--- title: The Latest | Heather Keam (2) description: 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. (2) --- [![20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Administration/Tamarack%20Logos/20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png?width=200&height=47&name=20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png "20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) # The Latest Contribute. We love to hear your thoughts, your musings and your latest work. Please share with us! [![Write a post](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/33819a55-1164-4664-8ab0-c9fe2f42d6f1.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/33819a55-1164-4664-8ab0-c9fe2f42d6f1) #### Subscribe. Be in the know. Get the latest updates about community change and building vibrant communities. 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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. ### Recent Posts [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Photos/Image%20Library/Hands%20together.jpeg) ](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/it-takes-a-mindshift-to-put-citizens-at-the-center-of-your-work?hsLang=en-us) ### [It takes a mindshift to put citizens at the center of your work](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/it-takes-a-mindshift-to-put-citizens-at-the-center-of-your-work?hsLang=en-us) Posted by [Heather Keam](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/heather-keam) on November 12, 2020 Have you ever thought about whose role is it to build community? Whose role is it to fix the problems? Is it government, maybe social service programs? Is it groups and associations? Sometimes, I think that communities are looking for a superhero to swoop in and fix all their problems. But this superhero does not exist. What we need is a group of superheroes such as Marvel's Avengers, with each hero bringing their own gift and knowledge, and when its used as a group big changes can happen. [Read More](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/it-takes-a-mindshift-to-put-citizens-at-the-center-of-your-work?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Photos/Image%20Library/Happy%20People.jpeg) ](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/the-importance-of-connecting-older-persons-to-community?hsLang=en-us) ### [The Importance of Connecting Older Persons to Community](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/the-importance-of-connecting-older-persons-to-community?hsLang=en-us) Posted by [Heather Keam](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/heather-keam) on October 30, 2020 Humans are social beings and are hardwired to want to be with people. When we are born, we thrive on connections but as we age those connections become harder and harder to keep leading us to be lonely. Loneliness can affect anyone but is more common amongst older persons 65 and older. The 2013 StatsCan study indicates that 1 in 3 individuals over the age of 65 are lonely. Additionally, a 2019 Angus Reid report indicated that those who are 55+ with incomes of less than $50,000 were twice as likely to be both lonely and isolated, and were more than twice as likely to be single and living alone. [Read More](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/the-importance-of-connecting-older-persons-to-community?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Disaster%20Recovery%20Pandemic%20Way.jpg?width=300&name=Disaster%20Recovery%20Pandemic%20Way.jpg) ](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/disaster-recovery-the-pandemic-way?hsLang=en-us) ### [Disaster Recovery the Pandemic Way](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/disaster-recovery-the-pandemic-way?hsLang=en-us) Posted by [Heather Keam](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/heather-keam) on September 15, 2020 The pandemic has affected our jobs, families, and communities. We now see organizations and groups looking for the right way to move into the recovery phase of the pandemic. Since these are unprecedented times, there are no templates or formulas on how we can work through recovery. I have come across three publications that outline a path to recovery in which community is put at the center. [Read More](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/disaster-recovery-the-pandemic-way?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Photos/Image%20Library/party%20neighbourhood%20celebration%20balloon%20colour%20celebrate%20good%20happy%205%203.jpg) ](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/dont-cancel-neighbours-day-celebration-is-what-we-need?hsLang=en-us) ### [Don’t Cancel Neighbours Day…Celebration is What We Need!](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/dont-cancel-neighbours-day-celebration-is-what-we-need?hsLang=en-us) Posted by [Heather Keam](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/heather-keam) on May 20, 2020 COVID-19 has brought on some positive changes like the gift of time, slowing life down, more time with family but it has also caused lots of sadness and disappointment due to cancelled group celebrations and fun. The weather is starting to warm up, the sun is out, and the flowers are blooming. This is the time of the year that cities are planning their Neighbours Day celebrations.  [Read More](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/dont-cancel-neighbours-day-celebration-is-what-we-need?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Photos/Image%20Library/Community_Images_Puzzle-1.jpg) ](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/community-is-all-around-us-when-we-open-our-eyes-and-hearts?hsLang=en-us) ### [Community is All Around Us When We Open Our Eyes and Hearts](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/community-is-all-around-us-when-we-open-our-eyes-and-hearts?hsLang=en-us) Posted by [Heather Keam](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/heather-keam) on March 31, 2020 I come from a small town and know firsthand that change is not always widely accepted or embraced. But in light of this pandemic, I’ve seen our community rally together and change has happened organically and fast. A few weeks ago, my local church had planned its annual Irish Stew night. 24 hours before the event, we got notice that large gatherings were to be cancelled or suspended. This is a big social event for our church members and community, and cancelling it meant socializing would be lost. So, we got creative. [Read More](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/community-is-all-around-us-when-we-open-our-eyes-and-hearts?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/VC/Images/storytelling.jpg) ](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/the-importance-of-stories-in-community-work?hsLang=en-us) ### [The Importance of Stories in Community Work](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/the-importance-of-stories-in-community-work?hsLang=en-us) Posted by [Heather Keam](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/heather-keam) on March 11, 2020 Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) is simple, usable and transferable to any community. The basis on an ABCD approach is that local assets are identified, and unconnected assets are connected by a local connector. The ABCD approach is also simple because it focuses on 6 assets - individual resident capacities, local associations, neighbourhood institutions, physical assets, exchange between neighbours, and lastly, maybe even most importantly, **stories.** [Read More](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/the-importance-of-stories-in-community-work?hsLang=en-us) [Previous](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/heather-keam/page/1) [Next](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/heather-keam/page/3) [![20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Administration/Tamarack%20Logos/20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png?width=3401&name=20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png "20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) ### Tamarack [Home](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) [Latest](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest) [Events](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/eventlisting?hsLang=en-us) [Donate](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/donate?hsLang=en-us) [About](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/whoweare?hsLang=en-us) ### Follow Us [** ** ](https://www.facebook.com/TamarackInstitute) [** ** ](https://twitter.com/Tamarack_Inst) [** ** ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tamarack-institute-for-community-engagement)   In the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and truth we honour and acknowledge that our work occurs across Turtle Island (North America), which has been home since time immemorial to the ancestors of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples. ### Subscribe Be in the know. 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