30 Oct, 2023

ARTICLE | Community Belonging: A Way to End Poverty in Canada

By Heather Keam

How can community belonging help to reduce poverty in Canada?

In the vast and culturally rich landscape of Canada, two hidden gems in our fight against poverty are the power of community and our sense of belonging. Poverty isn't just about financial security; it is deeply intertwined within our social fabric. By understanding the social aspects of poverty and the transformative impact of feeling like you belong, we can pave the way towards a better future for everyone who lives in Canada.

In this article, Tamarack’s Heather Keam explores how belonging is a social pathway to ending poverty in Canada. She digs into micro, meso, and macro belonging, social capital, belonging’s economic impact, and more. Join us in calling on the Canadian government for a national belonging strategy!

Deepen your learning

"Why now? It has to be now!"
Watch our Belonging Webinar Highlights with former Mayor of Victoria Lisa Helps on Linkedin or Instagram.

Learn about our call for a National Belonging Strategy and sign the pledge!
Discover our Belonging Circle of Actions Cohort
Webinar: Kim Samuel on Belonging: Finding connection in the age of isolation

Author

Heather Keam

Heather works with municipalities and organizations to build strategies that put people at the center using Asset-Based Community Development. With over 22 years of experience in community development, she uses an ABCD approach to center people and belonging in the development of community plans and strategies through coaching and training staff teams, facilitation, and writing about ABCD and Belonging. She has a passion for the power of people and believes that people and communities are the solutions to local problems. She believes that we need to build a sense of community belonging so that people are connected to their community, and their place within it and get involved in decision-making. She also believes that municipalities need to shift the way they show up in community from doing “for” to supporting communities to do themselves.

Heather Keam Resources