How involvement in social action is leading to a more vibrant Albany 

A group of individuals in Albany, 420km southeast of Perth, is learning how involvement in social action initiatives can lead to the establishment of core activities and the embracing of more individuals into the society-building process. 

The community has been undeterred by factors such as age or physical ability and has been operating in a mode of action, reflection, consultation and study. Building on its strengths, it has increased interactions as part of the wider Albany community, undertaking individual and collective social action efforts. 

Albany Baha’i Charlie Pierce says the Baha’is are involved in a range of various social action initiatives, including weekly radio broadcasts, crochet groups, community music nights, martial arts classes, and support for the Albany Food Bank. 

“The policy of the Local Spiritual Assembly [the local Baha’i governing body] is, ‘Do something’,” he says. “Join something or get yourself involved in one of the organisations that exist. We have several people on the Assembly who have key positions in the town. 

“There’s a whole network of people in Albany who are all involved in these activities and all meeting each other.”

Other aspects of social action have included involvement in special seminars, specific cooking services to individuals in the community and other efforts leading to a widening network of individuals connecting to the Baha’i community. These efforts have also been accompanied by opportunities to contribute towards the discourses of society in a manner that is meaningful and opens the scope for conversations relevant to promoting vibrant and resilient communities. 

Charlie says in smaller, more remote communities, the impact Baha’is can have through social action initiatives can be especially profound. 

“The community is smaller, and people see each other every day,” he says. “So for example, with the radio program we have, people who attend the weekly crochet group or come to the monthly talks on vibrant communities often share their experience of the weekly programs and find that they are all involved in some way in the Baha’i network!” 

“The next step would be, would you like to come to a devotional meeting? In that way, this network of people is getting to know each other. I think that’s the key.” 

During this year’s National Baha’i Convention, delegates shared how their communities’ involvement with civil society and local organisations were not only contributing towards social transformation but were shaping a more spiritual discourse in a variety of spaces. 

 Reflections shed light on the various initiatives allowing for conversations, connection and collaboration, with much shared about the growing capacity within groups of families working together to advance their neighbourhoods. 

Member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia, Vahid Saberi, said social action and discourse needed to go hand-in-hand. 

“Without our ability to bring the language of the Revelation in, we are just another community who is doing nice things,” he said. “[But we are] actually a community with a vision of transformation of society which is practical, inclusive, has a wide embrace inviting all to join in.”