The paradoxes of public life are not only a powerful tool for making sense of how we might make a difference, they offer a way of thinking that help us reflect and deepen how we work with others in a variety of settings.
In research and policy making, people are turning to approaches such as co-design, community-led research and person-centred design to more actively involve people in the process of developing knowledge. In the language of Conscious Tribes, these are strategies for building knowledge “with” communities.
Working with Marc Stears and others, Amanda has sought to translate community organising and its paradoxical approach to community-engaged research.
She has used this approach to underpin the Real Deal for Australia project, that for more than six years has working with regional and marginalised communities to develop community-led climate transition policies and solutions (for more here).
She has also co-authored a key theoretical piece on the relational method with Marc Stears (UCL Policy Lab), unpacking its history, outlining the approach and what it offers to researchers, policy makers and universities.
