ABOUT

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In order that I might make the most productive relationship with those who seek information, support, whatever via RNA – Ray Norman Advocacy – it is necessary for me to talk about my 'purpose, objectives, rationales and strategies' hopeful in a way that facilitates productive relationships and better understandings.

PURPOSE 

To facilitate more inclusive understandings of local governance, 'place', PLACEmaking and 'placedness'.

OBJECTIVES

• Assist members of a Community of Ownership and Interest  (COI) develop proactive engagements with local governance;

• Assist in the facilitation and development of 'people driven' and community focused projects;

• Assist people in the establishment of diverse and expansive community networks;

• Assist in the development of PLACEsensitive projects that build and engage with Communities of Ownership and Interest;

• Assist in the development of inclusive CULTURALlandscapes – precincts, neighbourhoods, environments, STREETscapes, PLACEmarkers, etc.

RATIONALES

• The full spectrum of, and layering of, Communities of Ownership and Interest is all too often are left out of, and sometimes quite deliberately, those things that shape and create 'placedness';

• The 'people' who initiate projects are informed by imperatives other than those things that engender 'placedness'. Such things are commonly expected to give way to the imperatives of 'stakeholders' with vested interests. These factors are sometimes/often in conflict with community focused imperatives and cultural sensitivities and sensibilities;

• All too often people in diverse groups and particular communities lack established and expansive community networks which in turn isolates and insulates them from mainstream 'conversations'. Consequently they need proactive assistance in order to have their voices heard;

• All too often in the development of a project with  PLACEsensitivity, 'placedness',  such a concern is not on the agenda. Often this is because meaningful and inclusive engagement with the full spectrum of the Communities of Ownership and Interest is seen to be 'too difficult' resulting in mediocrity and lightweight outcomes so very often;

• Again, all too often the development of inclusive CULTURALlandscapes – precincts, neighbourhoods, environments, STREETscapes, PLACEmarkers, etc. it is seen to be 'too difficult' to engage with the full spectrum of the Communities of Ownership and Interest almost typically resulting in mediocrity and lack lustre outcomes.

STRATEGIES

• Assist in the initiation of PLACEaudits purposed to identify the layering observable in a Community of Ownership and Interest, in order that those things that shape and create 'placedness' can be proactively facilitated and adequately articulated.

• Assist 'people' who are initiating a project in ways that assure that they are informed by imperatives that engender 'placedness' and 'inclusiveness' in order that these 'factors' can be more successfully 'marketed'. Likewise, via 'community driven' social media strategies etc., assist in identifying those things that are sometimes/often in conflict with the imperatives cum cultural sensitivities and sensibilities attributed to people imagined to be 'outsiders'.

• Given the diversity of options and opportunities afforded by DIGITALtechnologies and 'social media' assist people in groups and particular communities to established and build expansive, and ever expanding, community networks. Moreover, assist in identifying those things  – ie. conflicting value judgements – that isolate and insulate people/groups from mainstream 'conversations' in order that their 'group's' voices may be heard and enabled to break down barriers – bureaucratic, financial, cultural, whatever.

• Assist in acknowledgement of PLACEsensitivities relative to 'placedness', and in particular putting such concerns on the agenda and having them proactively pursued and widely published. Meaningful and inclusive engagements with Communities of Ownership and Interest need to to be 'trusted' . Consequently, quite often there will be a need to assist people/groups in identifying the potential for mediocrity etc. and thus a need to develop 'marketing mechanisms' that facilitate a community's and/or various communities' concerns towards realising better outcomes.

• Where and when appropriate assist in the generation of funding and/or facilitate the 'marketing' the concept of inclusive CULTURALlandscaping. And especially so when it is argued that getting adequate funding is 'too difficult' to source. Currently there are often new options available that planners et al are disinclined to follow up on for reasons of expediency or preconceived opinions.

• Assist in generating and proactively developing networking  processes that are aimed at 'purposefully' building open and transparent interfaces between kindred networks within communities – locally and elsewhere.

• Assist, and where appropriate facilitate, individuals and/or groups to proactively establish independent forums that in turn initiate open and ongoing 'open community review processes' such as 'citizen's assemblies/juries' relative to 'place', PLACEmaking, PLACEmarking and CULTURALlandscaping.