Guest Speaker: Jim Diers (USA)

Since 2005, The Marg Barry  Lecture has been held annually, to celebrate and continue the work of an outstanding South Sydney community activist, politician, networker, provocateur and former Coordinator of the Inner Sydney Regional Council for Social Development, Marg Barry (1934-2001).

An invaluable asset to her community, Marg was awarded the Order of Australia for service to her community in 1999.

This year, we investigated how Communities and Government can work well together. Jim Diers (USA) was the keynote speaker. Jim Diers has a passion for getting people engaged with their communities and in the decisions that effect their lives. He was appointed the first director of Seattle’s department of neighbourhoods in 1988. Currently, in addition to teaching at the University of Washington, he travels internationally to deliver speeches, present workshops, and assist community associations, non-profit organisations, and government. Jim has also worked with the City of Sydney, assisting them in establishing their matching grants program, Land and Housing Corp and has presented to RedWatch in Redfern And Waterloo.

https://innersydneyvoice.org.au/10th-annual-marg-barry-lecture-jim-diers-usa/