Meet Maylands’ Local Doers: Emma Snow from Creative Maylands

We like to bang on about how great (or rather, OK!) Perth is – but our greatness doesn’t just happen out of nowhere!

With a mission to create thriving, connected and empowered communities, Town Team Movement is all about “doers”.

We’re partnering up with Town Team Movement so we can shine a light on some of the people who help make our communities so unique, and just a few of the excellent initiatives they’re working on.

This week, we’re featuring Emma Snow, one of the brains behind Creative Maylands, one of Maylands’ local Town Teams.

I’m intrigued to understand where your energy and motivation to contribute to the community stem from. How did it all begin for you?

I believe it all began with a realisation that I didn’t need a specific job title to make a difference in my community. Moving into a new neighbourhood, Maylands, was pivotal. A friend and I contemplated starting a group to enact change locally, focusing on areas around the train station. It dawned on me that perhaps we could make a difference together. My background in strategic town planning and city policy fuelled my desire to influence urban spaces positively. However, working within local government left me feeling somewhat restricted, merely drafting plans without seeing tangible outcomes. Thus, my involvement with the town team emerged as a means to directly impact change beyond bureaucratic hurdles.

Could you elaborate on the relationship between Town Team Movement and the local government? How does this dynamic operate?

Town Team Movement has played a crucial role in legitimising our endeavours. Initially, engaging with local government was challenging, as they were unsure of our intentions and how to collaborate effectively. However, as the concept of town teams became more familiar, it facilitated smoother interactions. This recognition provided a sense of legitimacy and understanding, streamlining our efforts to collaborate for positive change.

Reflecting on your initiation of the movement in Maylands, what void in your community did the Creative Maylands aim to fill?

The essence of community agency was what we sought to foster. It wasn’t about volunteering in the traditional sense; it was about empowering individuals to shape their surroundings actively. We wanted to inject vitality into our neighbourhood, and our initiatives aimed to facilitate that. Whether it was organising events or utilising untapped spaces like the neglected green area near the train station, our goal was to harness community input to transform Maylands into a vibrant, authentic locale.

Could you provide examples of events initiated during that period?

One notable initiative mentioned already was the activation of a neglected green space adjacent to the train station. By engaging with residents, we explored ways to repurpose the area into a community hub. Additionally, we organised a street festival where we established a designated “chill-out zone” for residents to unwind and engage in activities. Importantly, we ensured these initiatives were inclusive, soliciting feedback to preserve the unique character of Maylands.

How would you define place-making, and how does Town Team Movement embody this concept?

Place-making encompasses the collective effort of individuals to mould spaces according to their vision and needs. Transitioning from strategic town planning to place management, I witnessed firsthand the transformative power of community-driven initiatives. Town Team Movement epitomises this concept by empowering communities to take ownership of their environments, be it through physical alterations, events, or fostering daily interactions that foster a sense of belonging.

In what ways do you perceive Town Team Movement advancing community development?

Our approach differs from conventional community development models in that we prioritise empowering communities to pursue their initiatives autonomously. Rather than imposing predefined programs, we provide support and resources to facilitate grassroots efforts. This agile, place-based approach fosters organic growth and ensures initiatives resonate authentically within each community’s unique context.

Reflecting on your experiences with Town Team Movement, what insights have you gained?

Working across diverse communities has been enlightening, highlighting the varying mindsets and expectations prevalent in different locales. Whether in rural or urban settings, witnessing the collective drive to effect positive change has been immensely rewarding. Surrounding myself with like-minded individuals dedicated to tangible action has invigorated my passion for community engagement.

Apart from your role as Executive Director within Town Team Movement, could you share a bit about yourself?

That’s a good question actually. I’m a person in the world. I’m a person amongst loads of billions of other people, and I feel like we should all try and leave the world in a better place than when we arrived. I just see myself as one of those people who’s trying to do that. I’m a family person, I’ve got children and I’m married. I’m a vegetarian. I have been since I was 14 and I got a puppy and I love animals. I absolutely love them and I am also a person who lives to experience new places. I absolutely love it; that’s what excites me. 

You brought up an intriguing point about our purpose in the world, that it’s about making a difference and leaving something meaningful behind. It’s fascinating to observe many doers part of the movement, committed to leaving a legacy, not just for themselves, but for the community.

I do agree with you. I think it’s just a desire to make a positive contribution. But I also think that it is different to that idea of service. It’s more than that. It is about meaning.

Can you tell me more about your view on the idea of volunteering, which you touched on earlier?

Yeah. I think to me it’s more about agency. In the sense that you can make change, you can have an influence on your place or the world; you’re not this passive person and everything’s out of your control, which is really easy to feel like. I think it’s really important not to feel like that. Engaging in the activation of your community can really help you realise that you do have a lot of agency. It is sometimes easier to think that you don’t, but when you realise that you do, it’s super exciting and I think you feel much more in touch with life.

Want to get involved and become a doer in your own community? Head to the Town Team Movement website to learn more.

Photography and interview by Ophélie Barbeau, edited by Perth is OK!