Camden Imagines Participant Blogs
Imagination activism: building common purpose
Remembering our common purpose of putting our residents first is key to building a healthy and thriving community — by Lioko Mabika
This blog is part of a series written by the participants of the Camden Imagines programme. This eight week training introduced council officers and public servants to the skills of collective imagination and horizontal leadership to empower them to become agents of change in the borough.
Lioko is a Senior Policy and Projects Officer in the Equalities and Disproportionately team. In this blog, he writes about how Imagination Activism has given him a chance to start thinking about equality through a whole new creative lens, and reinvigorated the efforts towards inclusivity and equality in Camden.
“By holding regular town hall meetings, creating online surveys, or even having a suggestion box, we can make sure that our community is truly reflective of the diverse population that lives here.”
As custodians of the London Borough of Camden, we know that our community is a diverse and vibrant place where people from all walks of life come together. And as a local authority, it’s our duty to make sure that the needs and well-being of our residents are always at the forefront of everything we do. But sometimes, it can be challenging to think of new and creative ways to engage with our community, and that’s why it’s essential to remember our common purpose of putting our residents first by using incentives like the Camden Imagines Programme facilitated by the Moral Imagination team. This programme allowed us to dig deep and explore thought provoking ideas that challenge the way we think and come up with solutions to address the issues impacting our residents.
One of the ways we can do this is by involving our residents in the decision-making process. This means that we need to actively seek out their opinions, listen to their concerns, and take their feedback into account when shaping our policies and programs. By holding regular town hall meetings, creating online surveys, or even having a suggestion box, we can make sure that our community is truly reflective of the diverse population that lives here. This way, we can ensure that we are addressing the specific needs and concerns of different communities within Camden.
Another important aspect of remembering our common purpose is to make sure that our policies are inclusive and equitable. This means that we need to ensure that our services are accessible to all residents, regardless of their background or circumstances. But it’s not just about making sure our services are accessible, it’s about going the extra mile and finding new and creative ways to engage with different communities.
For example, we can use our imagination teams to come up with new ways to reach out to underserved communities such as the communities displaced by war, low-income families, seniors, or disabled individuals. We can organise community events that cater to different cultures, offer translation services for non-English speakers, or create online platforms for gathering feedback. We can also partner with local organisations that already have a strong presence in these communities and leverage their expertise to better understand the specific needs of these groups.
Additionally, we can also use social media and other digital platforms to reach out to younger residents and engage them in the community. For example, we can create an online platform or a mobile app where residents can access information about local events, services, and opportunities to get involved in the community.
In conclusion, remembering our common purpose of putting our residents first is key to building a healthy and thriving community. It requires active engagement with our residents, inclusive and equitable policies, and using our imagination to come up with new and creative ways to connect and grow. Together, we can make sure that Camden is a place where everyone has the opportunity to succeed and thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances.
This blog is part of a series written by Camden’s Imagination Activists as part of their Imagination Activism programme called “Camden Imagines”. To read the other blogposts in the series, please visit this link.
