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Welcome back to The Connected Community podcast. We’re your hosts, Cormac Russell and Sacha Dewolfe, and today we are diving deep into the heartbeat of local copoerativism, exploring a movement that has quietly anchored Irish communities for generations.

When you think of a financial institution, you might think of glass skyscrapers, sterile apps, and shareholders demanding profit. But there is another way. Today, we are talking about the power of the Credit Union—not as a place of charity, but as a fierce engine of mutual solidarity.

To map out this preferred future for Ireland, we are joined by two extraordinary leaders from two very different landscapes. We have David McAuley, CEO of Donore Avenue Credit Union, nestled right in the historic, urban heart of Dublin 8: The Liberties. Donore Credit Union holds a legendary place in Irish history; founded in 1958 by a small group of visionary volunteers, it became the very first credit union to open its doors in Ireland, proving that ordinary people could successfully manage their own financial destiny when they pooled their meager resources.

Representing the vibrant rural west, we also welcome David O'Donnell, CEO of Loughrea Credit Union in County Galway. Loughrea’s roots tell a different, equally vital story. It was established in 1966 in the face of biting economic poverty, at a time when small Irish farmers and local families faced a wall of closed doors and skyrocketing interest rates from mainstream banks.

Together, our guests show that whether you are on a Dublin street or a Galway farm, the answer to tough times is the same. It lies in the ancient Irish tradition of the Meitheal—the ethos of neighbors pulling together to bring in the harvest when the storm rolls in. We think they are not just telling an Irish story of connected communities, but, as they say themselves, a global story of a movement for economic justice that just needs to remember its origin story and its values of community-led financial sovereignty.

Grab a cup of tea and join us as we discuss history, cooperativism, and how remembering our origin stories can help us build a more connected, self-reliant tomorrow. Let’s dive in.

1. History of Irish Credit Unions: https://www.creditunion.ie/blog/the-story-of-the-credit-union/

2. The story of Donore Avenue Credit Union (Dublin 8)-The First Credit Union in Ireland: https://donorecu.ie/about/the-story-of-donore-credit-union

3. The Story of Loughrea Credit Union, Co. Galway https://naomhbreandancu.ie/about

4. Social Return on Investment (SROI) is a principles-based framework for measuring and quantifying social, environmental, and economic value. Unlike traditional financial accounting, it assigns a monetary value to "soft" outcomes (such as improved well-being or reduced carbon footprints) to evaluate an organization's holistic impact.

5. Chats in the Flats https://dublinpeople.com/news/dublin/articles/2026/05/06/chats-in-the-flats-giving-dublins-working-class-a-voice/

6. Video footage of Chats in Flats (Dublin 8): https://www.youtube.com/@chatsintheflats

7. Naomh Breandan (Loughrea) Credit Union, Community focused efforts: https://naomhbreandancu.ie/community

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Hey friends,

It's been a while. In this episode, Prof. Mike Fox is back to tell us what he has been up to in the field of Engaged Learning, and Sacha shares some reflections on her trip to Paris, where she recently presented a paper on her work. Cormac also explains why there has been a hiatus in episodes and shares his recent journey with cancer, and reflects on what he has learned as a patient of the service system.

Welcome back, everybody.

Sacha and Cormac

References:

Lessons from the Heat Waves in Paris

2. Suspending Damage:
A Letter to Communities
EVE TUCK
State University of New York, New Paltzo

3. Caring Bridge: https://www.caringbridge.org/

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Our latest episode is “All our Relations: Town and Gown”.

In this episode, Prof Michael Fox, Dr Sacha Dewolfe, and Cormac Russell explain why they have decided to develop a new online course to enable Universities and educational institutions to better align with communities.

Mike has nearly five decades of academic and practical experience in community-engaged learning.

Sacha is the cohost of this podcast and is well known to our listeners. She is passionate about desire theory and indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing.

Cormac is also a cohost of the podcast and is passionate about Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD).

Together, Mike, Sacha, and Cormac explain how the wisdom traditions they each represent interweave in their new course.

We’ll share further details on our socials in the coming weeks. For now, we hope you enjoy our conversation about why we think there needs to be better alignment between universities and communities and how to achieve it.

Show notes:

1. in discussion we mention Saint Community approach to Physical Education: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38990196/

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Glyn Butcher - People Focused Group. Doncaster

Glyn Butcher is a remarkable individual who transitioned from decades of institutionalization within mental health and other service systems to become a prominent community builder and advocate for Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) in Doncaster and across the UK.

Main Themes and Important Ideas:

1. The Harmful Nature of System-Focused Care and Institutionalization: Glyn spent over 40 years in various institutions (mental health, drug and alcohol, police, child welfare), experiencing a loss of identity, agency, connection, and a profound sense of worthlessness.

2. The Transformative Power of Kindness and Being Seen as a Person: A turning point for Glyn was the experience of being treated with genuine kindness and being seen as an individual with valid and valued thoughts and feelings, not just a diagnosis or a problem. This shift was a catalyst for his journey towards recovery and community.

3. The Central Role of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD): ABCD provided Glyn with the framework and principles to understand his own potential and power. It spurred on his own desire to connect with the communities in truly meaningful ways. Today, Glyn is active in peer mentoring and support and is a driving force at the People Focused Group in Doncaster.

4. Shifting from Being Needy to Being Needed: A key aspect of Glyn's work and the ABCD approach is the transformation from being a recipient of services (seen as "needy") to an active contributor to the community (being "needed"). This shift is deeply empowering and enables individuals to recognize and utilize their gifts.

5. The Importance of Language and Narrative: Glyn highlights how the language used by services and society can define and limit individuals, particularly those with diagnoses and who have been marginalized. Reclaiming one's own narrative and challenging negative labels is crucial for living a free, democratic life.

6. Reverse Mentorship and Systemic Change: Glyn actively engages in "reverse mentorship," where his lived experience informs and influences leaders and professionals within the systems that previously institutionalised him. His work aims to humanize services, change policies, and shift the power dynamic better to foreground community voices and choices, and wisdom.

7. The People Focus Group Model: Glyn is a core member of the People Focus Group, the group embodies the principles of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) by providing a welcoming space where people who have been marginalized are treated with dignity, have their basic needs met (food, clothing), and are supported to identify and contribute their gifts to the community.

Call to Action:

Glyn's parting message to us all at the end of the episode is a powerful call for individuals and communities to:

• Stand together and be present in their communities.
• Share their gifts and skills.
• Recognize their inherent power and do not give it away.
• Ensure their voices are heard.
• Educate ourselves about ABCD and person-centered approaches.
• Understand ourselves better and reframe perceived "disabilities" as "superpowers."
• Be kind to yourself and others.

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In this episode, we ask: What do you think communities are for? Sacha shares some reflections from the field and speaks openly to Cormac about some of the fundamental dilemmas and frustrations she, her team, and her students encounter when working in community-centered ways.

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In this first episode of season 2, we interview Dominic Cardy, the leader of the Canadian Futures Party, a former member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick (2018-2024), and a provincial cabinet minister (2018-2022). Sacha and I asked Dominic to explore how politicians can support communities in their efforts to connect and grow civic muscle in responding to a wide range of sociopolitical and economic challenges affecting their day-to-day lives and the future of our planet. In this interview, Dominic shares a wealth of experience and deep care for communities alongside a sharp analysis of political systems and how they must improve to better serve citizens and their communities.

Show notes
Hirst, B.(2021). For The Love of Community Engagement: Insights from a personal expedition to inspire better public participation. Tablo Publishing.

Perry, B. D., & Szalavitz, M. (2006). The boy who was raised as a dog and other stories from a child psychiatrist's notebook: What traumatized children can teach us about loss, love, and healing. Basic Books.

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Sacha wishes to correct her wording around a program being offered at Mount Allison Univeristy. There is work toward a Master of Community Supported Education not a Bachelor of a community Engaged Learning.

Rene Girard’s Mimetic Theory:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimetic_theory

Mattering Theory:
https://www.goodlifeproject.com/podcast/the-psychologists-guide-to-living-a-good-life-through-mattering-wellness-fairness-isaac-prilleltensky/

Jamie Vollmer: Schools Can’t Do it Alone:
Vollmer, J. (2010). Schools cannot do it alone : building public support for America's public schools. Fairfield, IA: Enlightenment Press.
https://www.jamievollmer.com/product/part-memoir-part-field-guide-a-message-of-hope/

Soft White Underbelly
Laita, M. (April 24, 2016). Soft White Underbelly. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
https://www.youtube.com/c/SoftWhiteUnderbelly

Natoaganeg First Nation
https://natoaganegfirstnation.ca/

Canadian Welding Bureau
https://www.cwbgroup.org/

The Anxious Generation
Haidt, J. (2024). The anxious generation: how the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness . Penguin Press.

The Lure of the Local
Lippard, L. R. (1997). The lure of the local: senses of place in a multicentered society . New Press.

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6 Degree Shift
https://www.6degreeshift.com/

Truth & Reconciliation (TRC)
https://nctr.ca/about/history-of-the-trc/trc-website/