In this first of three conversations between Peter Westoby and Richard Warner we scaffold the conversation acknowledging that the two cooperatives we work for - Community Praxis Co-op and Nundah Community Enterprise Co-op - are celebrating their 25th year anniversaries. We link the celebration with the 50th anniversary of E. F. Schumacher's Small is Beautiful (1973) - 'economics as if people matter'. Richard then shares the story of the co-op, moving from:

- the micro-level of stories/listening to people's lived experience,

- to the mezzo-level of a small group of people living with cognitive and intellectual disabilities experimenting informally with work,

- through to the macro-level of structuring and registering a formal cooperative - and being a catalyst for social procurement with Brisbane City Council.

From small, to nearly a $2 million annual turnover and 50+ people employed (35 with cognitive and intellectual disabilities), the co-op is an inspirational story of social enterprise developed 'by the people'.

For further details check out: https://www.communitypraxis.org/ (and particularly the Community Enterprise Initiative link) and also www.ncec.com.au/.

In this 5th and final episode on Three Rivers Flowing, Dr Lynda Shevellar officially launches the book through a delightful conversation with Peter Westoby. Taking some slightly new angles Lynda explores 'Why Now?' with Peter (why did you write this book) and what it can offer community development practitioners. There's a fresh exploration of what the phenomenological step means, how we practice 'sitting on the rim' (both inside a social process, yet trying to observe it), and we see 'whole systems' shaping our practice.

In this 4th episode on the book Three Rivers Flowing Rachael and Peter explore the fourth and final elemental - expanding consciousness. In this episode Peter explains how expanding consciousness requires: 1. Historical work - seeing how the past haunts and makes sense of much of the present; 2. Humble work - to see with others is a necessity (alone is very limiting); 3. Holistic seeing - moving from the parts to the whole (in a group, community, organisation, social systems such as patriarchy) and 4. The hermeneutic reversal (shifting from wilful seeing/sensing to receptivity with all the disruptions that might unfold).

You can purchase the book here or where all good books are sold.

The book will be launched in Brisbane on Tuesday 18th April 2023 from 5-7pm in New Farm. RSVP details here

In this 3rd episode exploring my new book Three Rivers Flowing, we talk about the practice of aliveness and what it means in the social field. Being both in the moment and in movement, as well as setting/holding a clear intention are crucial. Sitting on the rim between plans and being responsive and receptive indicate a quality of alive social practice. The conversation then explores what it means to work from the inside-out as opposed to importing or imposing social packages onto groups, communities and organisations. We finish with 'touching the whole' as a key part of aliveness.

You can pick up a copy of the new book at the following link or from most book retailers

https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Phenomenological-Reflective-Practice-Ecological/dp/0367631288

In this 2nd episode on Three Rivers Flowing, Peter discusses Elemental One on observation and developing the faculty of seeing and sensing and their importance in the social and ecological fields.

The book can be purchased from all major book retailers:

https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Phenomenological-Reflective-Practice-Ecological/dp/0367631288

In this first of 4 conversations, Peter shares what the three rivers are of Three Rivers Flowing - dialogue, soul and reflective practice. Rachael asks about the meaning of phenomenology and what it can mean in the social field. The history of the book, linked to The Proteus Initiative and Allan Kaplan's Artists of the Invisible are explained. The book is being launched in Brisbane on April 18th so get in touch if you'd like to come along (or check out Peter's Linkedin), or purchase the book via Routledge: https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Phenomenological-Reflective-Practice-Ecological/dp/0367631288/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1675567654&sr=1-12

In this second twenty minute conversation, Cormac explains the three-fold compass of the book: Discover, Connect, Mobilise; and the seven key functions of a community (you'll have to read it folks). Interwoven wth stories and ideas, this conversation has got me off to my local library insisting that the book is available there for local residents and citizens to read. 

In this 21 minute episode, Cormac introduced us to his 'writing practice' (an unplanned conversation) and then the key intentions of this new book. Albeit, Peter sees it as a comprehensive 'resource' for mobilising citizen action in neighbourhoods. Cormac is the founder of Nurture Development, and he works locally and globally. More information about this new book is available here: https://theconnected.community/

This 23 minute episode, a conversation between Peter and Jacques really goes to the heart of some contemporary challenges. The 'social' world of community sits 'between' the individual and institutions. Yet the social is being eroded. Linking the phenomenon of social media to the decreasing capacities for attention and presence, we explore how to restore respectful relationships in a caring economy. Questions are asked such as, how do we reinvest in time in places, relationships, conversations with full presence? Why is this so important? How do we restore the quality of the social-community spaces? I felt super alive in this conversation, now challenged afresh to put my 'smart' phone aside and be with people/place. 

In this 23 minute conversation Jacques and Peter respond to the question posed in the 1st episode - what is a new story for our economy? As such we explore the 'story' of a caring economy - and riffing off the new book The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by David Graeber and David Wengrow, Jacques provides an historical overview and invites us to think about a different kind of relationality - with one another and nature.