Learning as we go: A note on learning in the open
Cath McNally
We don’t have it all figured out, that feels important to say up front. What we’re doing with the Community Leadership Collective is new. We’re working across communities, across differences and across geographies. Together, we’re trying to build something that reflects the hopes, realities and wisdom of the people shaping it.
This is not a polished blueprint. It’s a learning journey. And we’re choosing to learn in the open.
That means being honest about the fact that we’re still finding our way. It means sharing not just the outcomes, but the sticky questions, the moments of insight, the human messiness, the joy, and everything in between. Because learning doesn’t just sit in formal evaluations or tidy summaries – it lives in conversation, in collaboration, in the unexpected things we make and discover together.
You’re reading this because we want to document the process as it unfolds. Each story we share will capture a part of that journey, from the energy in the room to the deeper reflections that emerge as we go. This first piece sets the scene. There will be more – snapshots, learnings, and lessons as the Community Leadership Collective comes to life.
We believe this matters, not just for us, but for others trying to build things that are shaped by community and rooted in care. So here it is: learning in the open, starting with the first gathering of the Collective.
