
Neighbourhood Learning
Community of Practice
Next Meeting: June 24, 2025 (1:00 - 2:00 pm ET)
As part of the Strategy for Belonging Working Group, this joint session will delve into how social infrastructure builds belonging. Register here to receive a calendar invitation and the Zoom details a week prior to the call.
Our Community of Practice
at a Glance
The aim of this Neighbourhood Learning Community of Practice (NL CoP) is to develop a dynamic network of practitioners that are intentionally working together to develop more connected, vibrant, and resilient neighbourhoods.
By joining this unique community of practice you will connect and collaborate with a diverse network of practitioners that share resources, programs, policies, and best practices for building belonging and strengthening social infrastructure in neighbourhoods.
Participate in our Upcoming Community of Practice Conversation
Date: June 24 (1:00 - 2:00 pm ET)
Investing in Belonging: The Role of Social Infrastructure
This session is connected to the Strategy for Belonging Working Group. Learn more
Join us for a conversation on the vital role of social infrastructure in fostering belonging. Through collective learning, we are inviting participants to share examples of initiatives that are creating stronger communities by bridging divides and building connections across diverse groups.
Our group will also examine practical strategies for developing social infrastructure that supports belonging. The findings from the working group conversations will guide the evolution of the movement for a Canada-wide Strategy for Belonging.
Register here or complete the form below to receive a calendar invitation and the Zoom details a week prior to the call.
About the Strategy for Belonging Working Group
The Strategy For Belonging (S4B) Working Group is an opportunity to contribute directly to making community belonging a policy priority and outcome in Canada. We invite all voices and perspectives to participate. Whether you're a community leader, a concerned neighbour, or simply someone who cares about building a more cohesive society, your input is vital.
We are committed to centring equity and finding common ground to create positive impact. Please consult our values section to learn more about how we aspire to shape our belonging movement through the Working Group.
Below are key considerations in preparation for our time together:
- A working group is a team of people who come together around a specific topic or problem to propose solutions and make recommendations for how to solve it or move forward.
- Anyone can join a working group!
- By participating in the Strategy for Belonging Working Group you can contribute directly to making community belonging a policy priority in Canada.
For any specific accommodation requests or technical considerations to make your participation easier, please reach out to Amanda at amanda@tamarackcommunity.ca
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Countries

Practitioners
Resource Library
2025
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March 25 - Creating Cultures of Belonging through Brave Leadership. Speaker: Emma Pears
- June 24 - Investing in Belonging: The Role of Social Infrastructure
This session is part of the Strategy for Belonging Working Group series
- September 25 -
2024
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October 2024 - The Role of Neighbourhood Associations in Building Belonging (Passcode $gQ4yT.0) | In collaboration with Jenna Petersen, Neighborhood Impact Coordinator at Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity
- June 2024 - Planning for Diversity: Social Infrastructure in Smaller Canadian Communities (Passcode UM!sQK3) | In collaboration with Ryan Lok, PhD in Planning Candidate. University of Waterloo
- April 2024 - Shifting Policies, Practices, and Conditions for Belonging: Exploring the Action Guide for Building Socially Connected Communities (Passcode r^1Y3U&7) | In collaboration with Foundation for Social Connection
- February 2024 - A Practical Way to Celebrate Local Wisdom and Increase Social Connectedness | In Collaboration with Life.School.House
2023
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November 2023 - Cambridge Neighbourhood Development - A Municipal Model for Supporting Place-Based Change
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September 2023 - Rethinking Indigenous Engagement - An Introduction to a Two-eyed Seeing Approach
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August 2023 - Centring Equity at the Table in Community Building
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May 2023 - Failure is The Condiment That Gives Success its Flavour
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March 2023 - Building Inclusive Neighbourhoods - Where and How to Start
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January 2023 - Engaging Vertically - Lessons Learned from the City of Toronto and City of Vancouver
2022
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November 2022 — Demystifying Policy – Building our Collective Understanding of What Exactly Policy is
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September 2022 — Unravelling Community Development - Shifting the Power to Community
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July 2022 — From Block Parties to Citizenship!
Meet Your Community of Practice Facilitator
Jorge Garza - Director, Communities Building Belonging
Jorge (he/him/il) is leading a growing Canada-wide, asset-based movement that supports municipalities, institutions, and individuals to increase the collective sense of belonging. At Tamarack, he is excited to engage with more than 8,000 learners and over 1,600 local champions in making community belonging a policy priority in Canada. Previously, Jorge worked at the Metcalf Foundation, where he supported the development of its poverty reduction program. He also worked at the McConnell Foundation, where he contributed to the development of its place-based portfolio and explored the role of philanthropy in cultivating a more equitable society.
Jorge is a realistic optimist who loves being in community. He believes in everyone’s potential to build just futures. Jorge brings a diverse background of experience in strategy development, program design, and urban policy. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Fondation Béati.