As a masters student in strategic communications management at McMaster University (affiliated with Syracuse University), I am doing my final thesis paper on the role of strategic communications in collective impact. My inspiration is the recent study “When Collective Impact Has An Impact” which identified the use of communication as a largely tactical, rather than a strategic function.
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I recently received an email question from a colleague curious about the different approaches identified in the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) and collective impact frameworks. They commented that ABCD seemed to be more grassroots driven while collective impact seemed to be more top down driven. This question led me to consider our approach at Tamarack to understanding and incorporating different organizing frameworks into our thinking and training. I thought I would share my response with everyone.
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The value and necessity of engaging multiple sectors to work collaboratively to address complex issues is now a widely accepted practice. As recognition of the value and importance of engaging the wisdom and knowledge of “context experts” in Collective Impact initiatives has grown, it has also contributed to a heightened interest in better understanding how to embed authentic engagement as a practice in community change efforts.
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As Cities grow, populations change and become more diverse, new neighbourhoods are built, and older neighbourhoods are being intensified. So, how do you deepen the sense of community? This is the question that the City of Waterloo’s was tasked with when they started to develop their neighbourhood strategy. The City wanted to build a strategy to help define how to support neighbourhoods, facilitate continued growth, and support community members to be empowered to create strong neighbourhoods.
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The GenWell Project, a global human connection movement, is on a mission to make the world a happier and healthier place by reminding people about the importance of face to face human connection and inspiring them to take action and get connected.
The research on the benefits of social connection is clearer than ever before. Spending time with others face to face can reduce anxiety and depression, increase empathy, compassion and resilience and can even make us live longer. Maybe even more importantly in our daily routines, social connection is the single largest indicator of happiness in our lives. For some this may not be news, but for all of us the importance and the clarity of the message likely is.
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How do we get people to change their behaviour? There are many things that people do that contribute to the social challenges we face: people throw away what could be recycled, they waste food, water their lawns in droughts, harm other people, choose not to give their money or time to our most vulnerable residents, and do many other things that don’t benefit themselves, others, and our communities.
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