John Whelan

John Whelan
Community Outreach and Engagement at The Giving Lab

Well, what makes me! ME? I suppose more than anything it is about how we can change our communities with empowerment and creativity. Art can open so many doors for people and it has in my own life. I believe in people, and I think we are stronger when we work together and help each other out. I love to learn about people’s stories, journeys, and rich cultures as this is what makes us all special and unique with so much to offer each other and our wider communities. All of these passions I’m using to help reach out to our community members and engage them with the next round of the Giving Lab. We are really focusing in with groups from the Latin community, Tenants Residents Association, business community and academia to bring the Giving Lab to the community. Enabling community members and groups to develop their own solutions to fund community ideas that make a lasting change in three key areas of their lives - where they live, where they work and how they manage their money. Health research running through as a wider theme. I love how this project is shifting power in our community and enabling people to find their own solutions.