Vital Village Voices
Talking together, thriving together
“How do we think our way through the messes we’re in when the way we think is part of the mess?” - Nora Bateson
Warm Data Lab - South Perth, Western Australia
A Moment of Noticing
A few days ago, I found myself in a conversation that shifted something inside me. It wasn’t about fixing, debating, or strategising. It was just a moment of noticing—sitting with a question, letting different experiences touch and shape each other. By the end, I didn’t have answers, but I had something just as important: a fresh way of seeing.
It happened after a morning walk on Shoalwater Beach with a friend. We bumped into a few of her friends, and as we stood talking in the sunshine, I shared a little about Vital Village Groups—a growing initiative to help communities become more connected and resilient. These small, local groups offer a way for people to build relationships of mutual support in ways that feel natural and sustainable.
One of the women responded with a story that resonated deeply. In Melbourne, a large organisation had realised how disconnected its employees had become since Covid. Wanting to rebuild social bonds, they introduced a simple yet powerful practice called Take a Break.
Each week, four randomly selected employees meet for half an hour, guided by three conversation prompts. They take a photo for a shared album, and over time, this small ritual is helping strengthen relationships and grow friendships in the workplace.
As we stood there reflecting, another woman shared how parents at her children’s school once gathered naturally at pickup and drop-off times, forming a strong web of support and friendship. But after the pandemic, even when restrictions lifted, that organic practice never returned. Policies had shifted, habits had changed, and a small but important piece of the social glue was lost.
Likewise, with so many workplaces now offering remote or hybrid options, casual interactions with colleagues have faded. The everyday moments that once built relationships—spontaneous chats by the coffee machine, a quick hello in the hallway—have quietly fallen away.
Something in me shifted as I listened. These stories of disconnection and reconnection weren’t separate from Vital Village Groups—they were deeply intertwined. They reinforced something we’ve been exploring: meaningful relationships start within the communities we already belong to.
Workplaces, schools, neighbourhoods, hobby groups—these are our natural spaces of connection. But due to Covid and other systemic changes, many of these social fabrics have frayed or weakened.
And that’s exactly why we’re hosting Vital Village Voices—a space to start these conversations, to notice what has been lost, and to imagine how we can rebuild connection in ways that feel real and sustainable.
When the World Feels Overwhelming…
Right now, we’re facing enormous challenges—climate disasters, housing stress, cost-of-living pressures, mental health struggles, rising disconnection.
When things feel overwhelming, the temptation is to search for the perfect solution, the expert answer, the one big fix.
But what if the way forward isn’t about fixing?
What if it’s about seeing, listening, and learning together?
An Invitation to Think Together
Over the next few months, we’re hosting Vital Village Voices—a series of community gatherings exploring how we can support each other in everyday life and tough times.
These aren’t your usual meetings.
No expert presentations. No panels. No problem-solving agendas.
Instead, they are inspired by Warm Data Labs, a unique conversational process developed by Nora Bateson. These sessions invite us into a different way of thinking together—one that embraces multiple perspectives instead of narrowing down to a single solution.
💬 What is a Warm Data Lab?
A Warm Data Lab is like the best after-dinner conversation you’ve ever had—rich, surprising, and full of insight.
Unlike structured meetings that focus on problem-solving or debate, Warm Data Labs expand perception. Instead of reducing issues to a single answer, they invite multiple perspectives to coexist—helping us see patterns, relationships, and new possibilities we wouldn’t have noticed otherwise.
You’ll move between small, informal group conversations, each exploring a central theme from different angles. Discussions will shift between aspects of life—family, community, health, economy, environment—because real-life challenges are never just one thing.
Instead of asking, “What should we do?”, Warm Data Labs ask, “What else can we see?”
🌱 Why does this matter?
The strength of our community depends on the quality of our communing.
How we show up with one another—how we listen, how we make space for different experiences—matters. It changes how we respond to challenges.
🌿 These spaces are for:
Stories, laughter, and fresh insights—because resilience is built through relationships.
Deep listening & connection—because understanding grows when we explore different viewpoints together.
Moving beyond roles & titles—meeting as people, not just professionals or decision-makers.
Why Now?
Climate crises like bushfires and heatwaves are becoming more frequent. So are social crises—rising living costs, housing insecurity, mental health struggles.
We can’t rely solely on governments or market forces to take care of us.
A truly strong community doesn’t just have a seat at the table. It becomes the table.
If we want communities that are resilient—not just to bushfires or floods, but to all of life’s challenges—we need to start by creating the conditions for connection.
And that starts with conversation.
Join Us
📍 In-person sessions (Wanneroo area)
🌱 Saturday 26 April — 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
🌱 Saturday 10 May — 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
🌱 Saturday 24 May — 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
💻 Online sessions (via Zoom)
🧑💻 Friday 2 May — 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
🧑💻 Friday 16 May — 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
🧑💻 Friday 30 May — 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
✨ Sign up here: https://events.humanitix.com/vital-village-voices-wanneroo
This isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about thinking, sharing, and learning together in a kind and welcoming space.
Let’s gather. Let’s talk. Let’s begin.
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