Mita Williams is a doer.
She missed Agenda Camp at the Art Gallery of Windsor in 2008, like myself, and has always been a fan of connecting with peers to solve problems in her own community.
Change Camp, an event that has happened all over Canada, was something Williams heard about on CBC Radio’s Spark. The interview spurred her to eventually gather some like-minded Windsorites and host a Change Camp in her hometown Windsor.
Jean Foster (Windsor Public Library), Art Rhyno (Leddy Library), Nicole Noel (Social Justice Research at University of Windsor), and Mita Williams have planned for an unconference to take place this Saturday, May 8th at the Windsor Public Library that you had better be at…if you think you have something valuable to offer Windsor.
The big question going into the unconference is, “How would we re-envision Windsor for the future?”
As all participants are expected to do, you simply register and show up with your thoughts and ideas about making WIndsor better…in ANY way.
People can spontaneously choose to lead a talk based on a topic suggested by the crowd. If a suggestion for a discussion topic is liked enough by the group, it is chosen as a break-out session where interested participants can join in on the discussion with four happening at a time. The law of two feet is in effect for these discussions- if you don’t like the discussion, or the way the group is headed, you can leave and go to another discussion area where they might be dreaming about something you’re more interested in.
A moderator will be present to direct traffic.
Discussions will be the focus in the early part of the day (beginning at 9am). Turning those ideas into action will be the focus of the latter part of the day (afternoon).
At most conferences, the real connections and discussions happen during the coffee break. Change Camp is ALL COFFEE BREAK. All peer-to-peer. No one is greater than anyone else. While there are experts in the group, everyone has equal say in various matters.
Topics may include: How to lure businesses into the downtown core (property tax breaks) / Sharing open governement data online / Bike transport realization / Local food tourism movement / Arts and culture as an economic engine in Windsor / Bridging the gap between post-secondary education and the citizens of Windsor / Bridging the gap between Windsor and Detroit / Developing a true environmental plan for Windsor Essex / Green job creation – AND MUCH MORE. WHat topic do YOU think should be discussed at this unconference?
This event is non-partisan. It’s free. Connecting is the key. It’s about participation in civic life outside of (and within) local government. And it is meant to lead to actual, real-life changes in the City of Windsor.
If you don’t come, you don’t connect with others who want change in the city. Then you’re left telling your uninspired friends about how much you wish this would change or that would change…when people who are willing to MAKE change are meeting in the city’s core, waiting for your opinion…waiting for your input.
Listen to Mita Williams talk about Change Camp in this video.
Anyone who registers at http://wechangecamp.ca by Wednesday afternoon receives a free lunch!
Tags: art rhyno, change camp, interview, jean foster, leddy library, mita williams, nicole noel, unconference, video, Windsor Public Library
There is free WiFi at the Central Library and all Windsor Public Library locations, so bring your laptops, smart phones etc.
There are two ways of accessing the WiFi this Saturday at Change Camp, either through your Windsor Public Library card with a PIN number or if you are not a member of WPL and don’t wish to register for a library card, go the Circulation desk on the main floor of the Central Library and the staff will issue you a temporary pass for the day.
See you there on Saturday!!