A New Year's Message and Birthday Wish From Our Principal
By Cara-Marie Findlay
FHG Principal Consultant
Happy 2021 Everyone
...and Happy Birthday Findlay House Global!
January 1 is a special day for many reasons, even aside from the new year, it’s the day that Haiti—the first Black republic—was born, after a revolution that defeated imperial France; Sudan, French Cameroon, Brunei and the Czech Republic also gained their independence on January 1 as well.
The first of January also has special meaning for Findlay House Global (FHG). Although I started my journey as an independent consultant and contractor back in January 2012, FHG officially became an LLC on January 1, 2019.
We’re celebrating our birthday all month long, and our birthday wish includes you!
For too long, terms like: agency, activism, community development, economic development, international development, government policies, have been made to feel as though they are beyond comprehension for the average citizen, no matter the country.
And the fact is, “development” affects everybody.
Every country, regardless of its economic status, is engaged in some form of development—be it the expansion of infrastructure or the expansion of human rights.
FHG is working towards ensuring our birthday wish comes true! We want greater numbers of underrepresented people to lead, speak, engage, and respond to the development dialogue and planning process taking place at different levels—locally, nationally and globally.
Development in our cities, neighborhoods and villages, “community development,” should not be happening without us. We should have a say in the decisions being made that will affect us and our families, especially those of us who have found ourselves being marginalized, underserved and underrepresented.
FHG is ready for 2021, and we are committed now more than ever to making greater numbers of people aware of the sociocultural conditions that shape our lives; and the possibilities of their transformation, especially through the levers of development and social change—academia, policymaking and practice.
We’ve even updated our handle on Instagram and Twitter to @repower_intldev, to better feature the stories and work of the people, communities, and organizations that inspire us to change the face of development so that the development sector is led and owned by impacted peoples, until ultimately it is no longer needed.
If you’re curious about our use of the word Re-Power, you can read more about our Re-Power Development℠ Framework here.
I’m so grateful for all the awesome partners who have entrusted us with their projects so far, and I’m looking forward to the new partnerships and new projects on the horizon!
But most of all, I’m thankful for the AMAZING individuals who make up FHG’s team! Each of you show up with equal parts dedication, innovation and excellence, and FHG wouldn’t have made it to this point without you. The best way I know to thank you for your labor of love is to work hard so that we continue to rise together and can bring more likeminded people with us. Thank you for not only believing in me and the mission and vision of FHG, but for making FHG your own. I will be forever grateful.
This is just the beginning!
One behalf of the entire FHG team, here’s to a happier, healthier, and more prosperous year!
May 2021, be our best year yet!
One love,
Cara-Marie Findlay