Conflict and Change

A Community Conversation was held in Forest Gate to offer local people concerned with recent violent attacks in the area a chance to come together to talk and find ideas towards ensuring a safer neighborhood.

There was a horrific attack on a shopkeeper in a local Forest Gate shop that touched our volunteer Khalid very personally.  He was walking with his children past the shop a few hours later and they could see the blood.  Khalid felt that it would be helpful for local people to have the opportunity to share their reactions and emotions in a Community Conversation and once he had the go-ahead he personally arranged the venue and publicity. 

 

We ran two Conversations that brought together a diverse group of neighbours, most of whom had not met each other before.  The shopkeeper next door to the attack also came along.



Time was given to hear from each person and about the range of thoughts and emotions since the attack and the real impact on them.  As always, the facilitators ensured that the person knew they had been heard, accepted and understood.  Time was given for smaller groups to think about their ideas and these were shared and Khalid took the notes with him.  Everyone wanted to meet again, found the time valuable and gave Khalid their sincere thanks for having the vision to set up the meeting.

Here are some comments to the final go-round – “what I found valuable”:  Kelvin – lots of love for the local community, Muhammed – it was helpful meeting people who care.  Delores – people took the time to come, this shows the community is worth saving.  Muna, who had to leave early sent an email saying: ” I thought the way that Conflict and Change organized the session was good it, gave people the opportunity and the platform to voice and air their concerns, views and got feed back about it as well in terms of the emotions that people had felt to make more sense of it.”