At Our Table
This project empowers migrant communities to actively contribute to ‘creating community’ in the market space and broader neighbourhood through the inclusion of an artistic facilitator (Leisa Shelton).
Children from local primary schools and members of the local neighborhood participated in weaving classes led by the Somali Community. Photo Credit: Creative Gaze
Leisa begins the project by setting up a table offering tea and conversation, and inviting community members to then ‘host’ their own tables, sharing cultural foods, drinks, knowledge or skills. Each week more members of the community are encouraged to part-take in activating the public space and becoming empowered to share, teach and learn.
Children enjoyed playing with toys from the pop-up play group in partnership with the local Carlton Toy library and facilitated by Melbourne University students and local volunteers. Photo credit: Creative Gaze
This project was initiated at the Carlton market in 2018 and was an instant success; by week twelve there were eleven community hosted tables and the community began to spend the whole morning in the market place. It has resulted in a total transformation of the space. Community ‘tables’ are now a permanent fixture at the market year-round. There is now also the weekly pop-up toy library and free community weaving workshops. On Friday mornings you will find up to 200 people from the immediate community, local streets and from across Melbourne come to spend the morning in a shared space of cross-cultural engagement, skills sharing and connection. People from over 20 cultural backgrounds engage in conversation around stalls selling food, drinks, and handicrafts and offering Somali weaving lessons, henna body art and music.
Women of diverse cultural background have connected leading to English classes being offered at the local aged care center to Somali women. Photo: Creative Gaze
We witnessed the emergence of a true Market Place, community led and occupied, something The Community Grocer has always aimed to create, but had not found the way to invite it – until now.
Impact in the words of participants:
Women like Gemia have set up tables with tea / coffee and morning snacks inviting members of the wider community to join them. As Gemia said when interviewed for International Womens Day – "I earn little money at the market. But that's not what I come here for. It's the sense of belonging among these people that I enjoy the most. I get to meet people coming from such diverse backgrounds.”
“I’ve lived here for 24yrs. No-one has ever asked me before what I would like to see happen, what would be good for you. But now, on Fridays we have somewhere to go. We’re engaged. We’re meeting one another. It’s dangerous when people stay in these walls.”. Scribe # 011- Resident of Building 480. Carlton Flats.
“It builds self-esteem, being involved with others. Lots of women are stuck in their houses, this (the weaving workshops) brings them out – to the market”. SCRIBE #004 translated from Somali.
“…it is life changing, a great model for how community should / could be everywhere.” Scribe #3. Local single mum who now comes to the market every week with her children.
“It’s providing human connection, it is a counter to our busy, rushed lives. It gives a sense of belonging, of connection, which is central to our health.” Scribe #20. Local volunteer at the market.
“A market like this would be good in my area. Talking with people from different parts of the world. I would love to come every week – you can’t learn any of this in the classroom. It’s hard to explain how good it is!” – SCRIBE. #23. 12-year-old Fitzroy student / participant of weaving workshops at the Carlton Market in Feb, 2018.