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UrbanSeed News

  • Fresh food in Norlane
    January 17, 2012
    Urban Seed's Norlane based social enterprise cafe Urban Bean was approached by a local organisation looking to open a fruit and veg shop in Labuan Square. We were excited to be able to offer them some space to set up and they opened on their shop '5 and 2' last Tuesday for the first time. They have had a fantastic response from locals, with lots of people enjoying the opportunity to get some fresh produce. Urban Seed Executive Director Chris Lacey visited last week and was delighted by the buzz the shop is attracting. Well done to Tony Venz and the other folks at Norlane for getting it all up and happening.





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  • Making friends at home and abroad
    January 12, 2012
    Recently I returned from backpacking throughout Asia for the Christmas holiday period. This followed a one year term working as the Philanthropic and Corporate Engagement Coordinator at Urban Seed – an experience which has been enlightening and joyous. Although I was travelling alone for much of my travels I did not feel alone at any stage and had a wonderful time. Many times a simple smile on my behalf led to the making of brand new friends. In the span of one month I had positively engaged with a great many people from cultures that were both local and from abroad. Entering into such an easily accessible and friendly community was an energising experience.

    On my return to Melbourne I attended the famous Melbournian music festival Summerdayz to see my brother DJ. Feeling excited by my recent trip and the great connections that I had so easily made while in Asia, I was confident that I could meet and connect with fellow Melbournians – while meeting friends and family a little later (in the 100,000+ audience!). However, the adventure of meeting new people seemed a great deal more difficult at this concert in Oz. Although I have worked with many communities in Australia, I have always noted this to be a normal and typical experience when trying to freely meet and connect with people on a greater level in Melbourne. Recently a close friend and long-time socialite informed that I could not go out to places individually as I would ‘lose worth’ when meeting new people and thus find it incredibly difficult. 

    I wonder if the prosperous Melbournian life that many of friends from overseas seem to be so jealous of has made many of us a little less friendly to strangers and more tightly connected to our own inner-circles. I’m sure that my own experience is not always the norm, but I must say that I have never felt alone whilst travelling or living in Asia.

    I value and appreciate the work of Urban Seed because they work hard to crack such boundaries to create a space for those without such luck to have found close friendships, family or to be a part of an ‘inner-circle’. I must say that I’ve never felt unwelcomed nor experienced being an outsider during the times that I’ve shared a meal at Urban Seed’s Credo Cafe – whether I am wearing a suit or shorts and a t-shirt. I hope that I can continue to access these welcoming communities in Melbourne – or follow the Urban Seed philosophy and seed my own.

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  • Credo Christmas 2011
    January 10, 2012
    It was a warm afternoon in Melbourne’s Fitzroy Gardens as the whole Credo community celebrated Credo Christmas 2011. Phil Yew, Urban Seed’s Street and Hospitality Coordinator, led a nativity play involving the children before the community enjoyed an abundant barbeque spread. This year Urban Seed resident Laurie Foster and Phil Yew fulfilled the traditional lolly man duties, while the rest of the afternoon was devoted to cricket and frisbee. Thanks to all who helped to make Credo Christmas a warm and welcoming occasion, and thanks to all those who continue to make our work possible.



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  • What does it mean to win by a nose?
    November 16, 2011
    Every year the Credo community goes on a Cup day picnic down by the Yarra and this year saw 20 or so folk gather in the laneway to take our trolleys laden with wonderful things to eat and drink over to our spot by the river. We chose a nice piece of flat grass, close to the playground and set out our blankets hoping the overcast sky’s promised rain would hold off, and it did (thankfully). This gave us plenty of time to toss the frisbee and have a hit of cricket in between snacks and conversation. No one was quite sure when the race was on so we actually missed the start as we casually wandered up to the big screen in Fed Square - but we were there for the photo finish and to see Dunaden win by a nose.


    This then raised for me the question : “What does it mean to win by a nose?” To barely succeed. You’ve got to feel for that horse who came second right?

    As a community development organisation Urban Seed receives funding from a variety of sources and with each we have accountability and reporting responsibilities where we let our supporters know how their contribution to our work has been used and its effectiveness. It is sometimes hard to provide measurable results – Do numbers of participants in our programs actually help in understanding the work that we do? It is a particular measure which tells a story but on the ground the story might be supporting someone through rehab and the long process of find a place to live. Or helping someone with court warrants get to a place where they are able to take responsibility for their actions and turn themselves in and then going with them while they do that. How do we describe that win in a grant acquittal?  Sometimes backing the people we connect with every day can be a long shot, not necessarily great odds but we take the bet anyway... and sometimes a dark horse comes from nowhere and teaches us anew that the capacity for change sometimes arrives unexpectedly.

    The margin of success is a small one - we may not win by a landslide, or even a length, but we often win by a nose – and that is perhaps the more extraordinary thing – searching within yourself for the strength to stretch beyond your reach. Someone with a gambling addiction sharing jam scones by the Yarra instead of taking a punt on the Cup? That’s a win.

    If you are interested in supporting the work of Urban Seed please consider giving a one-off or monthly donation through GiveNow.

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  • Q&A on Collins 2011 a great success
    November 01, 2011
    Asking the question, “What makes a livable city?” the Urban Seed/Collins St Baptist Church combined event Q&A on Collins was an engaging and entertaining evening. Despite a couple of last minute panel dropouts including Adam Bandt being stuck in Canberra due to the baggage handlers’ strike, the Q&A format again provided a forum for discussion of issues vital to Melbourne. Ranging from the perils of engaging strangers at the supermarket, to issues of poverty, rioting, and the global Occupy Together movement, the topics of conversation were varied and current. In response to Jon Faine's question "What makes Melbourne livable?" Susan Carland said, "There's an opportunity for a sense of belonging for everybody," Urban Seed Executive Director Chris Lacey was a late inclusion to the panel but turned out to be a highlight with his extensive on the ground experience. "A big thing that makes livability is a sense of community and connection," he said. "And that's what Credo is all about."
     
    Thanks so much to all who made it a great night –
     
    Panellists: Susan Carland, Simon McKeon, Corinne Grant and Chris Lacey.
    Moderator Jon Faine
    Mallesons volunteers who along with Credo Team served food to guests
    Credo Team whose generous hospitality continues to be top rate.

    A podcast will be available soon so check back for more!

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  • Urban Seed Newsletter_September
    September 26, 2011


    Just it case you missed it, here's our September newsletter - our four times a year newsletters include invitations to special events, stories from our communities and details of our advocacy work. There will be opportunities for you to get involved, make poverty personal, and financially support us in building communities of healing hope and justice. Click here to sign up.
    September Enews.pdf

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  • Bible Studies: City from Heaven or City from Hell? Cities in the Christian Scriptures
    September 16, 2011
    Our Church Engagement Coordinator Christop Booth and former Urban Seed resident Andreana Reale will be running a series of five weekly Bible studies looking at how cities are portrayed in the Bible, and comparing the cities of the Bible to our own city. They will be held at Collins St Baptist Church at 7pm on Wednesdays beginning September 28th. The Facebook event can be found here.

    September 28 - Eden to Egypt
    October 5 - Refuge and Exile
    October 12 - Jesus and Jerusalem
    October 19 - House churches in Rome
    October 26 - Babylon and the New Jerusalem

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  • Gembrook Retreat
    September 16, 2011
    We at Urban Seed are lucky to have developed a partnership with Gembrook Retreat: a partnership enabling us to offer day & weekend trips out of the city for homeless & marginalised people.  Sometimes a bit of space is good to physically get out of a rut, find peace, reconnect with the land – a wonderful venue, the Retreat centre offers seperate cabins in addition to the main house, there are chickens and goats and a place for a campfire. We can collect chestnuts for roasting, balckberries for jam or, at this time of year, pick waratahs... there'll be a Waratah Day on Saturday 15th October from 11am - sewing activity :: sketching competition :: campfire and, of course, flowers to take home - come and enjoy the waratahs in full bloom!  For more information call Gembrook on 5968 1211 or email.

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  • Reclink Footy Grand Final
    September 16, 2011


    Once again on a sunny September day the world stopped (well some bits of it anyway!) for the famous Reclink Footy Grand Final on Wednesday. A number of friends from the Credo Community played with the teams Living Room Roar and the Sacred Heart Hearts. So we took Credo lunch to the Grand Final for the day to cheer them on! The day provided a great opportunity to support fantastic athletic talent and celebrate heartily and joyously with many. This is an important event, bringing all sorts together from AFL celebrities to dogs and babies and larrikins - a day jam-packed with all the spirit of any AFL grand final... well, almost! Congratulations Reclink on putting on such a significant cultural event offering hospitality to all-comers - a real taste of the Kingdom of God! And thanks for allowing the Credo Community such a fun day together! It even inspired some of our old timers to consider tying on the footy boots again next year and giving it their best shot!







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  • What makes a liveable city?
    September 08, 2011

    Q&A on Collins returns on the evening of Thursday October 13th - make sure you keep it free! Jon Faine (ABC 774) is moderating, and the panel includes Australian of the Year Simon McKeon, comedian Corinne Grant, CEO of the Committee for Melbourne Andrew MacLeod, Boonerwrung elder Aunty Carolyn Briggs, Muslim academic Susan Carland and Federal Member for Melbourne Adam Bandt.

    Since the Melbourne was recently annouced as the "Most Livable City in the World," we will be asking the question, "What makes a liveable city?" You are invited to take part by submitting questions related to the topic to ask on the night. Send your questions to qandaoncollins@urbanseed.org or submit them via Twitter or Facebook.

    The event will be held on 13 October, at Collins Street Baptist Church. Doors open for finger food at 6:15pm, and the forum will run 7-8:30pm. Entry is by a $12 donation, and all proceeds go to the work of Urban Seed.

    You can download a copy of the flier here, events like this ensure Urban Seed's grassroots approach to advocacy continues to speak into the public arena so please tell your friends about it!

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