Topics of Interest
Gangs
Isolated communities in NZ
‘Hard to reach’
Health & Education
Background
Eugene is a community developer, helping to pro-socially reposition a section of our community that we have demonised and marginalised. He offers strengths based approach looking for the potential within each individual and their respective whanau. To some degree he is playing the role of what we once would call a Detached Youth Worker, although his job is a bit more sophisticated than that and whilst it is inclusive of youth, that focus generally occurs within the broader context of whanau action– he’s a Detached Whanau Worker perhaps.
He is accessible, and service oriented. He listens. He has empathy born out of his own life experience and he hears the voices of the distressed and oppressed. He takes those voices and conveys their messages to decision makers. He also brings the voices of decision makers back to the community and thence facilitates dialogue between them. He acculturates, that is he connects people back with their own culture through his role as a mentor and cultural trainer, not just in the performing arts but also traditional activities like gathering kai.
His facilitation of dialogue between the Police and otherwise alienated youth, and their tuakana; his role in health promotion and building wellness through SEPCHO and providing healthy options in programmes of sport and recreation, culture, and good kai; and his representation of views, submissions and advocacy of marginalised people are just part of his core activities.
Eugene works across groups, the Wellington Black Power and national Black Power leadership; other gangs nationally and regionally; lawyers and professionals who interface with his clients; social sector service suppliers such as WCC, SEPCHO, CART; police and government staff across the criminal justice sector; Maori organisations; Maori cultural groups.
Eugene is a father of four and resides in Wellington.
He is a member of WellHealth Board (a PHO based in Wellington), Ngati Poneke Young Maori Club, Te Muka Tangata Board (Wgtn Maori Service Providers), Wesley Community Action Maori Caucus and WellHealth Maori Caucus. Eugene is also a member of Wellington Black Power.