Strategic Directions for the CPN
A summary & next steps
In mid-2023, the CPN Executive Committee (“Exec”) began the task of carving a path for the future of the CPN. We reflected on how we can be intentional and realistic while supporting the future of CPN. This led us to a consultation phase, interviewing CPN members who responded to our call for participation:
Then, some ideas from the interviews were further explored through some CPN Cafés. While cafés are not formal or recorded, they have been another opportunity to have deeper conversations on many issues, including building the future of CPN.
These conversations have energized us to continue moving forward. As we shared earlier, the clear consensus is that the Critical Physiotherapy Network needs to exist: that the Network is an important, needed community; and its vision written by founding members remains meaningful. Reflections shared have consistently emphasized the collective and individual benefits of CPN involvement and what it means to call ourselves critical physiotherapists, as well as the challenges of the CPN operating as an volunteer-supported network. There are opportunities to shift and grow to meet the present movement and re-build a thriving CPN.
After one and a half years of consultations, meetings, and discussions, the CPN Exec is very pleased to share with you the key findings and priorities to re-imagine our work. These integrate participants’ and Exec views on the CPN’s past, present, and future. Being intentional about priorities in the next few years is extremely important for the CPN Exec, recognizing our current capacities for time-demanding activities.
To focus our everyday work, we have committed to two priorities:
· Supporting ‘critical products’ like lectures, publications, conferences, or more
· Emphasizing ‘inclusive communications’, such as through active social media use, engaging in more languages, and welcoming new, curious physiotherapists to critical physiotherapy
In terms of strategic, future oriented directions, we have committed to two priorities:
· Amplifying the experiences of equity-denied communities
· Re-imagining and expanding the scope of what we call ‘critical physiotherapy scholarship
If you’ve like to read the full details, please click here
What’s next?
In June and July, we will focus the cafe discussions to specific actions within these priorities. For example, the inclusive communications topic itself could emphasize social media use, re-building a functioning website, having new ways to welcome and introduce new members to critical physiotherapy, and/or engaging in additional languages. At present, the executive committee members cannot do all of those things, so we need either prioritize or do more work with those CPN folks who can lead or support specific activities.
So please review the longer document, and look for future Substacks with the times and links for June and July cafés.
We appreciate your patience, and hope these directions spark something for you, as we collectively foster the next decade of critical physiotherapy.