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The Fast Track Inclusion (FTI) Trust envisions a society that acts to achieve lives of quality for all citizens. We inspire and inform social change by creating a passion and culture for inclusion. We work with the community, government, and the private sector to secure justice, equality, and well-being of all citizens.
FTI works to create transformative, measurable outcomes for vulnerable children, youth and families through emerging community leadership. The trust carries out social innovation applied research to accelerate social inclusion for marginalised people throughout New Zealand.
The Fast Track Inclusion (FTI) Trust was launched in 2012 by a group of academics and business people who work in social change. Trustees worked in a range of social and environmental project which created good value for society, however when funding ran out, these projects were typically shelved. The trustees wanted to extend the value that these projects could still produce by contributing their time and knowledge, beyond the projects' funding life. The FTI trust does mostly volunteer work as described on its website, applying for philanthropic funding only to meet certain necessary operational costs.
We identify and train emerging leaders from within vulnerable communities. By envisioning their future positively and sustainably, they tap into their collective wisdom to grow as social innovators. Sharing their learning from within their communities they then power up a “leadership pipeline”. Our teamwork with stakeholders, officials and NGOs focuses on a common aim, viz. for parents to become change agents for their children, a proven way to enhance return on social investment, with quantifiable and measurable outcomes.
These ideas are described via this blog [tinyurl.com/fast-track-inclusion]. Contact us on: fast.track.inclusion.trust@gmail.com, by post at: 66 Government Road, Raglan 3225, New Zealand.
The FTI Trust is supported by the expertise of its Trustees and Advisory Board below:
The FTI Trust is supported by the expertise of its Trustees and Advisory Board below:
Trustees
Dr.
Annick Janson, Associate, Centre for Applied Cross-cultural Research,
Victoria University of Wellington received a Gallup Positive Psychology Award for her Leadership Formative Experiences research. Annick has been facilitating Leadership Development and research in the disability and community development sector for the past decade. She represented NZ at
the Global Leadership Summit, Washington D.C. and at the European Commission EASPD service providers for the disability sector. Annick has governance experience in the private and public sector. She was Microsoft NZ Research Director, and Inaugural Research Director with the NZ Leadership Institute, University of Auckland Business School. She was awarded a Ph.D. in Management Systems by the University of Waikato, in New Zealand.Founding members & special projects advisors
Dr. Robin Itzigsohn has an eclectic background in Science and Education. He taught biotechnology at the University of Waikato and consulted to a number of technology startups. Robin developed a range of methodologies to collect tacit knowledge from experts in wide ranging disciplines in secondary education and tertiary research institutions. He recently left academe to develop the family farm on the West coast testing the development of novel local and international markets for table grapes. Robin was awarded a PhD in Microbiology and a post-graduate degree in Education from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.Fast Track Inclusion fulfils its social innovation vision by carrying out targeted learning projects that are directly applicable to enriching the quality of everyday life of people and families coping with disability. the concept of inclusion is embraced by the disabled community who justifiably want to claim their place in their communities... but is our society matching this interest by opening its arms to embrace people with disabilities and mental illness? ... well errrrr... not yet. Fast Track Inclusion looked at the art world and asked: is mainstream art open to a diverse and inclusive membership? Quick hint: no.
Research has proven that community input is central to marginalised artists being able to contribute. Mainstream art practice options, however, are rarely available to people with communication or social challenges. This is our signal to create an integrative art space to provide this group with knowledge to explore and enter contribute to their communities whilst showcasing their talent.
Research has proven that community input is central to marginalised artists being able to contribute. Mainstream art practice options, however, are rarely available to people with communication or social challenges. This is our signal to create an integrative art space to provide this group with knowledge to explore and enter contribute to their communities whilst showcasing their talent.
Internationally New Zealand is behind with the lack of inclusion of disabled artists into mainstream creative opportunities. Research has demonstrated that our marginalised artists face significant barriers preventing them from accessing mainstream art opportunities. Currently Hamilton has a number of community art centres where marginalised artists can learn and exhibit together but there are few opportunities for them to access mainstream or able-bodied art activities.
Supporting disabled artists to access integrated creative environments with mainstream artists will in turn benefit all. This approach supports the New Zealand Disability Strategy Action Plan Objective 9 relating to the rights of disabled people to access mainstream opportunities.
The membership and supporting organisations of the community collective we belong to includes national organisations operating in the arts and community sectors, local disability and mental health organisations, community and business representatives, the Hamilton City Council, local members and organisations from the arts community. The leadership group that drives this initiative is composed of 40 people from the above organisations as well as local community artists, art therapy practitioners, disabled artists and community representatives.
OUR OBJECTIVES
- Advance Waikato towards a fully inclusive creative community
- Promote appropriate and effective art settings for disabled and mainstream artists needs
- Provide opportunities for disabled people to experience mainstream arts activities
- Facilitate encounters that will grow the leadership of marginalised artists
- Increase awareness about disability issues and inclusion
- Monitor, evaluate and promote this innovative integrated arts model
Collaborative approaches build on the process of intuitive art making where participants learn from each other and gain unique art perspectives. We are planning activities whereby artists, including those living with disability or mental illness will interact with community organisations and community/arts leaders and mainstream artists.
We plan community development to benefit all participants. For the first time in New Zealand, disabled artists will experience full participation and inclusion as artists in mainstream art activities and increase their skills and potential as art leaders. Disabled artists will also be introduced to potential channels and art opportunities including ‘Outsider Arts and Markets’ already established in Europe and the USA but not yet in New Zealand. This will open opportunities never envisaged in the disabled community before.
Their artistic journey will be exhibited in a community art gallery around the city. Creative Waikato will display the artwork produced by these artists as they describe their interactions with community and art leaders.
The project’s evaluation includes documenting the artists’ journeys through a documentary that will be part of the final gallery exhibition. The final gallery exhibition will capture the programme from conception to completion demonstrating inclusive community art.
Our Philosophy
The Fast Track Inclusion Trust principal mission is to establish a learning organisation and learning community to assist in public and formal education regarding a sustainable future for New Zealand communities.
The collective experiences of our Trust Members includes the collection, analysis and dissemination of peer-knowledge in the form of media resources. Outcomes from our research will form the foundations of learning (such as peer-learning) programmes to establish and coordinate programmes to promote the value of a sustainable future.
One way to strengthen communities is to facilitate the study of the success factors behind social entreprises and their benefits to their members.
Hence, our research will study ways to promote and encourage sound social, cultural and economic policies in New Zealand through the application of social innovation. Our topics of study will include the protection and conservation of our social and natural environments and promote the development and widespread dissemination of knowledge and ideas in these domains.
Our work will be done in respect with our multicultural society such as Maori and Pacific cultural perspectives. For instance, we will encourage emerging leader to share knowledge, collective wisdom, ideas and experience with their communities, in particular via engagement with marginalised New Zealanders.
We have worked on social change project funded by organisations such as MSD, Community Waikato, IHC, Te Pou, the Todd Foundation, and private corporations.
Extracts from our Deed:
The Trust seeks to educate and empower people that are marginalised with skills to learn how to integrate into society. This new paradigm paves the way to a powerful experience of learning, creative thinking and dynamic reshaping of diversity in any context, including but not limited to gender, ethnicity, sexuality and disability. Built into the dialogue are themes of influence, conflict resolution and vital behaviours for individual and social change. The Trust will achieve its objectives through research and development of storytelling methodologies and educational programmes, and test online delivery models to ensure participation also from people who are geographically isolated. The research will investigate the causes and reasons for social, cultural, environmental and economic problems and suggest and promote tangible, novel paradigms and practical online solutions to these problems that are innovative, desirable and easily accessible to local communities. The Trust was established in 2013 to: (i) be beneficial to the community by relieving charitable need for social inclusion in our communities, and (ii) advance education for the public benefit.
More about the FTI Trust here.