About
Ubuntu Community Cabane is a one year community of practice formed by a local small group of community keepers, co-facilitated by Nikki Martin-Bynum and Allison Pinto. It is an opportunity to develop an intimate, reflective approach to collaboration among “community keepers:” those particular individuals who are devoted to the good of the community as a whole, as neighbors and people who work in local organizations and philanthropies.
This small group approach to collaboration is designed so that there will be:
A cadre of valued local community keepers who are buffered and nurtured through a time of tremendous uncertainty and divisiveness in the U.S.
The coalescing of a diverse group that develops a shared orientation to community change, mutual trust, and changed power dynamics that can catalyze transformation to bring about collective thriving.
Transformation that begins with:
Shared insight that shifts the collective mindset in the local community
A demonstrated stance that draws together a growing diversity of community keepers
Tangible action that improves local conditions, opportunity landscapes, or policies.
Community keepers will explore resources and methods to enhance their efforts in relation to these questions and topics:
How might we take up our role in ways that build upon our love of our community and our strengths? (agency, attachment and assets)
What networks are we part of?
What is our diversity?
What is distinctive about the place that is our neighborhood and community?
How did we each arrive here? (migration history and narrative)
What is the journey of navigating joy and heartbreak in our community? (stress, loss and trauma)
Who and where and how are the children of our community?
So what might we do now? (collective decision making and tiny initiating events)
Nikki Martin-Bynum
Nikki is the child of immigrants, a sister to 8 siblings, an auntie to 40 nieces and nephews, mother to one and Terrence’s wife. She is a certified Jersey girl despite living in Florida for over 15 years. With formal education at Temple University in African American Studies it was there her identity as a Community Keeper–those who act in service of the highest good of their community–was forged. Read below to explore how Nikki shows up as a Neighbor, Community Partner and Philanthropist.
Neighbor: As a South Florida resident for over 15 years, Nikki centered her resident identity while living in
Community Partner:
Philanthropy: Nikki's seven years of experience working with a government entity that closely resembled a philanthropic organization provided her with unique insight into family foundations, health conversion foundations, and xxx foundations. This experience stemmed from the entity's partnerships with organizations that were formally recognized as part of the philanthropic sector. Despite formally leaving the field, Nikki's community and neighbor identity remained central to her values. As a result, she was asked to become a founding member of Dismantling Racism in Funder Land in Palm Beach County, a network of philanthropists seeking to challenge the status quo.
nicole@centeringcommunity.com
Phone: 954.399.1386
Allison Pinto
Allison lives in the Bayou Oaks neighborhood in the Newtown community of Sarasota, Florida, where she takes up the role of neighborhood auntie and grandmother. She works with people in various sectors to translate systems thinking and complexity science, to better understand and navigate equitable community development and collective thriving. She is also a clinical child psychologist with an emphasis on Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. The role of community keeper / place-based practitioner has great meaning to Allison, as one that has combined personal, professional and spiritual significance. Click here to read more about her journey.
Allison lives in the Bayou Oaks neighborhood in the Newtown community of Sarasota, Florida, where she takes up the role of neighborhood auntie and grandmother. She is a clinical child psychologist with an emphasis on Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. She also works with people in various sectors to translate systems thinking and complexity science, to better understand and navigate equitable community development and collective thriving. This has led her to focus on the role of neighbors and neighborhoods in children’s mental health and community well-being, developing place-based approaches that follow the lead of neighborkids, and facilitating various resident-led community change efforts. She has worked together with fellow residents and local institutions in her home neighborhoods in Newtown, Sarasota and South St. Petersburg, has partnered with residents and organizations in the rural, multilingual community of Wimauma, Florida, and has facilitated collaborations involving local communities and statewide agencies as well. The role of community keeper / place-based practitioner has great meaning to Allison, as one that has combined personal, professional and spiritual significance.
allison@centeringcommunity.com
Phone: 727.225.9362
Choosing inspiration over competition builds a stronger community and a healthier way to do business.
We are all longing to go home to some place we have never been — a place half-remembered and half-envisioned we can only catch glimpses of from time to time. Community. Somewhere, there are people to whom we can speak with passion without having the words catch in our throats. Somewhere a circle of hands will open to receive us, eyes will light up as we enter, voices will celebrate with us whenever we come into our own power. Community means strength that joins our strength to do the work that needs to be done. Arms to hold us when we falter. A circle of healing. A circle of friends. Someplace where we can be free.
~Starhawk
