People's Powerhouse: In conversation with Cormac Russell – What really makes a place thrive?

What really makes a place thrive — and who gets to decide?

Join People’s Powerhouse for a practical, solutions-focused conversation with Cormac Russell, one of the world’s leading voices on asset-based, citizen-led community development.

This is not a presentation or a toolkit walkthrough. It’s an open conversation about what happens when communities are trusted to lead, when institutions act as enablers rather than directors, and when democracy is grounded in everyday life.

Together, we’ll explore:

• what it really means to put local people first
• how Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) works in practice, not just in theory
• why focusing on strengths, relationships and belonging matters more than fixing deficits
• and what it takes for everyday Northern places to be in the lead

This webinar is part of Community Wells, a series creating space for reflection, learning and connection between people, places and power.