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"To catalyse is to activate and synergise so that the result is more than the sum of the contributing parts. Very often almost no trace of the catalyst is visible, except to those most closely involved."
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WHY WHAT HOW WHO
WHY CATALYSE?
We work with you to imagine and create good lives that matter in your place. For each and all, people and planet
We exist to co-create a more equitable, inclusive and flourishing Aotearoa. We believe in a society where everyone - each and all of us - as well as the places we are in has the capacity to adapt, thrive and flourish. Our work tells us that this is a shared vision, and many people in many different places across Aotearoa are determined to achieve it in ways that matter to them.
For us, to catalyse is to be an agent of change, to accelerate and transform. Like a catalyst, we work with and for people and the places they are in – in neighbourhoods, organisations, businesses and government - to make the places we are in, the best places they can be. Every person is different, every person has potential. As does every place. We accelerate the conditions for positive change, ensuring local people are both at the centre of decisions that affect them and that they are actively involved in the creation of local changes.
For us, to catalyse is to be an agent of change, to accelerate and transform. Like a catalyst, we work with and for people and the places they are in – in neighbourhoods, organisations, businesses and government - to make the places we are in, the best places they can be. Every person is different, every person has potential. As does every place. We accelerate the conditions for positive change, ensuring local people are both at the centre of decisions that affect them and that they are actively involved in the creation of local changes.
WHY WHAT HOW WHO
what we do
At Catalyse, we inspire, support, enable and facilitate change at a local level.
We help people to vision and plan and to understand the differences their activities are making. We like to experiment and always have a few of our own going on as well as contributing to others’.
Most of all, we help to activate groups of people to achieve the changes they want to see in their place. We do this in ways where people who live, work and play in a place also lead the changes in their place, alongside others.
This way many local voices contribute and local people get to know what’s happening, what works, what they want more of and what to let go of in order to create the kinds of places and lives they want together.
Read more about our recent Projects
Most of all, we help to activate groups of people to achieve the changes they want to see in their place. We do this in ways where people who live, work and play in a place also lead the changes in their place, alongside others.
This way many local voices contribute and local people get to know what’s happening, what works, what they want more of and what to let go of in order to create the kinds of places and lives they want together.
Read more about our recent Projects
WHY WHAT HOW WHO
HOW WE DO IT
We start with you, where you are and what you already have.
We value your knowledge, experience and expertise, and that of those around you. We help draw this together in cohesive and purposeful ways.
We build on what you already have and add to it. We use our extensive networks to generate relationships both within and from outside of your community to help you to sustain what you value collectively and create change in areas you want to improve. We also help you to trace the outcomes your contributions lead to and to understand what the key ingredients to these have been so you can repeat and evolve what works, as well as change what doesn’t.
We share what we learn by profiling those we work with and highlighting what is happening, what is working and what differences are being contributed to.
Read more about our Services
We build on what you already have and add to it. We use our extensive networks to generate relationships both within and from outside of your community to help you to sustain what you value collectively and create change in areas you want to improve. We also help you to trace the outcomes your contributions lead to and to understand what the key ingredients to these have been so you can repeat and evolve what works, as well as change what doesn’t.
We share what we learn by profiling those we work with and highlighting what is happening, what is working and what differences are being contributed to.
Read more about our Services
WHY WHAT HOW WHO
WHO WE ARE
We are a collaborative network. We bring together a wide range of facilitators, organisers, creators, researchers and evaluators to co-develop approaches with you to create the changes your community collectively wants to see in your place. We also build the capabilities of those in your communities as we go, so the skills for creating positive change take root and grow in ways that work best for you.
One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things
- Henry Miller |
DENISE BIJOUX - NETWORK DIRECTOR
Denise is a visionary community activator with extensive practical and strategic experience in locally-led transformation, community building, placemaking, research, facilitation and evaluation. She has a proven track record working with communities and groups as well as iwi, hapū, organisations, government and business. Denise works in ‘ako ako’ ways (we are all teachers and learners) and focused on inspiring, activating and understanding locally-led change. Denise runs Catalyse and supports communities in her other roles too. Denise is a Regional Director for Oceania at the International Association for Community Development (IACD), a founding member of Placemaking Aotearoa and a Regional Network leader at PlacemakingX. She was the founding Chairperson of Gribblehirst Community Hub, a former Board member of the Jeder Institute, coordinated The Exchange Collaborative and is the founder of Morningside Urban Market Garden. Denise was a recipient of a Winston Churchill Fellowship in 2012 and co-authored a book on locally-led change in Aotearoa called Learning by Doing. Denise advocates for participatory approaches to community building and draws on a variety of regenerative frameworks. A key element of her work is contributing to the development of people-centred, locally led change through creative, flexible and collaborative ways of partnering with communities and organisations - awhi mai, awhi atu. She believes in investing in people as much as projects and enjoys sharing community-led approaches and experience from across Aotearoa as well as helping to bring some of the wealth of information from all over the world to those working and living in community-led ways here. You can contact Denise at denise@catalyse.co.nz or connect via LinkedIn. Read more about our Recent Projects. |
CATALYSE TEAM
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Sofia Gelman, Communications Advisor:
As a PR practitioner I’ve learnt from experience that clear communication is often the key to success. I have worked with a number of enterprises and NGOs and seen how much power communication can have, so I decided to use my skills to do only good. Then I joined Catalyse and happy since then! Being a part of Catalyse’s journey is a privilege as we support other people in the positive changes they make in the world and are involved in many wonderful projects with a long-lasting impact. I learn, I share what I know and we are better together. You can contact Sofia at sofia@catalyse.co.nz or connect via LinkedIn. Ella Pooley, General Assistant: I was born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau and this where my passion for politics and social justice was cultivated. After graduating from University of Auckland with a degree in Political Science and feeling a little like a compass with no direction, I got involved volunteering at Belong Aotearoa. Through my work there I grew my understanding of the importance of community development and fostering change at a community level. This growing passion led me to Catalyse where I am excited to learn, make new connections and promote positive change. You can contact Ella at ella@catalyse.co.nz or connect via LinkedIn. |
