For the Love of Community Engagement: Insights from a personal expedition to inspire better public participation

For the Love of Community Engagement: Insights from a personal expedition to inspire better public participation

Becky Hirst is a skilled community engagement practitioner who is willing to tell it how it is. And she has grave concerns for the future of public participation. To have a thriving society, we need people and communities who are actively involved in civic life. For politicians, public servants, corporations, or planners to engage with communities in any positive way, they need to learn a new way of doing things. A wealth of sophisticated public consultation slogans, methods and frameworks are frequently seen. But we are close to breaking point. Some fundamental things are missing. And, right now, we need to focus our energies on them. As a matter of urgency. Whilst this book shines a clear light of day on hard truths we can't escape, the stories within it are about love, passion, enthusiasm and a heartfelt commitment to community empowerment and community building. Becky's expedition through her career to date is authentically presented as 20 easy-to-follow key insights, combined with 100 conversation starters to provide the reader with calls to both reflect and act. For the Love of Community Engagement seeks to inspire better public participation - and that it will! "This book is a must read! It challenges the way we've been engaging with communities and champions the cause for a fresh think as we look to the future!" Stephen Yarwood, Urban Futurist & Former Lord Mayor of Adelaide " For the Love of Community Engagement is a beacon of inspiration. It provides the benchmark for where we should be heading as a sector." Paul Kooperman, Community Engagement Specialist "Becky Hirst gets it more than most. As one of the only contemporary community engagement books available, if you are a current, emerging or curious community engagement practitioner, For the Love of Community Engagement is for you. It's intelligent, entertaining and has great tips!" Amy Hubbard, Practice Lead, Capire Consulting & Deputy Chair IAP2 Australasia Becky Hirst is a multi-award-winning community engagement specialist, author, public speaker, mentor, and trainer. She lives in the beautiful McLaren Vale region, 45-minutes south of Adelaide in South Australia (Australia), with her partner Dan and two daughters.   Born and bred in Gloucester (UK), Becky began her community-focused career in 1999 in the early Blair years of UK politics - a time when social inclusion and community involvement were high on the agenda.   After migrating to Australia in 2007, and since founding her consultancy practice in 2009, Becky has worked with over 100 government agencies and local Councils, helping them to successfully involve people, groups and communities in problem solving and decision-making processes. She estimates that this work has included connecting with over 50,000 people in conversations about things that matter!    Becky is proud to have been one of the founders of Engage 2 Act and a co-instigator of Global Community Engagement Day, which is now celebrated internationally every year on 28 January.    Becky is well known and respected for her innovative and creative approach to community engagement and has a genuine desire to build stronger communities through getting the right people involved in the right conversations.