategy camp to bring together key people to reflect on our journey so far & set our plans to scale with Big Change's support. Our ambitious goal is to launch more CanTeam hubs than McDonald's by 2030. We draw inspiration from the British Restaurants set up during World War II. Spearheaded by a Marks and Spencer director in collaboration with the government, these restaurants were a 'can-do' response to the nation's need to be fed to fight the war. At their peak, they served 600,000 meals a day, showcasing what’s possible when we come together with a common purpose. If you believe community eating can make a difference I encourage you to watch "The Old Oak" & join us in our efforts to rebuild local communities one meal at a time. This is how I believe we can put the Great back in Great Britain Let’s eat & thrive together 🚀

🎉 Big News from Community-Engaged Alliance (CEA)! 🌟 We’re excited to launch a brand-new suite of funded programs designed to strengthen the connection between civic health and public trust, thanks to a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. 🙌 ✨ These programs include: 📚 Community Engagement Using High-Impact Practices 🎓 Scholar-Practitioner Program 💡 Faculty Fellows Idea Lab 💭 Together, these initiatives focus on: ✅ Strengthening civic engagement in our communities. ✅ Rebuilding and enhancing public trust in higher education. ✅ Fostering meaningful collaborations between educational institutions and the communities they serve. 🔗 Learn more on our website: https://lnkd.in/eNRkDbMP #CivicHealth #PublicTrust #HigherEd #CommunityEngagement #ImpactTogether #IndianaStrong #CEAPrograms 🎉