Declan Markey – Community Connector
Regional Community Connector, based in Maynooth University
Declan’s studies were in social science and social research. He went on to design and deliver educational programmes and co-ordinate educational services. This work aimed to increase participation among groups under-represented in higher education.
After Declan co-coordinated the BA in Housing and Community Studies for Respond Housing Association and UCD, he became the education coordinator with the Ballyfermot Chapelizod Partnership.
His approach is to develop educational supports that are:
- Experiential, which is a way of testing out lived experience in a ‘safe environment’
- Participatory, which ensures that everyone is involved in the learning process
- Inclusive, to make sure that everyone who is participating, feels included in the process
As a member of the Board of Partners: Training for Transformation these principles are inherently applied to all areas of his work.
Declan is a certified mediator and recently completed the Level 8 Certificate in Restorative Practice. Declan has also been involved in other community inspired art projects such as HEED FM. HEED FM was a recent commissioned work of art by artist Garrett Phelan. It was a 28-day anonymous sound broadcast portrait created through conversations with individuals and groups from all backgrounds aged 18–25 inhabiting Dublin. (HEED FM took the form of an independent, temporary licensed FM radio station. part of the Arts Council Art 2016 programme).
Contact Information: Declan.Markey@mu.ie