December is the perfect time to reflect on the year and to look forward towhat can be built in the next year. In Vibrant Communities, 2019 was a year of growth and impact. We are excited to work with our member networks to build on our growth and impact in 2020.
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This famous holiday song brings back so many memories and instantly puts one into a joyful seasonal mood. How much has changed since the song was released in 1945? In the last few years the weather has been bringing up fear as thoughts of climate change permeate our thoughts. Happy holidays! That well-regarded greeting seems harder to share as we recognize the need for less excess – a simpler future.
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For twenty-seven years the Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition (OHCC) supported Healthy Communities initiatives across Ontario and beyond. Following the loss of provincial funding in 2018, after careful consideration the OHCC Board of Directors concluded that the work of OHCC had largely been accomplished. On October 19, 2019, OHCC held it final Annual General Meeting at which members unanimously voted to dissolve the corporation and transfer OHCC’s remaining assets to Green Communities Foundation. While all were saddened by this decision, the mood of the event was very positive as members reflected on OHCC’s accomplishments and confirmed their ongoing commitment to Healthy Communities.
Over the past several months, I have enjoyed participating in a book study of Awakening the Power of Families and Neighborhoods by John McKnight and Peter Block through the Tamarack Institute. This study, led by Jonathan Massimi and facilitated by Heather Keam, offers a brilliant introduction to the principles of community development through the lens of assets and strengths rather than merely meeting needs or confronting challenges.
I love new approaches and ways to improve how I do my community work. Here are three approaches that work well to better your community work.
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Is Community Engagement just lip service or is it empowerment? Is it simply a box to check or a meaningful enquiry? Do we focus on soliciting input to justify our programs and initiatives or do we genuinely seek guidance from the community about how best to serve them? With limited resources, tight timelines and pressure to get things done, it can be overwhelming to think about opening processes up; especially since that could lead to surprises and results that contradict convention. Yet, every time we engage the community we have the opportunity to learn and shape the work in ways that will be meaningful, practical and implementable.
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