Posted by Do you know the difference between an MP and a Councillor? What about a PCT and a Foundation Hospital; or an OCU and a ACC? And how are they all accountable to you? How does your local influencing know-how measure up? And what about your skills and your tactics for influencing? Birmingham’s Resident University moves on from the intriguing, thoughtful lecture by Phillip Blond in Balsall Heath last night, to tonight’s seminar on Influencing Local Decisions in Handsworth.
We’re looking at know-how, skills and the need to network; building a shared ‘disempowerment checklist’; sharing power quotes and tactics; looking up some good websites and watching some bits of video including:
Naseem Akhtar of the Saheli Group talking about women influencing decisions (recorded as part of the b:cen Diversity Action Plan).
And:
Saeed ul-Haque of Lozells Neighbourhood Forum talking about how he would like local services to engage (recorded as part of the work Chamberlain Forum did setting up Life in Lozells).
Influencing Local Decisions – Resident University Seminar – is at Nishkam Centre, Soho Road, Handsworth at 6.30-9pm tonight – book a place at www.residentuniversity.org or call 07795 448 462.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Chamberlain Forum, Paul Slatter. Paul Slatter said: Birmingham Resident University in Handsworth tonight looking at Influencing Local Decisions http://bit.ly/4EK8E9 Nice videos! [...]
Why don’t we have this things in other parts of the country? Where I live there is nothing the equivalent and I would appreciate it if there was. Maybe we would not get some of the problems in the community if more people knew their way to influence democratically what goes on. Use of reason and debate rather than fists or shouting people down and the rest of ‘comunity politics’!
Hi George, thanks for your positive feedback, and I agree, conflict usually happens when people don’t have the ability to solve differences in a more productive way. More talking has to be a good thing. Good luck in finding some like minded people, maybe there are enough to get something off the ground? Resident University started life here in an inner city neighbourhood and has grown from there. Hannah – Chamberlain Forum