MSF statement of intent 2010

6 July, 2010, Draft version 1.2

The MSF has undertaken a new strategic pathway following a comprehensive review in late 2009. This document is a statement of intent regarding the vision that emerged, its design and potential implementation.

1.The MSF aims to partner, work, teach, and consult with a wide variety of groups to create open spaces to facilitate collaboration, interlinking and innovation. Traditionally, the MSF has endeavoured to bring the whole activist community together. This new ‘consultancy’ role means that the MSF supports other groups to create open spaces for mutual learning and collaboration. While this does not preclude the possibility of running a Melbourne Social Forum, the emphasis is on supporting other groups and efforts to expand their networks, build and host spaces of collaborative inquiry and action, within various thematic and organisation terrains.

2.MSF will undertake a new focus on strategic interlinking of struggles and projects of change. In the past, MSF has cast the widest possible net, by hosting large events and keeping the forum open to all who want to contribute. A new focus on ’strategic interlinking’ means the MSF aims to focus on those thematic areas or locales that need greatest support, networking, and collaboration across groups and organisations. This may mean focusing on particular themes (water, media, fair trade), or on thematic clusters, to enable greater coherences there.

3.A new focus on social innovators and the enabling of social innovation. MSF has attracted those striving to create alternatives that are more just, more sustainable and fairer than current ways of living. We consider those innovators to be the ‘critical reference group’ of the MSF and aim to find ways of supporting them in being more effective in the world.

4.The MSF aims to strengthen its core group of organisers, by holding events and workshops in which the MSF invites people to join the MSF and effectively contribute to its projects.

5.The MSF aims to create a paid role that is able to support recruitment, volunteer management, outreach, networking, and project management. This role will be part time.

6.MSF aims to nurture volunteers and student placements. In the past, MSF has received great offers of support from volunteers, and wants to find meaningful and exciting ways to make use of this enthusiasm, for the benefit and education of all.

7.In addition to supporting other organisations in developing collaborative processes, the MSF envisions holding (facilitating) smaller, more thematically focused events that allow for strategic interlinking.

8.The MSF aims to conduct ‘Social Change Mapping’ exercises, in order to keep abreast of issues across the many thematic domains of concern – social, ecological and other. Such mapping processes will support the MSF in points two and seven.

9.The MSF sees the possibility of moving outside of its traditional locale of work (Inner city Melbourne and CBD) and supporting the strengthening of communities across Victoria and elsewhere. This means the MSF can help support (through consulting) the setting up of forums in regional areas and cities, as well as outer suburbs of Melbourne.

10.The MSF also sees as important and worthwhile supporting initiatives like an Australian Social Forum, and regional forums such as the proposed Island Nations Social Forum.