Our Community of Practice
at a Glance
The aim of this Neighbourhood Learning Community of Practice (NL CoP) is to bring together a dynamic network of practitioners that are intentionally working together to develop more connected, vibrant, and regenerative neighbourhoods.
By joining this unique CoP you will connect with a diverse network of practitioners that share resources, programs, policies, and best practices for building belonging and strengthening social infrastructure in neighbourhoods.
Join us for our CoP Transition & Closeout
September 10 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET
Since 2022, the Neighbourhood Learning Community of Practice has brought together community builders, practitioners, and changemakers from Canada and abroad to explore what it takes to foster belonging in neighbourhoods through social infrastructure. Together, we've shared stories, tested ideas, learned from one another, and deepened our understanding of what helps communities thrive.
As we bring this chapter to a close, we invite you to join us for our CoP Transition & Closeout, a final gathering focused on reflection, connection, and conversation.
This is not a presentation
Think of it as a potluck in the park. Everyone arrives with something to contribute, whether it's a story, a lesson learned, a question, a challenge, or a source of inspiration. We're creating a space to collectively reflect on the conversations we've had around belonging, neighbourhoods, and social infrastructure, and to learn from one another one last time as a Community of Practice.
We'll also share a few opportunities and pathways for staying connected with Tamarack and continuing to engage virtually with others who are passionate about this work.
To help create a meaningful experience, we ask participants to come prepared to engage:
- Be ready to unmute and join the conversation.
- Keep your camera on whenever possible.
- Participate in discussions and shared reflection.
Much like a community potluck, this gathering works best when everyone contributes.
If you'll be travelling, multitasking, or unable to actively participate,
this may not be the right session for you.
We're intentionally designing this as a space for connection rather than observation.
If you'd like to join us for this final gathering, please complete the registration form below and let us know you'll be there.
Thank you for being part of this learning community over the years. We look forward to connecting with you, celebrating what we've learned together, and exploring how we can continue to advance this work beyond the Community of Practice.
For any specific accommodation requests or technical considerations to make your participation easier, please reach out to Jorge at jorge@tamarackcommunity.ca
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 - Get Parked – Activating Local Parks in Vaughan. Speaker: Mark Pajot
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 (he/him/il) - Director, Networks for Change

Jorge stewards a network of networks committed to ending poverty in all its forms. He collaborates with leaders from across sectors to implement community-led initiatives that address economic poverty, strengthen our relationships with the planet and each other, and advance promising career pathways for youth.
A newcomer with strong roots in México, Jorge previously led Tamarack's Canada-wide movement that mobilized thousands of local champions to counter polarization by centring belonging as a policy priority. His career in the non-profit and philanthropic sectors, including roles at the Metcalf Foundation and the McConnell Foundation, is guided by core values of generosity, warmth, and authenticity. A realistic optimist, Jorge believes in everyone’s potential to build just and regenerative futures. He also advocates for cities of all sizes to be catalysts for social transformation. Jorge currently serves on the Board of Directors of Fondation Béati and co-stewards the foundation's strategic development committee.
