Community Animator's Note: In 2014, Tamarack invited a small group of individuals to participate in a new Thought Leader Initiative. The purpose was to establish a council of advisors to support the development and growth of Tamarack's three learning communities: Tamarack CCI, Vibrant Communities Canada and Seeking Community. Learn about Elayne and the ideas she is exploring below and share your own questions and reflections with Elayne by posting a comment.

My first introduction to Tamarack was four years ago at a Communities Collaborating Institute (CCI) week-long summit. I’d just jumped into a new position heading up a co-ordination model for 12 community agencies. In truth, I had no idea what I was doing but I was excited and willing to give it a try.  That first CCI event gave me clues and directions that have stuck with me and I chase many of them still. I’ve attended 4 of these Institutes now and it's become a week that I depend on. It challenges my perceptions, I learn new skills, and it softens me. Being in the presence of so many change-makers is humbling and inspiring and I leave a little worn, completely challenged, and invigorated for the year to come.

I learned a great question at that first CCI, and it’s now a favorite of mine: “What brings you to this work?”(Peter Block).  I like asking it because I am curious by nature and no two stories are ever the same, which I find infinitely interesting. Stories feed my imagination and give me pause to tumble around in the magic of our shared possibilities. The question highlights each person’s idealism in action; that vision of what is possible, and our desire to make a difference, which always requires daring action. 

I would consider myself as a bit of a daredevil and the act of saying “yes” to the charming and convincing Liz Weaver to become a Tamarack Thought Leader was a huge leap for me. I am actually terrified. But, I trust in the intention and support of this posse of bright minds because they are very clever. I bring creativity and out of the box thinking to the gang. I’ve been wearing 3 hats for 25 years: visual artist, community advocate and business person.  The first 20 years of my working life were focused in arts education and cultural advocacy and the past 5 have been in the career and employment sector. I am not interested in busy work or status quo; I want different now and I am willing to work at it. 

The three topics that I you will see in my blogs are:

1.     Exchanging tacit knowledge through communities of practice - Through my work with the Community Career and Employment Partnership (CCEPP.ca) I will share what I am learning as I host career practitioners in a monthly community of practice called the Yakety Yak Conversation Cafe.

2.     Driving innovative attitudes across community agencies – Using the 5 principals of innovation I will share the challenges and opportunities in working differently for greater community impact. This means challenging attitudes and my own assumptions when hosting community agencies and building partnerships in other sectors.

3.     Knowledge democracy through creativity and visual expression – I am playing with visual note-taking and graphical recording in an effort to strengthen our collective ideas. It is something that just makes sense to me as a visual person and it can bridge literacy gaps, which I believe is inherently democratic. 

I will share my creativity with you as I muddle, stumble and sometimes race though collaborative practice. I will do my best to be honest and perhaps you could share with me too.  I love a good story.