We Can Design Belonging, a report recently released by the Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation, researched the experience of belonging for residents of Kitchener, Waterloo and Woolwich and outlines an approach to improving people's sense of belonging in their region.
The report confirms, "belonging benefits individuals and communities...and is associated with good outcomes, such as relationship-building, self-growth, helping others, collaborating, being cared for and having fun." Its in-depth look at belonging reveals that this frequently used yet loosely defined concept is the result of a complex array of experiences and contributing factors. Key findings of the report include:
- Life Transitions Impact Belonging - For individuals, times of transition in one's life such as: immigration, moving, graduating, starting a family, or retiring can be particularly challenging to one's sense of belonging;
- Newcomers Need Specific Attention - Overall, residents of the region are keen to welcome newcomers but improvement in this area is still needed, particularly for those who have English as a second language;
- Suburban Community Design Challenges Belonging - Residents in the region's suburban areas face more challenges in establishing a sense of belonging, in part because the design of these areas offers fewer opportunities to interact informally with one another; and,
- Greater Links between Academia and Community Needed - The region's strong academic community is considered to be quite distinct from the community overall and more should be done to integrate students and faculty into the life of the community.
Students of community will appreciate a section in the We Can Design Belonging report titled "The Opportunity Space" which explores the notion of belonging within the context of changes that are happening both locally and globally to uncover the challenges and opportunities for creating belonging that are unique to our times. Community-builders and facilitators will appreciate the report's "The Methods" section which offers an overview of the various qualitative methodologies used to undertake the research and datacollection used to generate the report's findings.
Few would argue that having a strong sense of belonging is important to both individuals and communities. We Can Design Belonging is to be commended for its contribution to furthering our collective understanding of the factors that contribute to - or undermine - one's sense of belonging and providing a deeper appreciation of the benefits, opportunities and strategies available to those eager to enhance it.
Learn more:
- Download We Can Design Belonging
- Visit The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation website
- Join www.deepeningcommunity.ca, a Learning Community for individuals exploring the power and possibility of community.
