PIOJ to Host Best Practice Symposium on November 13

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) will stage its annual Best Practice Symposium on November 13, with special focus on developmental tools.

The symposium, being held under the theme: ‘Tools for Development’, will address critical issues in social development and violence prevention.

“The purpose of the Best Practice Symposium is really to create a forum where practitioners, government and other entities who are doing work in the social and community development landscape, can come together and we can share and showcase best practices to inform the national dialogue towards tackling the issue of crime and violence,” said Technical Specialist with portfolio responsibility for Socio-Economic Development in the PIOJ’s Community Renewal Programme, Charmaine Brimm.

“For this year, as we focus on tools for development, by tools, we define that to mean any instrument, approach, methodology or framework that social and community development practitioners will use to impact the community intervention landscape to effect positive change,” she added.

Ms. Brimm was speaking during a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ at the agency’s head office in Kingston on Thursday (November 7).

During the symposium, 17 booth holders will provide practical tools that people can tailor for their own use to meet their circumstances.

“Our stakeholders will be able to participate by showcasing their tools. So they will be highlighting particular methodologies or systems or frameworks that have, in fact, shown some kind of impact at the community level, as it relates to addressing the issue of crime and violence,” Ms. Brimm stated.

While the symposium is open to the public, persons are required to register to enter the event, which will be held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston beginning 8:30 a.m.

“We invite persons to register, because we want to know who will be there so we can properly prepare for you. Register at bestpractice@pioj.gov.jm or go online to www.pioj.gov.jm, and just scroll down and look for the Community Renewal Programme icon and you will see the link for you to register,” Ms. Brimm stated.

If individuals are unable to attend in person, a live stream will be available on the PIOJ’s YouTube platform, as well as an outside broadcast on Radio Jamaica.

Senior Lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Dr. Herbert Gayle, will deliver the keynote address and introduce the concept of a Child Safety Index for Jamaica.

There will also be presentations by Violence Prevention Strategist, Dr. Chloë Fèvre, from Lisbon, Portugal; Clinical Social Worker, Dr. Claudette Crawford Brown; Director of Impact and Pedagogy at Colombia’s Fútbol con Corazon, Andrea Chaustre Canon, and Assistant Coordinator of the National Neighbourhood Watch Unit in the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Community Safety and Security Branch, Sergeant Winston Harris.

“We want persons to come out, as we will actually be showcasing particular tools. So persons will be able to go to the booth and it will be a very interactive time, where you’ll get to learn more about these tools. We will have prizes and gifts and have a grand time,” Ms. Brimm said.