Personal narratives/political lives: personal reflection as a tool for collective change

Community development is committed to a more just, equitable and sustainable world. This vision is driven by a greater urgency as we face the crises of our times. The practice of a more just society starts in the personal everyday experiences that shape people's lives. Creating reflective learning contexts which connect deeply personal experiences with profoundly political consequences leads to the critical consciousness needed for collective action for social change. It is this dynamic, personal narratives—and in particular the role of story in the process of action for change—on which I concentrate here.