Connect the Dots

23/05/2024

An amazing festival taking place in Richmond Barracks, Dublin on June 22nd!

Neuroconvergence 2024 is launching a brand new neurodivergent community concept. It aims to break down barriers and bring people together for meaningful conversation, encounters and celebration. This summer solstice party will have music, performance, comedy, film, panel discussions, conversations and more. Events are designed for individuals and families and there will be access to sensory and quiet spaces as needed.

Find out more and book your free tickets at https://www.neuroconvergence.ie/

Organised by Happenings and sponsored by Dublin City Council

04/12/2023

Up next in our series of creative consultation methods, we're looking at Focus Groups, an effective workshop tool we often use in our work! Focus groups are perfect for engaging with smaller and more targeted groups of people. Check out the images below for some tips on organising one yourself 👉

14/11/2023

Most weeks in the Connect the Dots office include some chat about what we’re reading 🤓. This week’s pick from Nicola is particularly relevant for anyone interested in improving their hosting skills – whether in a formally facilitated workshop or just a gathering of friends!

‘The Art of Gathering’ by Priya Parker sets out ‘a human-centred approach to gathering that can help us create meaningful, memorable moments’. Scroll through for a summary of some key insights…

Have you read this book too? Let us know what you thought of it in the comments!

08/11/2023

Today is World Town Planning Day! Good planning is essential in making the places we live, work, and play better for everyone – we think it’s great that this important discipline is given the recognition it deserves!

This year at Connect the Dots we have been lucky enough to be involved in lots of different town-planning projects including initiatives in line with Department of Rural and Community Development policy, Village Design Statements developed from The Heritage Council Toolkit and Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning to name just a few! In September, our co-founder Naomi was also invited to speak at the RTPI Ireland Young Planners Conference about effective public engagement.

We really value our relationships with town planners and others who are passionate about planning, and are glad to see that community engagement and input is increasingly valued as an important element of the process.

17/10/2023

Have you ever needed to find a good workshop activity for a large group of participants? The World Café Conversations method is perfect for engaging large groups, whatever the topic at hand. Check out some tips on how to use this creative consultation tool in your next workshop!

02/10/2023

We've been working on some really interesting projects lately, so the team took some time to reflect on our collective challenges and learnings. Read our latest blog to get our insights into the best approach to consultation on this complex and emotionally charged issue.

Have some tips you want to add? Share them in the comments!

21/09/2023

On Monday we were in with Codema (Dublin's Energy Agency), brainstorming how the community can reduce carbon emissions. Community engagement over the next few months will result in a plan to eradicate emissions in Ringsend by 2050! 🍁 🌳

Stay tuned!

We are humbled to work with such a tight-knit and motivated community! 🧑‍🤝‍🧑

07/09/2023

Every great community idea needs support to make it a reality, so we want to help highlight some of the diverse funding opportunities available to communities around Ireland.

First up is the Community Recognition Fund, launched this year by the Department of Rural and Community Development, specifically to support communities across the country that are hosting International Protection Applicants (IPAs) in their town or village. Funding has been provided for community infrastructure projects such as new playgrounds and sports facilities that benefit the whole community.

We think this initiative is a great way to recognise and celebrate the efforts communities have made in welcoming IPAs, and will hopefully help with the integration process for new arrivals. We've previously worked on projects that aim to better understand the experiences of IPAs through the full process of arriving in Ireland and integrating into their new communities. We're looking forward to sharing the combined findings of these pieces of research soon!

Find out more about the Community Recognition Fund here: https://www.gov.ie/en/news/e0843-community-recognition-fund-50-million-to-support-areas-that-have-welcomed-new-arrivals/

01/09/2023

We're all about that work-life balance, so yesterday we treated ourselves with a CtD Team Day Out! Our wonderful Orla organised a walking tour with another local social enterprise, In Our Shoes Walking Tours. Anthony gave us a fact-packed tour of the Liberties, sharing local history and highlighting some of the rapid changes and pressures the local community are facing today. We finished up with margs and pizzas in Lucky's 🍕🍸

If you're in any way interested in the history and present day stories of Dublin, we highly recommend you book an In Our Shoes tour. The project is supported by Robert Emmet CPD and provides training and employment for Dublin 8 locals, and is also importantly an absolutely lovely way to spend an afternoon!

17/08/2023

We spent an amazing few days down in Clare with Common Knowledge this summer, running workshops with an inspiring group of LGBTQ+ people with an interest in climate change to co-design a prototype climate action toolkit. The HomeWorks toolkit is now ready to be trialled and Common Knowledge are looking to expand the project by inviting all kinds of community groups looking to take climate action to apply to their upcoming residency!

Pilot projects for HomeWorks will receive a fully-funded 5 day residency at Common Knowledge for 1-2 people, with travel, accommodation and food covered. Pilot projects will also receive €500 seed funding and incubation support from the Common Knowledge team. This second HomeWorks residency is open to representatives from all community groups and will take place from October 9 - 13th 2023.

Find out more on how to apply here: https://www.ourcommonknowledge.org/homeworks

15/08/2023

Our US side have recently created a conflict management guide called Connected & Directed. The guide will equip you with essential strategies and tools to navigate conflicts effectively in the context of public engagement. Many of the strategies in this guide are building blocks for creating positive, transformative interactions.

In the Guide:
- Understanding causes of conflict
- Developing your skillset & mindset
- Planning public events: steps to take before and during events
- New approaches for group settings
- Taking care of your team
- Resources including a pre-event checklist, facilitator worksheet, draft event ground rules, and more!

Download the guide and watch the accompanying Webinar here:
https://connectthedots.us/conflictguide/

09/08/2023

National Heritage Week begins this Saturday 12th August, with over 1,000 events organised by local community groups and volunteers across the country.

Programmes such as Heritage Week do an amazing job at connecting people with the places they live, and building relationships within communities that can last well beyond the scheduled events. It should serve as great inspiration for anyone involved in public engagement in Ireland, by showing the passion and interest that exists in our communities to get involved with community gatherings and issues.

Check out the event listings and see what's happening in your own community!

National Heritage Week, an initiative by the Heritage Council, celebrates all things heritage. It brings together communities, families, organisations, cultural institutions, academics and enthusiasts, to build awareness about the value of heritage and support its conservation.