Clair Slade’s Post

INGEUS 4th the value of lived experience event! So, this week I was planning to start publicly advertising tickets for the next Ingeus Lived Experience Event. However, after sending initial invites out, we have had to open a waiting list already! With just under 4 weeks to go, there is still time for tickets to become available so please use the link to join the waiting list: https://lnkd.in/dNHtHJ4i Ingeus will once again be busting myths around employing those in our communities who have lived experience of the criminal justice system. Ingeus have booked Sunderland City Council, City Hall which has a capacity for 200 people. Guests will be able to hear from inspiring speakers, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and connect with like-minded individuals. This in-person event is a unique opportunity to gain insights, share stories, and learn from others' experiences. We are delighted to have Helen Judge, HMPPS Area Executive Director for the North East, chairing one of two panel discussions. We will be sharing more details over the next few weeks as we lead up to the event. Here's what attendees at our three previous events said: "This was definitely a great event setting out to do what it said on the tin with the knowledge and experience of Timpsons, Greggs and Unlock." "Everyone makes mistakes. Allowing second chances promotes a diverse employment strategy for change and inclusion." "More diverse teams make the best teams." Employing someone with a criminal record can provide: "Inspiration. Hope. Empathy. Commitment. Loyalty!" "Thanks for inviting me. It was inspirational and eye-opening. A really valuable session." "It was memorable, moving, and inspiring, a real highlight. I loved the fact it was led by the service users themselves and very much focused on their stories. It felt authentic and real, and helped overcome my own misconceptions and dare I say it, judgements. In that sense, it had a profound impact on me". #weareingeus #enablingbetterlives #sunderland #employability

Live in the #WashingtonDC region? Like #democracy? Here are two quick, fun things you can do right now to strengthen democracy: (1) RSVP now for the first #DemocracyFestival in the #DC region, tentatively scheduled for Sat Oct 19, and (2) share this message with your Linkedin network.   https://lnkd.in/eMFqBMXa We're aiming to gather at least 2,000 RSVPs by DemFest this Oct, and we've got a long way to go, so your help is much appreciated.  In this historic election year, and at a time when American democracy is facing serious challenges, Learning Life is organizing DemFest to help widen citizen participation by making democracy more fun, less fractious. RSVP'ing doesn't commit you to anything. It just allows you to get email updates periodically on our progress, like when the location and date are set, and when tickets go on sale. Tickets will be cheap -- likely $3 and $5 for kids and adults in advance, $5 and $7 at the door -- with all proceeds supporting the growth of an inclusive, engaging, nonprofit #DemocracyLearningCommunity in the DC region. More details below.  ATTEND OR TAKE PART IN THE DMV DEMOCRACY FESTIVAL Dance, flowers, marijuana, beer and wine all get festivals. If democracy is so important to Americans, why don’t we have democracy #festivals every year in towns and cities across the country? If Washington DC is the capital of our country, and democracy is central to American freedom, why does DC have folk life, kite flying, and cherry blossom festivals, but no democracy #festival? Learning Life, a DC-based educational nonprofit, is organizing a DMV Democracy Festival or DemFest tentatively Sat, Oct 19, before the Nov elections. We’re aiming for a festival with a range of engaging activities for youth and adults, including arts performances, exhibits, game rooms, workshops, discussions and a democracy market. We are currently identifying a range of festival partners, including artists/performers (teachers and students especially encouraged!), workshop leaders, panelists, moderators, exhibitors, vendors, sponsors, donors, evaluators, and more. Beyond RSVP'ing, if you or your organization would like to play a part in DemFest, fill out this brief partner interest survey: https://lnkd.in/eB7WPDyg You can also join us in-person before DemFest at our last Democracy Dinner before DemFest on Saturday, August 24, 6-9pm in DC, to mingle, dine, learn more, and discuss how you'd like to be involved in the Festival. RSVP for the Dinner here: https://bit.ly/RSVP2024DDs Patrick McDermott, Anika Manzoor, Audrey Banks, Nichola Dyer DeAnna McCall, LMSW, Hasan Shah, Jim Schulman, Caitlyn Shrewsbury, Hogan Joo, Deli O., Ben B., Erica Bruton, Kurt Elftmann, Maebelle Faragallah, Mary Margaret Dineen, Trey Webb, Anthony Rodriguez, Wretam Purkayastha, Sunny Kim, Vinay Orekondy, Caleb Christen, Chris Blackwood, Jennifer O. Leshnower, Laurie Cooper, Nikki Hinshaw, Sara Romeyn, Ph.D., Lena Morreale Scott, Lorelei Kelly

Who will join me on March 22nd at the InspireMe Latina Summit at the Hartford Convention Center? I am so excited to announce that I will be one of the panelist at the Summit. What is the InspireMe Latina Summit? Who can attend? It is open to everyone. It is a moment to Cultivate and Celebrate Our Brilliance. https://lnkd.in/e3P4_GWR Embark on an exciting journey of self-discovery... You will Uncover: >>How to Unlock the Power of Discovering Your True Self through >>Understanding Your Unique Identity, Culture, Values, and Purpose. >>How to Engage in Meaningful Conversations and Create Real Connections. >>Understanding How Personal and Social Biases Hinder and Impact Your Confidence! >>How to Deal with Imposter Syndrome (IS) and its debilitating effects. If you have ever experienced self-doubt and felt like a fraud, you may have encountered it. Let's dig deeper into these fascinating and thought-provoking topics that are bound to change your perception of life! Register EARLY now to take the first step towards unlocking your full potential... https://lnkd.in/e3P4_GWR Join us, and you will find a safe space for: >>Personal and spiritual growth. >>Self-reflection to encourage curiosity. >>Creating meaningful conversations and connections. Cultivating awareness. >>Encouraging taking personal responsibility for your life. >>Celebrating your brilliance. I hope to see you there. And if you can't make it, share this with someone you feel will benefit from attending. https://lnkd.in/e3P4_GWR Register today and take advantage of the early bird special. ** IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A SPONSOR, REACH OUT TO ME.**

Enjoy the great #vibe of Society 5.0 Festival all over again with this wonderful #aftermovie❤️❤️. And reconnect with the feeling of #agency that we can indeed (re)shape if, when and how we use #technology to drive #transformation through some nuggets of wisdom: Miriam Rasch: "All relations that we have are mediated by technologies. So, how we make up those technologies influences our relationships." Monika Jiang: "..the good thing about care and nurture is that we do not need external things to do that. We don't need technology, we don't need another app, we don't need a lot of money or time. It is something that we inately have." Arda Awais and Savena Surana: "One thing that we were really struck by when talking about transformation in the digital space was scale, and being completely okay with transformation being small." Maria Farrell: "The internet is something that we make every day. We can make a different form of internet. And when we do it collectively, it will transform not just the internet itself, but the entire social fabric. And for the better." See you again next year? 😉

My fave thing about last week's Elevate Festival was the Braindate by e180 function on the event app. Braindate lets you: - Create your own 1:1 discussion and meet with someone interested in your topic - Create a group discussion where a group joins to discuss your topic You agree on a meeting time via the app and you get a designated meeting place where the Braindates are taking place. 2024 is my networking era (I've been to 20+ panels, roundtables and conferences this year alone), and I think what most events get wrong is the lack of ways for attendees to truly connect. For me, small, targeted discussions with fellow creatives and founders are not just networking opportunities, they also open up my mind to possibility, growth, and how to build differently. It's so much easier for me to connect with people if the connections are facilitated because 1) I'm an introvert and 2) 90% of the time, I know nobody else in the room. I asked other Braindate peeps why they were at Elevate this year, and they told me: - To connect - To see what others are working on - To get connected to new opportunities - To see if we have opportunity to build together I think most people, like me, attend events for the same reasons. Attending events are more meaningful for me when I actually get to talk to these people, and our floor for discussion is already set up for us!

Event

As I wrap up week 4 at Real Life Options, attending the recent My Voice conferences in Dunfermline and Newcastle has been an eye-opening experience. These events have given me a deeper understanding of what Real Life Options truly stands for, and I’m even more excited to help drive our marketing forward. One key takeaway from the conferences was the conversation around employability for the individuals we support. Listening to those who have found work and hearing how much it enriches their lives—giving them a sense of purpose—was incredibly inspiring. But equally moving were the stories from those who are struggling to find employment, despite their strong desire and passion to contribute. It’s disheartening to hear that so many feel ignored, but I’m proud to see Real Life Options exploring ways to help people with disabilities seek and secure meaningful work. I feel privileged to be part of an organisation so committed to giving people the support and opportunities they need to live fulfilling lives. My aim now is to help Real Life Options raise awareness of all the incredible work we do to empower individuals and champion their independence. I can't wait to get started! So, for my connections reading this: If you haven't already, please follow Real Life Options and give their posts a thumbs up. Help us make a difference by sharing the work we do and amplifying our message. Together, we can make a real impact! #followus #like #makeadifference #charity

More often than not, we take risks with our events. We recently ran Empowered Portraits, our boldest event to date. It was a photoshoot experience with a twist - one that takes away the awkwardness of being in front of the camera, and turning that into an empowering reflection of self. When we saw what our participants had to say... - Loved connecting with like-minded ladies who are incredible and excelling in what they do. - It was so beautiful to get a glimpse of ourselves through the eyes of others and being able to speak life into others - This event is for anyone seeking meaning, direction, self-love and reflection We knew that taking those risks was worth it. It's easy to go the tried-and-tested road of following someone else's playbook. But Our Curiosity Collective started out as a means to seek clarity through community, focusing on issues that are personal yet universal in today's modern society. Every event is built with lots of heart, using our experience as a foundation and our imagination as the spark. We are constantly asking ourselves. What if we tried another way? What if we explored a new idea? What if it works? We have ran enough events to know that something works. And when it does, it's truly magical.

🎤 Message from CEO David Sargent and Deputy CEO Jean Trench: As we reflect on the recent My Voice conferences in Dunfermline and Newcastle, we are filled with an immense sense of pride and admiration for all those involved. These events have not only showcased the incredible journeys of the individuals we support, but they have also served as a powerful reminder of the diverse and meaningful lives they are leading—whether through employment, volunteering, or the pursuit of new hobbies and passions. The voices we heard at these conferences were both moving and empowering. They embody the core values of Real Life Options: honesty, respect, excellence, and responsibility. Every person who shared their story has contributed to a broader conversation about inclusion and choice and the varied ways people live fulfilling lives. It is a privilege for Real Life Options to support them on their paths. We also want to take this opportunity to thank the phenomenal support workers whose unwavering commitment ensures that each individual is given the chance to thrive. Your dedication truly enriches the lives of the people we support. Finally, to the My Voice Working Group, your tireless efforts in bringing this event to life cannot go unrecognised. These conferences and the continuous work to deliver our MyVoice surveys have provided an invaluable platform for self-expression, and your work in making that possible is a testament to your passion and belief in everything that we set out to achieve. Let’s carry the energy and insights gained from these inspiring events into the coming year as we continue to champion the voices of people we support and introduce the changes shared. Onwards and upwards.

Manchester Tech Festival Founder and all-around excellent human posted today about 99 Second Talks. Below is the reply I added to her post. It could be useful if you're on the fence about public speaking. If you could also add your advice and encouragement to her post, that would be awesome pals (with luck you should see it linked below)! ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ To build on what Amy said above, here are two things that will make it easier to do. 𝟭) 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: The organisers and attendees of MTF want you to win! Speaking in front of a supportive, encouraging crowd helps take the edge off. And if I'm there, I'll be your personal cheerleader (although FYI - I cannot promise pompoms 😅). 𝟮) 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: One great format for this is 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵. This format is perfect because it's based on your personal story, real-world experiences, and personal anecdotes. It's much harder to be challenged about being "right" or "wrong" when you speak from your own experience and share your own insights. Here's how you apply these to Amy's negative self-talk examples above! 🐝 "𝙄'𝙢 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙨𝙝𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙖 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠": See 1) & 2)! 🐝 "𝙄'𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚": See 1)! 🐝 "𝙉𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄'𝙫𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙮": See 1) & 2)! 🐝 "𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙛 𝙣𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙩?": See 1) & 2)! 🐝 "𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙚": See 2)! HTH 🙏🏾 https://lnkd.in/e2aWVP9U