From the Ground Up 2024
a 6-week hybrid activation and learning experience to support participants reflect, imagine and experiment together towards influence and action for the thriving of Black communities in Southwark and Lambeth.
Centered around our leadership, ideas, and love for self and planet as Black people, this immersive and nourishing experience is designed to fit busy schedules and commitments.
From the Ground Up is a collective learning and design space that supports those new to environmental issues in finding their voice, building knowledge, and gaining confidence to lead, influence, and advocate for change that uplifts Black communities.
Guided by collective and personal questions about the environmental space, we will embark on a journey to understand what community leaders like you need to intervene and shape change in the environmental space.
What to expect
Delivered over 4 modules, this pilot retreat combines an in-person gathering, live online sessions and self-directed individual and
peer-learning activities.
FEATURES:
A fully funded three-day in-person gathering in Norfolk (16-18 August)
Five live virtual sessions (Aug & Sept)
Peer-learning activities
Personal learning journal
A £700 honorarium to acknowledge your participation
and more...
MODULE 1
Foundations & questions
The first two sessions we will explore the key concepts you will encounter on this journey. We will use them alongside personal knowledge to refine and develop a set of collective and individual learning questions.
MODULE 2
Learning and dreaming with the natural world
With foundations in place, we will come together for an in-person gathering in the lush landscape of Norfolk, East Anglia, where we will spend time nourishing ourselves, learning and dreaming with the natural world and each other.
MODULE 3
Deepening knowledge and experimenting with ideas
The next phase moves to deepening learning within the group and your community, listening and experimenting with ideas and possibilities for intervention and action.
MODULE 4
Reflection and collating our learnings
The final two sessions
will bring together all the learnings and experiments to reflect and plan the
next steps as individuals, as a group and for the wider experience.
The in-person gathering takes place in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, East Anglia from Friday 16 - Sunday 18 August 2024.
The online sessions take place every two weeks.
The self-directed activities take place throughout. You will be provided prompts to guide you in personal and self-facilitated group activities. These are designed to encourage you to dive deeper into your topics of interest, exploring them with other participants and your community.
As this is a pilot, you will also be asked to share your reflections and learnings that will contribute to the development of future activities and programmes.
What you will learn
During our time together, you will:
Build your knowledge of the environmental agenda and our environment’s impact on health.
Develop an understanding of key concepts and terms in environmental space.
Learn about Black-centered environmental perspectives and practices.
Leverage our collective imagination for transformative change.
Understand your role by creating a personal vision that aligns with your existing initiatives and objectives.
Explore ways to take collective and individual action.
Create new connections with others interested in environmental justice.
What is included
The experience features:
A fully funded three-day in-person gathering in Norfolk (16-18 August)
Five live virtual sessions
Interactive workshops and activities
Guided learning journal
Curated resources
Community discussion Space
A £700 honorarium to acknowledge your contributions to developing this innovative learning experience.
When we meet
Participants are required to attend all the sessions
Session 1 | Grounding
Tues 13th Aug | Live virtual | 2.00-4.30pm
Introductions to the aims and objectives, key concepts and each other. Mapping your interests and developing our collective and individual learning questions
Sessions 2, 3, 4, 5 | Between the Earth and Sky
Fri 16 - Sun 18th Aug | three-day in-person gathering, Norfolk
A nature based gathering designed to nurture our connections with self, each other and the world around us whilst beginning to explore our learning questions and ideas.
Session 6 | Experiments & Observations Session 1
Wed 28th August | Live virtual | 2.00-4.00pm
Reflecting on our knowledge sharing activities and developing ideas around possible interventions.
Session 7 | Experiments & Observations Session 2
Wed 11th Sept | Live virtual | 4.30-6.30pm
Reflecting on our knowledge sharing activities and developing ideas around possible interventions.
Session 8 - Wrap up
Wed 25th Sept | Live virtual | 4.30-6.30pm
Closing the space and considering what to do next.
Session 9 - Open Community Learning Session
October (exact date to be confirmed)
Live, virtual (time to be confirmed)
Who this is for
This might be for you if:
You run a community group, organisation or a grassroot initiative that acts as a hub for your community (physical or virtual) and has a social, cultural, educational, faith, spiritual or health and wellness focus.
You want space to rejuvenate and nourish your energies and reflect on new possibilities for your organisation, group or initiative.
You want to deepen your understanding of the local and international agendas around environment/climate/air pollution and how they are linked to the multiple places you call home.
You want to refresh your thinking or find new spaces and opportunities to intervene for the benefit of your community.
You're seeking support from a value-aligned peer-learning community to build and share knowledge of how our environment affects Black people locally.
You feel you would benefit from developing or deepening a reflective practice that engages with nature and our natural environment.
You will also meet the following eligibility criteria:
Based in Lambeth or Southwark.
Identify as Black Caribbean, Black African, of Black African descent, or mixed parentage and identify as Black.
Aged 18 years or over.
No prior involvement in environmental projects.
Active in a community setting (paid or voluntary)
How to Join
APPLY
Apply to join
Deadline extended: 5th August 2024, 12pm
REVIEW
Your application will be reviewed by the team to assess your fit
ACCEPT
Let us know if you accept your place
JOIN
Join your cohort on the 13th Aug opening session
Get in touch
For more information on the project please contact: loell@rootedbydesign.co.uk