Real belonging and community development beyond buzzwords

In this episode of The Belonging Shift podcast, host Mantej Singh speaks with Zizi Charida, Founder, Zahia Pty Ltd., about belonging, community development, and going past surface-level tokenistic approaches. Zizi shares her insights on community development, the concept of belonging, and the practical steps needed to create a culture of belonging in workplaces and communities. She emphasizes the importance of understanding belonging as a verb and the need for authentic, genuine interactions to foster a sense of belonging. Zizi also highlights shifts and misconceptions in the belonging space, offering practical advice for leaders and individuals to foster belonging.TakeawaysZizi’s advice for leaders and practitioners on making the #BelongingShiftMove beyond tokenistic actions and build a genuine culture of belonging.Look at systemic issues, not just individual experiences.Treat belonging as a continuous journey, not a one-off initiative.Build connections before jumping to solutions.Belonging is created with people, not delivered from the top down.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Zizi Charida05:17 Understanding Belonging13:26 Shifts in the Belonging Space19:27 Leadership and Belonging30:06 Practical Steps for BelongingGuest BioWith over three decades of international and local community development experience, Zizi Charida focuses on strengthening capacity and forging genuinebelonging. As the founder of Zahia Pty Ltd and the creator of the Community Minded Kids initiative, Zizi champions innovative, asset-based approaches. She specialisesin creating platforms for inclusion and social equity, working directly with communities for practical, citizen-driven initiatives. For more info see zahia.com.au or connect with Zizi on on linkedinHost BioMantej Singh is founder of Belonging Co - a social and cultural inclusion consultancy based in Sydney Austarlia. He has 20+ years experience across community outcomes and engagement, placemaking, diversity and inclusion. Collaborate with Belonging Co to strengthen trust, meaningful engagement, and participation across your workplace and community outcomes — grounded in a unique belonging approach. For more info see www.belongingco.com.au or connect with Mantej on linkedin