Community Development Expert, Jim Diers a leading authority on developing sustainable communities, visited Sligo recently to a wonderful turnout with communities from Cranmore, Mail Coach Road, Northside as well as O’Kane Culmore Residents from Omagh in attendance.
This cross community/border event was part financed by the European Union’s Peace and Reconciliation Programme and the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2000—2006 through Border Action.
Jim Diers shared his experiences from around the world, from New Zealand, Australia and North America. He worked as a local community officer and organiser before his local Council headhunted him to become a head of Seattle’s Department of Neighbourhoods. His work became a model of best practice from communities all over America.
Jim shared some very interesting stories where communities and local government accomplished much more by working together than they ever could working separately. Jim said that he found the commitment of our Sligo and Omagh communities in working together and with local government a great inspiration to him. He would like to thank all those he met over the visit and appreciated everything that was done to make him feel so welcome.
