About ITAT
It Takes a Town (ITAT) was launched in March 2017, with funding from the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation. We launched the same weekend that the devastating flooding of Cyclone Debbie hit our region. The generosity that followed the floods provided the perfect segue for ITAT. We didn’t have to educate anyone in the 2484 postcode area about the benefits of generosity and responsiveness, we were seeing it in action before our eyes. ITAT helped to keep the door of generosity and responsiveness open, after the crisis ended.
Since launching in 2017, over 1100 residents have become members of ITAT. One third of these have offered their resources and skills for sharing in the local area. Over 80 local schools, tertiary institutions, businesses, groups, clubs, churches and spiritual movements, sporting groups, government agencies and services, are also engaged in activating our shared vision of thriving for all. ITAT provides a platform for collaboration within our community.
As a result of a community-owned approach, over 21,000 hours of contribution by residents, businesses and students, have been activated through ITAT towards the common-good.
To name a few examples, this contribution has come in the form of:
supporting vulnerable families and older people,
supporting households impacted by the 2022 floods,
sharing skills through workshops,
transportation,
tutoring,
home maintenance,
and the planting of a trail of shared fruit trees.
People are asked to contribute ACCORDING TO WHAT FEELS GOOD! They are asked to be ‘response-able’ to each other, rather than ‘responsible for’ each other. Contribution on your own terms, for as short or as long as it feels good.
ITAT is all about growing permission and confidence to act. We want new leaders to emerge, who in turn can generate more opportunities for people to thrive.
ITAT will back anyone who has an idea that can contribute to thriving or wellbeing in the local area, whether it be social, environmental, economic or cultural. This backing of individuals has led to 31 new initiatives, projects and businesses being launched in the local area, benefiting everyone.
It Takes a Town has helped to strengthen trust in the 2484 postcode area.
We know this, because levels of trust in 2020 were 36 percentage points higher than the national average. We’ve achieved this by talking-up stories of contribution and sharing. ITAT has also helped to grow a culture of generosity and responsiveness in the 2484 postcode area. We know this because 98% of participants in a 2020 survey (n=350) said that they are “very likely or likely to help an unknown neighbour in a crisis”.
ITAT has generated over $1 million in funding and donations for the 2484 postcode area. 100% of all donations have gone directly to residents needing support or pursuing aspirations.
Donations have supported 17 vulnerable children to attend pre-school. A further 280 children benefitted from financial contributions towards the cost of schooling and/or activities. Approximately six hundred families and 470 individuals were engaged and/or supported as a result of locals sharing their skills, time and knowledge. And several hundred people were supported following the 2022 floods.
Who is behind ITAT?
Lots of people who live and work in the 2484 postcode are behind ITAT. Over 1100 residents are members, and from time-to-time different people lead initiatives or provide support to others, under the ITAT banner. Paid members of ITAT are the smallest part of the team, and solely exist to provide backbone support and leadership to a movement made up of locals.
Carmen Stewart is the designer and activator of It Takes a Town. Prior to ITAT, she designed and managed Making Places, an initiative which engaged over 6,000 young people in imagining safer, healthier and more sustainable futures for communities in South East Queensland and Melbourne. She was the 2021 recipient of the NSW Woman of the Year for the Lismore Electorate. Carmen now leads Imagine 2484.
Carmen has a Masters in Applied Science (Social Ecology) and a background in community, not-for-profit and government sectors. She has worked as a consultant for the past 21 years specialising in project design, community engagement, community development, facilitation and strategic planning. She is a futurist with a passion for community-led change.
Liz Reimer has voluntarily provided theoretical and research knowledge to support the development of ITAT. Described by Carmen as part of the ‘brains trust’ for ITAT, Liz uses her experience as a practitioner and academic in the fields of community development and child and family welfare to contribute ideas, and develop research evidence for the impact of ITAT on the 2484 community. Liz has a PhD in Social Work and Social Policy, which she draws on to ensure ITAT is evidence-informed in its practice.
Our approach
It Takes a Town (ITAT) utilises both asset-based community development (ABCD) and collective impact approaches. The premise of ITAT’s design is that by flipping the ecological model and focusing on community at the centre, we can create localised cultures that turn-on protective factors for everyone. We know that government and services alone cannot respond to the entrenched social and environmental problems that are growing in our nation and world. Whether it be climate change, domestic violence, homelessness or poverty, these issues can only be resolved through deep collaboration at a local level, between diverse sectors and interests.
ITAT is all about finding points of shared mission so everyone can contribute to shared wellbeing according to their abilities, knowledge, resources and interests. When taking this approach at a local level, we all have something to offer and something to gain.
This is what’s different about the ITAT approach:
People want to contribute, but typically the vehicle for contribution isn’t obvious. ITAT instigates, attracts and holds contributions.
Social change comes about as a result of focusing on what we ‘want more of’, not by focusing on problems. ITAT amplifies a focus on our shared well-being, activating ideas and change within community culture.
Services often ask people ‘what do you need?’ ITAT asks ‘what can you contribute?’ This is the starting point of generating untapped resources and a culture of contribution.
ITAT isn’t aligned to any ideologies or sectors. We’re in a unique position to bridge difference and connect people around points of shared mission.
ITAT doesn’t mention volunteering. We have generated over 19,000 hours of free input by asking people to contribute according to ‘what feels good’.
ITAT identifies people with the potential to act on behalf of our common good. We support these people with a ‘light touch’ to get good things started.
ITAT ‘talks-up’ stories of contribution and generosity. These stories wake-up the desire to be generous, connected and to matter within community.
ITAT’s focus on growing a culture of trust, generosity and responsiveness is a mission that connects to the hearts and minds of many. Even the name ‘It Takes a Town’ elicits vision and energy.
Due to ITAT’s broad focus, we are able to act as an umbrella to multiple initiatives that generate well-being. We have provided back-bone support to many new initiatives that are in turn attracting funding and creating impact in the local area.
If you’re interested in knowing more about the design of It Takes a Town, check out our logic model.
Our sponsors and backing support
ITAT is backed and auspiced by The Family Centre, which is a progressive, community-owned, social purpose organisation. The Family Centre creates opportunities for children, young people and families, increasing social value in the communities of Tweed, Byron, Ballina and Southern Gold Coast. For more information visit www.thefamilycentre.org.au
It Takes a Town (ITAT) was launched with support from the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF), which provided nearly $500,000 in funding from 2016 to 2021. We are extremely grateful for their support, trust and flexibility as ITAT grew and changed shape over the funded period.
ITAT has also received funding from the Northern Rivers Community Foundation (for Side by Side program), NSW Health (for the 2020 Healthy Town Challenge), Dick and Pip Smith Foundation (for a fund to support vulnerable families), itv Studios (for Front Fence Free Food Share) and ClubGRANTS (for Skillshare). Importantly, ITAT and the residents it has supported, have been financially backed by locals to the tune of approximately $250,000.
Finally, Southern Cross University has been a significant supporter of ITAT. Fifteen students have contributed their time, knowledge and passion to the delivery of ITAT. Senior Lecturer, Liz Reimer, has contributed her head and heart to guiding ITAT in its evolution since 2016. Liz is a core member of the ITAT team.