Community Connect Event: A Celebration of Community, Learning, and Collaboration
The Phoenix Way is delighted to announce the success of its first Community Connect event, held on 11th December in Leeds. Bringing together funded partners, regional leads, and key stakeholders, the event provided a vibrant platform for networking, learning, and collaboration, setting the tone for the transformative work ahead.
The day featured engaging thought-provoking discussions, workshops, and powerful opportunities for attendees to connect, share insights, and strengthen their collective impact. Participants explored themes such as leadership, community resilience, and approaches to anti-racism, all central to empowering Black and racially minoritised communities across the country.
The afternoon sessions began with a lively warm-up by Drew Sinclair with drumming from Victor Opeyokun which energised the room and set an upbeat tone for the afternoon sessions that followed. Workshops such as Digital Storytelling; Am I a Leader? Engaging with Young People in our Communities and Anti-Racism Best Practice offered participants a taste of what’s to come from Community Connect in the upcoming year—practical, engaging sessions designed to inspire and empower community leaders.
““The energy in the room was fantastic, with people coming together to share ideas and learn from one another. It’s clear this is the beginning of something truly impactful.””
““The event was a great opportunity to connect with others facing similar challenges and to gain new perspectives on creating lasting change.” ”
Community Connect is part of The Phoenix Way’s wider grant-making and capacity-building
initiative to empower leaders, strengthen communities, and drive systemic change. By fostering
collaboration, building skills, and amplifying voices, the initiative aims to create meaningful, long-
term impact.
For more information about Community Connect and upcoming opportunities, please contact:
The Events Team events@thephoenixwayuk.org
