ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Connecting Narratives for Change Festival is a community festival for anyone interested in change-making in Singapore. Each year, we gather at Common Ground Civic Centre to work on the things that matter to us that need to change.
At the festival, we collaborate with socially-oriented organisations from different industries and sectors who are the Resident and Community Partners at Common Ground Civic Centre. Through experiential activities, each of our programme partners will respond to these social concerns through their lenses and expertise, unique to their own domains.
This year, we want to focus on weaving these different narratives together. There are so many perspectives, lived experiences, skillsets, ideas, struggles and stories all around us. What good can come from more of us coming together?
FESTIVAL DETAILS
Date: 23 Aug, 20 Sep, 18 Oct (Sat)
Time: 9:30am – 6pm
Location: Common Ground Civic Centre, 21 Bedok North Street 1, Singapore 469659
Connecting Narratives for Change Festival 2025
A learning festival
You’ll learn new ways of thinking, feeling and doing more for specific social concerns that matter to you and to Singapore.
A collaborative container
You’ll meet people who share similar social concerns - but come from different parts of the community.
An experimental sandbox
You’ll get to work together throughout the day so that we can mobilise each other to start working on these concerns beyond the festival.
Our Programme Partners
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
What’s happening at Connecting Narratives for Change Festival 2025?
This year, we want to explore: How can we live the Good Life?
All of us are part of a home, a workplace and a community. These are the 3 key components of our lives here in Singapore. At Connecting Narratives for Change Festival 2025, we want to help each other work towards a personal, professional and civic life that we can all enjoy.
Join us for three Saturdays in August, September and October to explore how we can live the Good Life - by building healthier homes, creating kinder workplaces and gathering as whole communities.
THEME 1: 23 AUG (SAT)By building
healthier homes
What else can care and connection look like with people at home?
THEME 2: 20 SEP (SAT)By creating
kinder workplaces
What can peer and team support look like so that we can all do Good Work?
THEME 3: 18 OCT 2025 (SAT)By gathering as
whole communities
What can we learn from each other and what can we do better when we are together?
THEME 1: 23 AUG 2025 (SAT)
How can we
build healthier homes?
This theme explores other ways we can more intentionally care and connect with people at home through conversations, tools and frameworks and broadened perspectives.
LED BY
BRAVE FEATS STUDENT CARE
COMMON GROUND
LEPAK CONVERSATIONS
WERABLE
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Programme Overview
9:30AM — 10:30AM
Citizen Circles:
What are our underrated ingredients for healthier homes?
WITH
COMMON GROUND
From emotional safety and connection to daily rituals and shared responsibilities, what often gets overlooked and underestimated when we talk about healthier homes?
In small and large group conversations, we'll start the day curious about what each of us might need, want or value to feel more at home in our homes so that we can move towards the Good Life we envision.
Together, we’ll share what we each believe are underrated ingredients - emotional or practical, tangible or intangible, small or big - that could actually be the very thing we might need to lay the right foundations for a healthier, more joyful home.
11:00AM — 12:30PM
2PM — 4PM
Parallel Breakout Sessions
Through interactive sessions, workshops and conversations, you will get to hear different takes on ‘How can we build healthier homes?’ from:
a student care that focuses on social-emotional learning (Brave Feats Student Care)
a cultural-change consultancy that helps people develop thinking + people skills (Common Ground)
a research and advocacy group that advocates for Malay-Muslim issues (Lepak Conversations)
an inclusive and adaptive fashion brand (Werable)
In these sessions, explore the “how’s” on different levels - self, family, community - which are the chosen ingredients of our programme partners for a healthier home.
Over the day, meet with other fellow participants who share the same interest for this social concern and who bring with them a diversity of perspectives, skillsets, resources and lived experiences that can weave our new and existing narratives of the topic in different ways.
PARALLEL BREAKOUT SESSIONS A:
11:00AM — 12:30PM
“To build healthier homes, we need to consider more perspectives and approaches that allow us to connect better.”
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Home is where the Habits are:
Building a Healthier Home Through Different HabitsDate: 23 Aug 2025, Sat
Time: 11AM - 12:30PM
Led by: Common Ground
Session Type: Conversation
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Why are they like that?? Why don’t they get it?? If only they could just understand what I need..
No household is spared from the occasional (or regular) family tiff. But if you’re keen to work on a relationship with someone at home, let’s explore this topic together in a light and playful way.
In this session, we will be role-playing common scenes from home to explore our habitual reactions and alternative habits we can try instead. These habits could either be a pathway or a roadblock to better connections.
P.S. We are not experts, just members of a household committed to learning and figuring things out together.
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COMMON GROUND is a cultural-change consultancy that leads a Civic Centre with a mission to create whole communities.
As a consultancy, we help your organisation close the gap between your current & preferred culture so that both your people and strategies can come alive.
As a Civic Centre, we support practitioners who gather citizens together to gain new awareness, develop new skills and find new opportunities so that more of us can collaborate on societal concerns and work on social change together.
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Anyone who wants to connect with someone in their lives better or in a different way
KOO HUI YING
“To build healthier homes, we need to be able to dress ourselves with agency and dignity.”
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Dressing with Ease: Adaptive Fashion for Accessibility
Date: 23 Aug 2025, Sat
Time: 11AM - 12:30PM
Led by: Werable
Session Type: Workshop
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This session is a hands-on workshop that invites you to rethink how everyday clothing can work better for your body. By using thrifted garments, you’ll learn the basic modifications to wear a shirt with one hand.
This introductory workshop will expose you to bodystorming – the way of studying our habits and understanding our bodies through role-play.
Within the session, you’ll create paper prototypes and ideate a healthier way of dressing.
Here, you’ll explore how small changes can create a big impact in your very own home and wardrobe.
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WERABLE makes fashion easy to wear for every body. From adaptive occasion wear to inclusive bags, we’re committed to fashioning a kinder, more inclusive tomorrow. Werable is an award winning brand, proudly recognised as the winner of the Vogue Innovation Prize and Shenzhen’s Global Design Award, leading inclusive fashion in Asia.
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Caregivers
Occupational therapists
Persons with lived experience of disability
Anyone interested in accessible fashion beyond aesthetics
CLAUDIA POH
PARALLEL BREAKOUT SESSIONS B:
2:00PM — 4:00PM
“To build healthier homes, we need to develop new lenses for raising children.”
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Love and Limits: Polarities of Raising Children
Date: 23 Aug 2025, Sat
Time: 2PM - 4PM
Led by: Brave Feats Student Care
Session Type: Workshop
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Raising children is full of paradoxes: Should we be firm or gentle? Should we give freedom or provide structure? The truth is—it's not either/or, but both/and.
This 2-hour interactive workshop helps parents and caregivers recognize and navigate the natural polarities in raising children, such as love and limits, control and autonomy, protection and release.
Explore how to identify when you might be swinging too much to one side of the tension and how you might find a healthy rhythm that supports your child’s growth and your own wellbeing.
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BRAVE FEATS STUDENT CARE is an after-school care centre which places emphasis on children’s well-being and building social-emotional skills, while providing a balanced holistic education for all-round development of the children. Brave Feats is founded upon the belief that every child deserves to be joyful and that the seeds of joy planted today will help our next generation live a purposeful and fulfilling life.
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Parents
Caregivers of young children and youths
Early childhood educators
Professionals that work with young children and youths
CHUEN-YIN NG
“To build healthier homes, we need to shift the focus of housing as a financial asset to a place for connection and neighbourliness.”
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More Than Mortgage: Moving From Home as Asset to Home as Place for Connection
Date: 23 Aug 2025, Sat
Time: 2PM - 4PM
Led by: Lepak Conversations
Session Type: Interactive Activity
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Home ownership becomes a stressful endeavour when one struggles to find the perfect equation of physical and financial factors like size, location, and resale power. How can existing and aspiring homeowners get a good quality of life at home within their means and needs?
Lepak Conversations introduces neighbourliness as a key part of a healthy home, shifting the focus from housing as a financial asset to housing as a space for relationships.
A good home offers a sense of safety and belonging - to family within our four walls, and to the community beyond those walls. Think of neighbours who water your plants when you’re on holiday, who check in on your family while waiting for the lift, or who initiate group buys to make your monthly grocery shopping easier. These small acts of neighbourliness play a bigger role than you think in improving your social and emotional needs at home.
Whether you’re planning to move after the 5-year MOP (Minimum Occupation Period) or stay for decades, what does it mean to practise good neighbourliness? Unpack these questions in this interactive session with Lepak Conversations. -
LEPAK CONVERSATIONS is a research and advocacy non-profit that aims to nurture a society where Malay/Muslims are understood, accepted and respected, while fostering racial harmony in Singapore. We are driven by our key values: accessibility and allyship. Through online content and offline events, we view Malay/Muslim social issues from a communal or societal lens, where the focus is on you and I, together, instead of you vs me.
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First-time home owners
Future home owners currently in your 20s and 30s
Current home owners who are thinking of moving
DAHLIA
MOHD
FEZHAH
MAZNAN
YULIANNA
FREDERIKA
4:30PM — 6PM
Un-Panel:
What might Singapore look like if more homes could experience the Good Life?
WITH
BRAVE FEATS STUDENT CARE
COMMON GROUND
LEPAK CONVERSATIONS
WERABLE
In this Closing Un-panel, we’ll be bringing it home!
Together with our programme partners from the Parallel Breakout Sessions, we’re coming back as a large group to weave together common threads, surprising takeaways and how all these underrated ingredients come together to build homes for ourselves that can be healthier and more joyful, with its ripple effects enjoyed by more of us beyond the home.
This Unpanel is a self-moderated, participant-driven conversation where both speakers and participants can choose to shift where and how the conversation moves based on what’s working and not working for you. You have the power to put your voice in the room to share your observations; ask questions; move conversations; and make offers and requests to one another.
Ticket sales have ended for
Theme 1: How can we build healthier homes?
THEME 2: 20 SEP 2025 (SAT)How can we create kinder workplaces?
This theme explores ways we can support our peers and teams more effectively and more kindly so that we can all do Good Work together more sustainably.
WITH
COMMON GROUND
KONTINENTALIST
MYLES & MORE
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Programme Overview
9:30AM — 10:30AM
Citizen Circles:
If kindness was a KPI at the workplace, what would we track?
WITH
COMMON GROUND
Kindness at the workplace is often an organic byproduct of good people doing good work. But what if we see kindness as essential, intentional and structural? From daily interactions, team rituals, feedback loops and people management styles, how would we track kindness as a key performance indicator (KPI) at the workplace?
In small and large group conversations, we'll start the day curious about what each of us might hope to see more of in our workplaces so that we can move towards the Good Life we envision.
Together, we’ll share what we each believe could be key indicators that we measure and track as an intentional part of creating a workplace that is kinder, more sustainable and grounded in trust.
11:00AM — 12:30PM
2PM — 4PM
Parallel Breakout Sessions
Through interactive sessions, workshops and conversations, you will get to hear different takes on ‘How can we create kinder workplaces?’ from:
A cultural-change strategist who helps people develop thinking + people skills – Common Ground (Shiao-yin Kuik)
Two middle managers of a cultural-change consultancy stepping into their power and leadership – Common Ground (Dawn Tan + Koo Hui Ying)
A data-storytelling studio powered by a diverse team with a diversity of needs and working styles – Kontinentalist
A founder of a media production studio who was recently diagnosed with adhd as an adult – Myles & More (Brandon Myles)
In these sessions, explore the “what’s” and the “how’s” on different levels - self, peer and teams - which are the key elements of a kinder workplace for our programme partners.
Over the day, meet with other fellow participants who share the same interest for this social concern and who bring with them a diversity of perspectives, skillsets, resources and lived experiences that can weave our new and existing narratives of the topic in different ways.
PARALLEL BREAKOUT SESSIONS A:
11:00AM — 12:30PM
“To create kinder workplaces, we need to normalise feedback giving and receiving.”
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Don’t Be Nice:
The Practice of Clear and Kind FeedbackDate: 20 Sep 2025, Sat
Time: 11AM - 12:30PM
Led by: Common Ground
Session Type: Interactive Session
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Feedback has a bad rep. When we think of feedback, we are more likely to think of it as a medium to deliver criticism, like highlight mistakes, point out areas of improvement or correct a behaviour. We hardly associate feedback with something positive like recognition, appreciation or encouragement. Because of that, no one likes giving feedback and no one likes receiving it. It can be uncomfortable for the giver and anxiety-ridden for the receiver.
In this session, we want to explore how to normalise giving kinder and more effective feedback for both negative and positive situations so that we can:
be more aligned as a team,
more aware of what’s working and what’s not working,
deepen our trust with each other
This is a session meant for peers, by peers!
We’re not experts in the room - just team members who want to learn and practice together. -
COMMON GROUND is a cultural-change consultancy that leads a Civic Centre with a mission to create whole communities.
As a consultancy, we help your organisation close the gap between your current & preferred culture so that both your people and strategies can come alive.
As a Civic Centre, we support practitioners who gather citizens together to gain new awareness, develop new skills and find new opportunities so that more of us can collaborate on societal concerns and work on social change together.
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Working adults who want to practise giving feedback well with their peers
DAWN TAN
KOO HUI YING
“To create kinder workplaces, we need to understand how we each work best.”
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Un-focused Group: Leveraging ADHD & Neurotypical Strengths at Work
Date: 20 Sep 2025, Sat
Time: 11AM - 12:30PM
Led by: Myles & More
Session Type: Interactive Session
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This session brings together ADHD and Neurotypical colleagues to openly explore how our brain differences — once clearly understood — can become powerful tools for building kinder, smarter, and more innovative workplaces.
Through conversations, we will unpack the strengths and struggles of ADHD and Neurotypical team members, and how to integrate that into our workplace practices.
Join us to turn misunderstandings into meaningful collaboration.
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MYLES & MORE is a Singapore-based creative agency founded in 2011 to make educational, story-driven content that informs and inspires. The company specializes in documentary-style films, e-learning series, and branded educational content for clients including DBS, Microsoft, and OCBC.
At the heart of Myles & More is a belief that good content should be useful, beautiful, and deeply human. From concept to final cut, the team works collaboratively with brands, civic organizations, and nonprofits to bring clarity to complex ideas through storytelling.
Whether filming across Asia or in their in-house studio at Common Ground in Bedok, the company is known for its thoughtful, cinematic approach to production. It's about making content that not only looks great but truly teaches.
Their mission: to help good people and good ideas reach the audiences who need them most.
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Working professionals with ADHD
Working professionals who are Neurotypicals
BRANDON MYLES
PARALLEL BREAKOUT SESSIONS B:
2:00PM — 4:00PM
“To create kinder workplaces, we need to understand where we go in stress and security.”
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9 (Surprisingly) Kinder Ways to Work with Teams: Applying Enneagram for the Workplace
Date: 20 Sep 2025, Sat
Time: 2PM - 4PM
Led by: Common Ground
Session Type: Workshop
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Teamwork is always challenging.
What looks like a good, reasonable - even kind - thing for you to do may not work for every person or situation.
In this workshop, we introduce you to a new way of using the Enneagram to be more aware of your unique bias and the “Both/And” tensions you will consistently need to balance as you lead teams and projects.
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COMMON GROUND is a cultural-change consultancy that leads a Civic Centre with a mission to create whole communities.
As a consultancy, we help your organisation close the gap between your current & preferred culture so that both your people and strategies can come alive.
As a Civic Centre, we support practitioners who gather citizens together to gain new awareness, develop new skills and find new opportunities so that more of us can collaborate on societal concerns and work on social change together.
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Managers
Leaders
Working professionals
SHIAO-YIN KUIK
“To create kinder workplaces, we need to include the team’s voices in strategy, culture-setting, and practices.”
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What Is and What Can Be:
Reimagining Workplaces and Well-being through Data VisualisationDate: 20 Sep 2025, Sat
Time: 2PM - 4PM
Led by: Kontinentalist
Session Type: Conversations & Data Visualisation
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Wellbeing at work isn’t just about free snacks or wellness apps—it’s about how people really feel, function, and show up every day. In Singapore, the conversation is growing, but so are the challenges.
Join us for an interactive and thought-provoking session that dives into the current state of workplace wellbeing in Singapore.
Expect real conversations, group activities, and a chance to contribute to a live data visualisation that we’ll build together during the session.
Whether you’re an employee, manager, or just curious, come ready to listen, share, and leave with fresh ideas you can bring back to your team.
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KONTINENTALIST is a studio that advocates for a more equitable world that fosters connections between Asia’s sources of knowledge. We nurture community around data and human experiences.
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Working people, especially in the Gen Z and millennial age group
Ideal for working professionals in small to medium-sized companies
DARRELL LIAN
GRISELDA GABRIELE
SAMIRA HASSAN
4:30PM — 6PM
Un-Panel:
What can we *really* do to encourage our workplaces to support the Good Life?
WITH
COMMON GROUND
KONTINENTALIST
MYLES & MORE
In this Closing Un-panel, we don’t have big systemic interventions for you. We have everyday working professionals who are committed to making their workplaces a kinder one in their own individual capacities as a peer, as team members, as a top leader, as a founder.
Together with our programme partners from the Parallel Breakout Sessions, we’re coming back as a large group to weave together common threads, surprising takeaways and how small action can lead to big impact at the workplace.
This Unpanel is a self-moderated, participant-driven conversation where both speakers and participants can choose to shift where and how the conversation moves based on what’s working and not working for you. You have the power to put your voice in the room to share your observations; ask questions; move conversations; and make offers and requests to one another.
Tickets on sale now for
Theme 2: How can we create kinder workplaces?
Save 20% off full-day tickets!
Early-bird Period: 3 Aug - 23 Aug
THEME 3: 18 OCT 2025 (SAT)How can we gather as whole communities?
This theme explores ways we can learn from each other and do things differently when we come together.
WITH
ARTABLY
BRAVE FEATS STUDENT CARE
DAUGHTERS OF TOMORROW
GREEN NUDGE
INSCHOOL
SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIPS OFFICE (SGPO)
STUDIO DOJO
THE BLACK SAMPAN
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Programme Overview
9:30AM — 10:30AM
Citizen Circles:
Is the Good Life a Shared Life?
WITH
COMMON GROUND
In our opening Citizen Circles, we’ll begin by exploring whether the Good Life is something we can create on our own or something we must build together. From access to resources to connection and community, how are our lives shaped by others?
In small and large group conversations, we’ll start the day curious about what the Good Life really means to each of us and how we intend to build it and live it. Together, we'll reflect on just how interconnected we really are and what that means for how we live well.
11:00AM — 12:30PM
2PM — 4PM
Parallel Breakout Sessions
Through interactive sessions, workshops and conversations, you will get to explore different ways we can gather as whole communities from:
A founder of a social enterprise advocating for art as a medium for accessibility and inclusion (Artably)
A student care that focuses on the socio-emotional development of their students (Brave Feats Student Care)
A cultural-change consultancy that helps people develop people + thinking skills (Common Ground)
A charity that supports the social mobility of women from low-income groups (Daughters of Tomorrow)
A B Corp Certified social enterprise that nudges sustainable thinking & behaviour (Green Nudge)
A social enterprise that empowers neurodiverse children to build confidence and independence (InSchool)
A government office that facilitates collaboration between citizens and the government (Singapore Government Partnerships Office)
A trans-disciplinary practice that builds design and creative capacities of individuals, teams and organisations (Studio Dojo)
A socially-oriented creative agency that partners primarily with non-profits to tell social impact stories (The Black Sampan)
In these sessions, explore a diversity of communities and the things that they care about.
Over the day, meet with other fellow participants who share the same interest for this social concern and who bring with them a diversity of perspectives, skillsets, resources and lived experiences that can weave our new and existing narratives of the topic in different ways.
PARALLEL BREAKOUT SESSIONS A:
11:00AM — 12:30PM
“To gather as whole communities, we need to listen to diverse voices on issues that matter to us.”
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From Doing to Being:
What are different definitions of success?Date: 18 Oct 2025, Sat
Time: 11AM - 12:30PM
Led by: Brave Feats + Daughters of Tomorrow
Session Type: Interactive session
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Success is often spoken about, yet rarely explored in all its complexity.
This session brings together a panel of voices from diverse ages and backgrounds to share their personal definitions of success. Their stories set the stage for a deeper collective inquiry: Is success measured by outcomes, by journeys, by impact on others, or by alignment with one’s own values?
Through dialogue and reflection, participants will explore multiple perspectives — from achievement and recognition to resilience, relationships, meaning, contribution, and well-being — and leave with a broadened view of what success can mean in their own lives and communities.
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BRAVE FEATS STUDENT CARE is an after-school student care centre which places emphasis on students' well being and building social-emotional skills, while providing a balanced holistic education for all-round development of the children. Brave Feats hopes to reshape the learning and caring system of after-school care in Singapore.
DAUGHTERS OF TOMORROW (DOT) is an IPC charity empowering underprivileged women into sustained employment, thus enabling their families towards social mobility. DOT complements existing training and workforce-related agencies by connecting volunteers and community resources to enable each woman on an individual level.
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Anyone reflecting on their aspirations and ambitions at any stage of life!
CHUEN-YIN NG
KAYLEE KUA
“To gather as whole communities, we need to first make time for honest conversations around our end-of-life.”
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Begin with the End in Mind:
What is a Good Death?Date: 18 Oct 2025, Sat
Time: 11AM - 12:30PM
Led by: Common Ground
Session Type: Interactive Session
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How can we begin with the end in mind - for our lives?
Kickstarted last year through a three-part series of citizen circles around the topic of end-of-life planning at Common Ground Civic Centre, we want to continue this conversation as an important step to creating wholeness.
This year, we want to extend the conversation to those who also want to take their first step but may not know where to begin.
Our gentle invitation is to begin thinking more, feeling more, and wanting to do more about this important yet seemingly not urgent piece of work in our life.
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COMMON GROUND is a cultural-change consultancy that leads a Civic Centre with a mission to create whole communities.
As a consultancy, we help your organisation close the gap between your current & preferred culture so that both your people and strategies can come alive.
As a Civic Centre, we support practitioners who gather citizens together to gain new awareness, develop new skills and find new opportunities so that more of us can collaborate on societal concerns and work on social change together.
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Anyone who is ready and willing to begin talking about or taking a first step towards end-of-life planning
KOO HUI YING
“To gather as whole communities, we need to rethink how we see and care for animals that share our living spaces.”
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Fur, Paws & Us:
Co-existing in Shared SpacesDate: 18 Oct 2025, Sat
Time: 11AM - 12:30PM
Led by: Green Nudge
Session Type: Interactive session
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As our urban environment grows denser, learning to co-exist with wildlife and companion animals becomes increasingly important.
In this session, dive into the realities of human-wildlife interactions and explore practical ways to support and shelter abandoned cats in our neighbourhoods. We’ll also discuss how communities can respond to and prevent animal abuse and neglect in shared spaces.
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GREEN NUDGE is a green social enterprise which supports businesses and communities to create a positive environmental impact through activities, outreach, and consulting services. In doing so, we hope to create a normative shift in the way we create and deal with waste so as to achieve a low carbon zero waste Singapore.
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Anyone who wants to help others care better for the animals in their lives and communities
HENG LI SENG
“To gather as whole communities, we need to start with individual seeds and nurture them into gardens where everyone can grow.”
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From the Ground Up:
Growing Good Through Individual PurposeDate: 18 Oct 2025, Sat
Time: 11AM - 12:30PM
Led by: Singapore Government Partnerships Office (SGPO)
Session Type: Interactive Session
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Ever noticed something in your community you'd like to make better? Those small observations often hold the seeds of meaningful change. Join us to discover how your unique perspectives, skills, and networks can create ripples of impact. Sometimes, the most impactful changes start with a simple "what if?"
In this session, we'll explore how your everyday interactions in your neighbourhood and community can shape our shared future. Through engaging activities and conversations, you'll connect with others who care and uncover ways to start making a difference.
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SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIPS OFFICE (SGPO) was officially launched by then-Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong on 19 Jan 2024 to strengthen the government's partnerships and engagements with citizens. The new office is a response to aspirations shared by citizens during the Forward Singapore exercise to shape their communities, as well as co-create policies, public spaces and services.
Singapore faces more complex challenges, and all of us can play a part in shaping our country's future. As Singapore society matures and becomes more diverse, building shared goals and mutual trust between citizens and the government is paramount.
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Anyone who has an idea on how to work on the things that matter to you in your community or neighbourhood
Anyone who has a curiosity about how things in Singapore can be different or better
HASLIZA AHMAD
LYNETTE LEE
PARALLEL BREAKOUT SESSIONS B:
2PM — 4PM
“To gather as whole communities, we need to push the boundaries of accessibility & inclusion in Art.”
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Accessibility & Inclusion in Art:
How can we push the Boundaries of A.I. Art?Date: 18 Oct 2025, Sat
Time: 2PM - 4PM
Led by: Artably
Session Type: Interactive session
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How can we push the boundaries of A.I. Art?
Not Artificial Intelligence nor Adobe Illustrator but… Accessibility & Inclusion in Art!
Join Amin 🧸, the 'Accidental’ Artist-in-Residence from Artably, as he unpacks his creative journey of making art inclusive so that art can be accessible to all, regardless of age or ability. Making art is not just about putting pencil to paper, paint to canvas, stylus pen to touchscreen tablet. For some of us, we need additional assistance and the right conditions to help us be creative and make the art we hope to make.
From common tech platforms to communication tools to collaborative environments, Amin shares how he has created a space and community through Artably where all creatives can feel welcomed, supported and valued.
In this session, Amin will also be joined by long-time collaborators and inclusive champions, Ms Fadillah as well Sayfullah, a differently-abled artist. Together, they will share their stories, challenges and the realities of building creative spaces that are accessible and inclusive for more of us.
Together, let’s ‘push the button’ to play a part in shaping a more inclusive creative community - one shape at a time! 🟦 🟡🔺
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ARTABLY is an inclusive creative studio in Singapore, madly passionate about anything and everything illustration and design. Founded in 2020, our platform is committed towards shaping a more inclusive creative community through the power of art and purposeful storytelling. We believe in supporting impact driven business and organisations to co-create meaningful experiences with a good cause.
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Creatives, Artists, Illustrators, Makers
Art Educators, Facilitators
Tech Leaders
Inclusion Practitioners
AMINUR RASYID
“To gather as whole communities, we need to better support caregivers of special needs children and young adults.”
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It Takes a Village:
A Community for Neurodiverse Children, their Caregivers and PractitionersDate: 18 Oct 2025, Sat
Time: 2PM - 4PM
Led by: InSchool
Session Type: Human Library
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In this Human Library, connect with a community of caregivers and professionals who all care and support neurodiverse children across different stages of life, by sharing your lived experiences, needs and offers with each other.
Representatives from social service agencies, non-profit organisations, non-governmental organisations and social enterprises will also be present to offer insights into schemes, resources and forms of support that address the evolving needs and challenges of caregivers, as well as to help them better prepare for future transitions.
Life Stage: EIPIC
AWWA
CaringSG
Life Stage: Schooling Years (age 7 to 18)
AWWA
SAAS
InSchool
Life Stage: Post-18
SPD
Inclus
SAAS
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INSCHOOL is a social enterprise that provides integrated student care, support, and growth for 7 to 12 year-old students with special needs. We provide our students with the necessary tailored assistance for their healthy personal growth through a meaningful approach, and with a focus on integrating them into mainstream society that is steered towards building an inclusive future.
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Caregivers of special needs children and young adults
EDWARD ZENG
“To gather as whole communities, we need a different way to talk and relate to each other.”
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Living Systems, Living Questions:
What does it mean to commune in an ever-changing world?Date: 18 Oct 2025, Sat
Time: 2PM - 4PM
Led by: Studio Dojo
Session Type: Warm Data Lab
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🔍 Come explore complexity in a way you’ve likely never experienced before — through a Warm Data Lab, an interactive process developed by Nora Bateson.
This is not a panel, not a lecture, not a problem-solving session. It’s a space to broaden your perspective, shift how you see, and connect dots across complex systems and overlapping contexts.
🌿 Be surprised.
Because what emerges isn't in the what we talk about — but how we talk. Most of us approach big questions from the contexts we know best — family, work, education, politics. But sometimes, clarity comes from stepping sideways, seeing through unfamiliar lenses. The world has taught us to compartmentalise. A Warm Data Lab gently unravels that — helping you see the interwoven patterns of life, community, and change.✨ Don’t expect quick fixes. Expect a deeper kind of clarity.
This isn’t about giving you what you want — it’s about uncovering what you might not know you need.🌀 Join us.
Not to find the answer, but to find better ways of communing — together. -
STUDIO DOJO helps designers, teams and companies grow and develop. We do that through training, coaching and advising, as well as supporting the community. Our approach draws from the intersection of four disciplines: Futures Thinking, Design Thinking, Organisational Development and Leadership Development.
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You’re exploring big questions and not looking for quick fixes.
You work with complexity, uncertainty, or systems change.
You’re curious about how to hold conversations that go beyond silos and simple answers.
You want to experience a different, more relational way for whole communities to make sense together.
You value authentic dialogue and are open to being surprised by others’ perspectives.
HONG KHAI SENG
“To gather as whole communities, we need to approach each other with care, consent & cultural sensitivity.”
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Can Research be Ethical?
Approaches to Thoughtful EngagementDate: 18 Oct 2025, Sat
Time: 2PM - 4PM
Led by: The Black Sampan
Session Type: Interactive Session
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Stories have power. How do we tell them with care?
If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to engage ethically with marginalised or underrepresented groups, you’re not alone — navigating these dynamics can be complex. This session draws on lived experience to share real examples and reflective prompts, offering guidance on how research and storytelling can be practiced in ways that truly support and benefit the communities we work with.
Gathering as whole communities means listening with care, honouring lived experiences, and building respectful, accountable relationships.
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THE BLACK SAMPAN is a creative platform that tells stories often left unheard. We collaborate with non-profit organisations and ground-up initiatives to amplify the causes they champion, using storytelling, design, and strategy to make their impact visible, felt, and remembered. Rooted in the belief that creativity can be a powerful force for good, we focus on understanding and uplifting underserved communities. Through thoughtful, human-centred approaches, we aim to bridge gaps, spark dialogue, and build meaningful connections between people and purpose.
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Anyone collecting or sharing community stories (e.g. media personnel or researchers)
Students, educators, and community workers engaging with diverse communities
Practitioners and content creators seeking to be more reflexive and intentional in their work
FIRDAUS SANI
4:30PM — 6PM
Citizen Circles:
What needs to be explored so that more of us can live the Good Life?
WITH
COMMON GROUND
In our closing Citizen Circles, we will come back together as a large group to get curious about the many unique, and sometimes deeply niche, but all equally necessary pieces that make up the larger puzzle of the Good Life.
There are many different things that are important to many different people – all needed to live the Good Life. We invite you to explore the worlds you are curious about and those you never thought to wonder about before.
Tickets on sale now for
Theme 3: How can we gather as whole communities?
Save 20% off full-day tickets!
Early-bird Period: 3 Aug - 23 Sep
Ticketing Information
Connecting Narratives for Change Festival is designed as a full-day experience so that participants may take the time to explore different narratives and find points of connection between them.
Tickets for the festival are primarily sold as All-day Passes, with limited quantities of Single Session Passes for selected Parallel Breakout Sessions. While a limited number of Single Session Passes may be available, we highly encourage participants to join us for the full day so that you can have a more comprehensive festival experience with us!
Purchase your tickets to the festival:
TICKET SALES HAVE ENDEDTICKET SALES HAVE ENDEDTICKET SALES HAVE ENDEDCATEGORY
PRICE (INCL. GST)
All-day Pass
$90
This ticket gives you full-day access to the programmes for the theme of your choice, which include the Opening Session: Citizen Circles, x2 Parallel Breakout Sessions of your choice and the Closing Session: Un-Panel.
Lunch and light refreshments will be provided!
Early-bird All-day Pass - Save 20%!
$72
Secure your spot early and get 20% off when you purchase tickets during the Early-bird Period!
Early-bird Period:
1: How can we build healthier homes? | 23 Jul - 13 Aug
2: How can we create kinder workplaces? | 3 Aug - 23 Aug
3: How can we gather as whole communities? | 3 Sep - 23 Sep
Please note: Early-bird promotion is only applicable for All-Day Pass.
Single Session Pass
$39
This ticket gives you access to x1 Parallel Breakout Session of your choice.
Lunch and light refreshments will be provided!
Please note:
Single Session Pass is only available in limited quantities for selected Parallel Breakout Sessions.
Single Session Pass does not grant you access to the Opening Session: Citizen Circles and the Closing Session: Un-Panel.
Pay-It-Forward :)
$☺
We want to ensure that members of different communities are able to access the festival. If you would also like to contribute, the proceeds from the Pay-it-Forward option goes towards a complimentary or discounted ticket to individuals or communities who may not otherwise be able to afford it.
This contribution will help us give others the same meaningful experience that you’ll have at the festival!
ACCESSIBILITY
We believe in the accessibility of the festival and we want more of us to be part of the change-making process. If cost is a concern, please reach out to us at civiccentre@ourcommonground.com.sg and we’ll work with you to find a solution.
Our programme partners
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Aminur Rasyid
FOUNDER & ARTIST | ARTABLY
A self-taught illustrator and artist who is passionate about using his craft to make a difference. He loved drawing cartoons since childhood and his journey lead him to discovering the power of storytelling as he aspires to communicate meaningful messages and inspire others in significant ways. This session is important to him as he hopes to bring the same joyful experience to others through the workshop.
How can we live the Good Life?
“By pulling others along. You shape not just your story but their stories together.” -
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Brandon Myles
FOUNDER | MYLES & MORE
From film production to creative visual teaching and education, Brandon Myles is all about making messages hit home. With over 25 years in the game, he’s worked with big names like Microsoft, UMW Toyota, Lexus, Standard Chartered, DBS, and OCBC. Brandon’s specialty? Crafting content that doesn’t just connect – it educates and makes a real impact.
How can we live the Good Life?
“By living in the truth of how we've been uniquely made.” -
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Chuen-yin Ng
CO-FOUNDER | BRAVE FEATS STUDENT CARE
Chuen-Yin started her career in education as a Mathematics and Music teacher in secondary school. She is an experienced educator who has held positions as Vice-Principal, Principal and Cluster Superintendent. She was most recently the Principal of Nanyang Girls' High School up till Dec 2022.
She has since left the Ministry of Education and co-founded Brave Feats Student Care to pursue her ideals of education; offering a positive space to empower children. She believes that every child deserves to be joyful and confident.
How can we live the Good Life?
“By showing up with presence, staying curious in the face of complexity, and choosing to act from care, even when it’s hard.” -
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Claudia Poh
FOUNDER | WERABLE
Claudia is the founder of Werable, a design studio at the forefront of inclusive fashion. A Parsons School of Design graduate, her venture into adaptive fashion began when she crafted a coat for a friend with ALS. From hands-free dressing systems to innovative designs that can be worn single-handedly by stroke survivors, Claudia is designer with a deep focus on social innovation.
How can we live the Good Life?
“By designing a world where getting dressed doesn’t get in the way of living, so everyone can participate fully at home, at work, and in society.” -
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Dahlia Mohd
RESEARCH LEAD | LEPAK CONVERSATIONS
Dahlia Mohd is the Research Lead at Lepak Conversations. With her professional expertise in research, she oversees the qualitative and quantitative research on Malay/Muslim issues, filling in an important gap as the Malay/Muslim community is often underrepresented in research studies. Dahlia is also the co-founder of En Pointe & Co., a contemporary multi-label boutique that focuses on Southeast Asian designers, where she also organises and hosts events. Aside from fashion, she is also passionate about refugee work and has been involved with NGOs and schools since 2014.
How can we live the Good Life?
“By showing up with courage and imagination.” -
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Darrell Lian
BUSINESS MANAGER, CO-LEAD (COMMUNITY & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT) | KONTINENTALIST
Darrell leads business and client strategy at Kontinentalist— managing projects, training workshops, and other product offerings. He previously worked on strategic manpower planning and analytics in Singapore’s public sector.
How can we live the Good Life?
“By reflecting.” -
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Dawn Tan
LEAD, TRAINING, CONSULTANCY & RESEARCH | COMMON GROUND
Dawn works in Common Ground to support organizations across public, private, and non-profit sectors to drive culture change through training, leadership development, and facilitation.
She also actively volunteers in community causes, particularly mental health support for underprivileged youth and women.
Coming from a professional background in HR, she has researched policies and strategies in people development, employee engagement, wellbeing, and inclusion.
Dawn is passionate about addressing burnout, stemming from early experiences in the workforce and witnessing peers, especially in the helping professions, struggle with sustaining the good work they do due to demanding job realities and unhealthy leadership cultures.
Dawn believes in clear, empathetic communication and collaborative action to tackle systemic problems like burnout. She hopes to encourage conversations and commitment on creating supportive environments where people can be whole, well and work together meaningfully.
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Edward Zeng
DIRECTOR & CENTRE MANAGER | INSCHOOL
Edward has been part of the disability inclusion and inclusive hiring work for 6 years with Inclus since 2018, working with people with disabilities (PWDs) from the age group of 18+ onwards and helping them to achieve gainful employment and independent living. He eventually expanded the work into InSchool in 2024 to help children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) from the age group of 7-12 by curating individualized personal growth plans for each of them.
Today, he is creating much-needed opportunities for both neurotypical and neurodivergent children and adults to be aware of the SEN landscape and develop understanding, empathy and kindness among the future generations.
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Fezhah Maznan
STRATEGY & PARTNERSHIP LEAD, LEPAK CONVERSATIONS
Fezhah Maznan serves as Strategy & Partnership Lead with Lepak Conversations. She actively finds opportunities for the group to remain self-sustaining in their mission. Professionally, she is a creative producer and performance dramaturg who is interested in democratising access to resources and opportunities for artists who are in the margins, and finding solutions to issues that get in the way of sustaining and growing a creative practice. Fezhah received her pedagogical training during her time as Lecturer and Assistant Programme Chair for Diploma in Arts and Theatre Management, Republic Polytechnic. She also has a certificate in Critical Facilitation from Drama Box (Singapore).
How can we live the Good Life?
“By living in the truth of how we've been uniquely made.” -
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Firdaus Sani
FOUNDER | THE BLACK SAMPAN
Firdaus Sani is the founder of The Black Sampan, a social enterprise that supports local non-profits in fundraising, community programming, and social impact storytelling.
Drawing from his lived experience as a fourth-generation Orang Laut/Pulau descendant and years of work with marginalised communities, Firdaus is passionate about ethical research and engagement, championing approaches that are respectful, community-led, and mutually beneficial.
His earlier work led him to start Orang Laut SG in 2020 to preserve and share the heritage of Pulau Semakau, and he continues to advocate for the inclusion of Indigenous voices in education and public discourse.
Firdaus has shared his perspectives at platforms such as TEDxYouth, the Singapore Writers Festival, and Esplanade Theatre. He was named one of Honeycombers’ Local Legends and featured in Prestige magazine’s 40 under 40. His professional experience also includes time at WWF-Singapore and other non-profit organisations.
How can we live the Good Life?
“By gathering as whole communities with care, consent, and cultural sensitivity -- honouring histories, listening deeply, and building meaningful relationships that support each other’s goals.” -
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Griselda Gabriele
SENIOR MULTIMEDIA DESIGNER & TEAM LEAD (COMMUNITY & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT) | KONTINENTALIST
Griselda is a multimedia designer who is passionate about data literacy and community-led research projects. At Kontinentalist, she works on illustrations, data visualisations, and education initiatives.
How can we live the Good Life?
“By staying curious!” -
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Hasliza Ahmad
DIRECTOR, SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIPS OFFICE (SGPO) | MINISTRY OF CULTURE, COMMUNITY & YOUTH (MCCY)
Hasliza Ahmad is the Director at the Singapore Government Partnerships Office, with a deep commitment to youth development and community building. A youth at heart, she draws energy and inspiration from working with citizens, particularly young people – a passion that has shaped much of her career. Hasliza thrives on bringing people together, fostering collaboration, and building partnerships across diverse backgrounds to tackle shared challenges and drive meaningful change. Beyond work, she enjoys exploring new places, engaging in thoughtful conversations during her travels, and experimenting with initiatives that spark positive social impact.
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Heng Li Seng
FOUNDER | GREEN NUDGE
Li Seng is the founder of Green Nudge, a social enterprise that supports businesses and communities to achieve positive environmental impact through activities such as coastal cleanups, workshops, outreach talks and sustainability consulting.
Li Seng’s experience in the public, community and social enterprise sector since 2013 has reinforced his belief that effective public policies need to be supported by ground-up actions and engagement. In order to create long-lasting change, Li Seng seeks to create change organically and collectively.
Playing an interfacing role within the tri-sector, Li Seng is able to provide sectoral knowledge through a system thinking lens to make informed decisions and strategies. On both a personal and professional front, he is happy to discuss disposables, sustainability of events, public education, and is familiar with corporate social responsibility and community / youth engagement.
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Hong Khai Seng
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR | STUDIO DOJO
Khai Seng started out in the design field in 2004. Before starting Studio Dojo, he was formerly Head of Singapore for Foolproof, an experience design agency. Throughout his career, he has designed large-scale digital systems and facilitated training programmes for C-suite executives and professionals to drive design-oriented organisational changes.
He believes great design is only part of the equation. It is also key to bring sustained impact and cultural changes in how people live and work. Thus, being a certified New Ventures West Integral coach was a turning point – it introduced him to effective ways to help designers be better leaders.
How can we live the Good Life?
“By living good questions.” -
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Kaylee Kua
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | DAUGHTERS OF TOMORROW
A trained engineer, Kaylee is pioneer of Daughters Of Tomorrow, having spent eight years in various capacities including Program & Operations, Employment Bridging, Home-based Childminding and even IT System deployment and support.
Kaylee is committed to DOT’s vision of empowering women through financial independence and improving the socioeconomic mobility of the lower 20th percentile of women population in Singapore. DOT creates opportunities and promotes a more inclusive workplace for women by working with an ecosystem of partners so that low income families can be enabled with mobility.
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Koo Hui Ying
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LEAD | COMMON GROUND
Hui Ying is a Human Connector. She enjoys being in acts of service and connecting with people over walks and tea. With her experiences in the field of hospitality, nature education and community building since 2010, she grew to appreciate and love Singapore. She is also the Lead of Community Development at Common Ground, a pilot civic centre that aims to grow a collaborative environment for people & organisations to explore possibilities of working on social challenges together.
How can we live the Good Life?
“By balancing solitude time and community time.” -
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Samira Hassan
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER | KONTINENTALIST
Samira is the Community Engagement Manager at Kontinentalist where she oversees audience strategy, partnerships, and community platforms. A feminist researcher and facilitator, Samira has over seven years of experience co-creating spaces with queer, migrant, and activist communities across Asia. Her work spans journalism, exhibitions, and workshops that explore migration, mental health, gender justice, and collective memory.
How can we live the Good Life?
“By learning how to show up as our full selves while tending to our relationships with others, and with the land, sea and more-than-human world around us. The good life means taking care of one another, ourselves, and the ecologies we’re part of.” -
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Shiao-yin Kuik
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | COMMON GROUND
Shiao-Yin works as a cultural change strategist. She helps leaders and their organisations close their culture gaps so that their strategies - and people - come alive.
She designs cultural change processes, trains people in strategic change skills, facilitates crucial conversations, coaches change managers and leaders, and develops curriculum to help cascade change.
She is a public communicator. She shares her field notes on leading organisational change as the host of the “Finding Common Ground” podcast and producer of “The Good, Bad & Ugly” newsletter.
Shiao-Yin was also a two-time Nominated Member of Parliament in Singapore (2014-2018) and Philip Yeo Initiative Fellow.
Her 2018 parliamentary speech, "The Power of a People," was published in Epigram's Rational Conversations series of speeches by prominent Singaporeans.
How can we live the Good Life?
“By choosing to work on things that matter - and choosing to work from a place of deep Rest.” -
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Yulianna Frederika
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR | LEPAK CONVERSATIONS
Yulianna Frederika is the Founder and Director of Lepak Conversations, a research and advocacy non-profit that facilitates accessible dialogue on Malay/Muslim issues through educational content on Instagram and offline community events. It tackles pertinent social issues like Muslim women's issues, rental flat residence, and most recently, Malay men's mental health. She also facilitates conversations on race, religion, local-foreigner integration and design thinking with Bold at Work.
How can we live the Good Life?
“By having honest and genuine relationships with one another.”
Our commitment of care at the festival
Our collaborators for the festival are 11 socially-oriented organisations who care deeply about different values, causes and communities of people.
Based on their inputs on what matters to them, here are some things we would like to commit to at the festival so that this can be a joyful, safe and empowering space for more of us.
There’s so much for us to learn! But for now, we welcome you and all our guests to share the following commitments with us.
INCLUSIVITYWe want to welcome
more of us at the civic centre
We have amenities and facilities at the civic centre that you may use so that your time at the civic centre is a comfortable, safe and conducive one.
Separate microwaves and refrigerators for Halal and non-Halal food
Privacy rooms for prayer, nursing, calls/meetings or quiet time
Wheelchair-friendly facilities, such as ramps, lifts and accessible toilets
CommunityPay-it-Forward if you can!
We want to ensure that members of different communities are able to access the festival.
As such, a proportion of the earnings from ticket sales will go towards complimentary tickets to individuals from groups or communities who may otherwise not be able to attend due to financial barriers.
If you would also like to contribute, you may purchase an additional ticket via the Pay-it-Forward ticket category. This contribution will help us give others the same meaningful experience that you’ll have at the festival!
SUSTAINABILITYWe are going GREEN-ER
With the help of Green Boss, Heng Li Seng and Green Nudge, we are greenifying the Festival! The intention this year is not to eliminate, but to reduce and minimise.
That could look like reducing individually wrapped snacks, printing responsibly, reusing items such as lanyards, etc.
You are also strongly encouraged to Bring-Your-Own reusable cups, cutlery and containers for your coffee and snacks!
PrivacyPhotography at the festival
To help us capture the festivities, there will be event photography during the festival.
If you would not like your photos taken, you may approach Front-of-House to receive a coloured lanyard that will indicate your preferences to our photographers, festival team and fellow participants.
WELL-BEINGTaking care of yourself and each other
As you get into conversations with fellow participants, you’ll get to hear stories, insights and perspectives that may resonate with you.
Do be mindful not to share identifiers or personal information without consent.
We ask that we respect everyone’s privacy and to check in with each other on what’s OK and not OK to be shared beyond the festival.
How can we live the Good Life?
Let’s explore at Connecting Narratives for Change Festival 2025.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Lunch and light refreshments will be provided throughout the day for both ticket types (i.e. All-day Pass and Single Session Pass). This will be partially catered by the local businesses in Bedok Central!
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The festival is designed as a full-day experience so that participants will have the time to explore different responses to the theme's central question.
Tickets are primarily sold as full-day passes. With that said, a limited quantity of Single Session Passes are available for selected Parallel Breakout Sessions.
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Sessions are selected on a first-come-first-serve basis when you register for tickets. If you'd like to change themes or sessions, you may write in to civiccentre@ourcommonground.com.sg to check if there are still spots available.
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You can purchase tickets: here!
Please take note of the following ticketing information:
Early-bird Period
How can we build healthier homes? | 23 Jul - 13 Aug
How can we create kinder workplaces? | 3 Aug - 23 Aug
How can we gather as whole communities? | 3 Sep - 23 Sep
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With support from our Resident Partner, Green Nudge, we are finding small, practical and feasible ways to go green. The goal is to minimise, not eliminate and we'll need your help to do so by bringing your own reusable containers.
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If you have any additional questions not listed here, feel free to get in touch with us at civiccentre@ourcommonground.com.sg.