--- title: "The Power of Connection and Collaboration: Reflections from Celebrating Neighbours – Measuring the Impact of ABCD" description: In this blog post, Connor Judge, Manager of Cities at the Tamarack Institute, shares his reflections from the recent Celebrating Neighbours – Measuring the Impact of ABCD event. image: https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/2022_abcd_featuredimage.png --- [![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 Power of Connection and Collaboration: Reflections from Celebrating Neighbours – Measuring the Impact of ABCD Posted on July 20, 2022 [By Connor Judge](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/connor-judge) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Last month, the Deepening Community team hosted Tamarack's first in-person event in over two years. This blog post is a reflection of the most significant learning I took away from the event.  **  ![Neighbours event](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Neighbours%20event.jpeg?width=350&name=Neighbours%20event.jpeg)As I think back to our June 2022 event in London, Ontario, there were many learnings for me, personally – too many to include in one blog post. However, one particular observation struck me: the power of connection. There were several examples of this throughout our three-day gathering, but one that resonated with me came from our introductory keynote presentation from [John McKnight](https://johnmcknight.org/), co-founder of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute[.](https://johnmcknight.org/) In his discussion, John talked about how, through [Asset-Based Community Development](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/library/guide-asset-based-community-development-at-a-glance?hsLang=en-us) approach, the power of the individual gifts every resident possesses means nothing unless they are shared with everyone in the neighbourhood. Connection is an essential catalyst to turn individual gifts into an asset that can be harnessed for the benefit of a broader community. As he explained: "That's the wonderful thing. Everybody has gifts. And if you see with new eyes, then the neighbourhood becomes so rich. ... In a neighbourhood that has its way, it knows that it has untapped riches and people waiting to contribute." Through connection, a community begins to realize the depth and breadth of the gifts of its members. And individuals realizing the power they bring to and have as part of the whole is an important component of deepening community.   ### Connecting with similar communities The work of our changemakers, especially those directly or indirectly contributing to our [Deepening Community](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/citiesdeepeningcommunity?hsLang=en-us) movement, is not easy, especially if feels like you're doing this work by yourself. This is why we strive to create opportunities for those working in similar areas across Canada to connect, often accomplished through our various [Communities of Practice](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/eventlisting#cops).  While the context between the places where people work does influence the success of certain programs, there are valuable lessons that can be taken away.  ### Two dimensions of connection For those of us who work in the [Deepening Community](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/citiesdeepeningcommunity?hsLang=en-us) movement, we see connection as having two main dimensions. #### Connecting at the community level The first dimension is the guiding reason for doing this work. It's the importance of creating connections at the community level to increase social capital and decrease social isolation within our communities. Our event partner, [GenWell Project](https://genwellproject.org/), has a variety of resources on this topic area for those looking to dive deeper. [The video below](https://youtu.be/n3Xv_g3g-mA) from the animation studio [Kurzgesagt](https://kurzgesagt.org/) does an excellent job of explaining the importance of addressing loneliness. This video focuses more on the bio-medical side of loneliness, which to some degree is encompassed within the work [Deepening Community](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/citiesdeepeningcommunity?hsLang=en-us).  A factor that is not necessarily captured within this video is the role of civic participation, which we believe will increase as more people become connected and become aware of the power they have when they work together.    Loneliness - from Kurzegesagt #### Connecting at the peer level The second dimension of this work is to create connections between individuals or organizations doing similar work. In the same capacity that social capital is good for your health and well-being as an individual, having a well-established network of individuals doing similar community development work is beneficial to the well-being of your organization. When working with the community, especially at the neighbourhood levels, it's invaluable to be connected with other organizations in the area. I saw this first hand at our event, where [two of our members ](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/library/vibrant-communities-cities-deepening-community-membership?hsLang=en-us)doing similar work in the same city were introduced to each other. With this relationship, they can leverage their shared learnings on how to engage stakeholders, government or their respective communities. When starting out a project, it is easy to fall into the trap of designing everything from scratch. I'm sharing this story to remind our readers that you don't need to reinvent the wheel in order to make meaningful change.  ### Join a Community of Practice Looking to get connected? Our Communities of Practice are a great starting place to begin making those connections. Deepening Community offers 4 public Communities of Practice: [Neighbourhood Learning Community, ](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/neighbourhoodlearningcommunity_cop?hsLang=en)[Citizens & Emergency Preparedness, ](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/citizens_emergency_preparedness_cop?hsLang=en)[Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Canada ](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/abcd_cop?hsLang=en)and [Community Safety](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/cop-neighbourhood-safety?hsLang=en). We also have a Community of Practice exclusively for our 44 members across Canada. Want to learn more about membership? Check out [our membership brochure ](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/library/vibrant-communities-cities-deepening-community-membership?hsLang=en-us)or[ reach out to me directly](mailto:connor@tamarackcommunity.ca).    ### Further learning: - Learn more about the work of [Deepening Community](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/citiesdeepeningcommunity?hsLang=en-us) - Read: [10 - A Guide for Deepening Community](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/library/10-a-guide-for-deepening-community?hsLang=en-us) - Register for our upcoming webinar on August 31: [Making Community Essential: Seven Impacts for Communities and the Policy Shifts to get there](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/making-community-essential-seven-impacts-for-communities-and-the-policy-shifts-to-get-there?hsLang=en) - Register for our upcoming webinar on September 14: [Evaluating the Impact of Citizens Sharing Their Gifts – Lessons Learned from Abundant Community Edmonton](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/evaluating-the-impact-of-citizens-sharing-their-gifts-lessons-learned-from-abundant-community-edmonton?hsLang=en) - Register for the [Foundations for Building a Neighbourhood Strategy online course](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/courses-foundations-for-building-a-neighbourhood-strategy?hsLang=en-us) Topics: [ABCD](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/abcd), [Community Development](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/community-development), [Isolation](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/isolation), [CDC Blogs](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/cdc-blogs), [CDC Publications](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/cdc-publications), [Homepage Blog](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/homepage-blog), [Connor Judge](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/connor-judge) ![Connor Judge](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Connor-Judge-square.jpeg) ### By [Connor Judge](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/connor-judge) With a degree in Health Studies with a minor in Political Science from the University of Waterloo, Connor has a deep understanding of the social determinants of health and its intersection with policy. From his time as in intern at Tamarack, he was able to intertwine his understanding of health with the theory of asset based community development. This led Connor to pursue an action-oriented masters of Public Health and Health systems at the University of Waterloo. His research was focused on understanding how an Indigenous self-government in the Northwest Territories can increase food access through a mobile abattoir. In addition, his research critically investigated the use of language within contemporary treaty texts to understand if the local food system is within the jurisdiction of an Indigenous self-government. Connor's experiences spans program evaluation, community-based research, food sovereignty and and policy analysis. He believes food insecurity is a symptom of poverty, thus an important piece of the complex puzzle that is poverty to address. He is a strong believer that food can be a powerful vehicle to build relationships, develop community and act as a catalyst for social change. [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-judge/) ## Related Posts [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/ABCD-2.png)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/three-benefits-of-asset-based-community-development-abcd-for-communities-and-governments?hsLang=en-us) #### [Three Benefits of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) for Communities (and Governments)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/three-benefits-of-asset-based-community-development-abcd-for-communities-and-governments?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/pexels-lina-kivaka-1740897.jpg)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/a-year-in-review-with-deepening-communities?hsLang=en-us) #### [The Holiday Season Brings out the Best in Our Communities](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/a-year-in-review-with-deepening-communities?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/photo%20for%20diversity.jpg)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/the-gifts-of-strangers-understanding-the-benefits-of-diversity?hsLang=en-us) #### [The Gifts of Strangers: Understanding the Benefits of Diversity](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/the-gifts-of-strangers-understanding-the-benefits-of-diversity?hsLang=en-us) [![BACK TO THE LATEST](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/e6ffa9bb-4467-4833-8ecc-eb340b11d829.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/e6ffa9bb-4467-4833-8ecc-eb340b11d829) [![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. Get the latest updates, events and resources about community change. [Learn More](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/subscribe?hsLang=en-us) Tamarack Institute © 2023