Burning Issues

Forty folk gathered at St Hilda's tonight to think around questions about community engagement. What is community? Who are the stakeholders? What are the main needs? What is our response?
Isolation. Lack of purpose and opportunity. Loneliness. These are some of the root causes of some of the great ills of our time, such as joblessness, debt, addiction, gang violence.
And what should our response be: partnership with others, tears, prayer, human kindness, relationship building, teamwork, listening to the community and responding creatively, innovatively and with sustainable presence.
An encouraging evening. Good networking and listening. Opportunity to hear difficult voices and to be challenged out of apathy.