Carolyn Vincent is an advocate for authentic connection to self, others and the community. Known as the Connection Ninja, she has initiated six community projects since 2014 in her home suburbs of Woolloongabba and new neighbourhood of Moorooka.
These include the Go Gabba Go community building project, All Aboard Moorooka community picnics project, Hello Moorooka (formerly known as Turn off the TV and Turn on the Neighbourhood), Imagine Moorooka (about creating a dream suburb), Mission Litter Pickup and Community Cleanup and Picnic Project.
“When I reflect on my childhood, I realised that this came about because of the many different types of community events that were organised by residents that organically facilitated lots of intergenerational interactions. All generations had the opportunity to be involved in organizing community events.”
She said her passion for building community and strong connected neighbourhoods came from her own life’s journey of letting herself get isolated emotionally over 22 years of married life.
“When my marriage finally broke down in 2010, I realised that I did not have much support at a time when I needed it most,” she said.
“As I reflected on my life, I saw how far I had drifted from being connected and supported by others. I made a conscious decision to go out and proactively create a support network for myself and in doing so, I realised there were many people in the same boat as me.”
Carolyn’s projects have created strong engagement from the community and attracted support from TV, radio and print media, as well as local and state government. ABC Radio selected her as a Community Correspondent from 2014-2016 to cover various community events and issues.
She was nominated for Brisbane City Council’s Local Legends Awards in 2015 and was nominated by five people for the 2018 Brisbane Cleaner Suburbs award in the individual category, in recognition of her most recent Mission Litter Pickup project.
Her Imagine Moorooka project won a $10,000 grant from Brisbane City Council. Part of the funds are being used to deliver a community leadership training program for more than 20 Moorooka residents who want to start community projects.
As a public speaker, she speaks on the importance of authentic connection, building community and living with passion. From 2011 to 2016, she was an active member and speaker of a ‘faith community’ called St. Mary’s in Exile and was elected to the community Faith Council in 2012.
In 2016, she spoke at Gabba Councillor Jonathan Sri’s pre-campaign event and at the Women’s Planning Symposium at South Bank. In 2017, she addressed Community Development students at Griffith University.
Before her involvement in community projects, she had 22 years experience in running several successful retail businesses with her ex husband.
They built Luggage Direct Pty Ltd from a three-metre market stall to an $8 million business in 15 years. The family business has since been sold and Carolyn has reinvented herself around what she loves doing, which is building community.
She is now a certified facilitator for the ‘Passion Test’ and ‘Passion Test for Business’ and the Queensland Co-ordinator for the Australian branch of the Pay It Forward Foundation.
“Connecting you with Passion and Purpose”