BELONGING: A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION COLUMBIA VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AUGUST 22, 2017 EVENT SUMMARY PREPARED BY READY TO RAISE

Transcription

1 BELONGING: A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION COLUMBIA VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AUGUST 22, 2017 EVENT SUMMARY PREPARED BY READY TO RAISE

2 Why Belonging? Belonging is not just a feeling, it s a powerful catalyst for healthier communities and a more cohesive, inclusive Canada. ~Community Foundations of Canada, EVENT OUTCOMES & AGENDA 1. Learn from multiple voices about what creates a personal and collective sense of belonging. 2. Unearth existing opportunities and strengths for creating belonging. 3. Focus on solutions discover the people, the next steps and the actions that will strengthen community belonging. Agenda Defining Belonging Uncovering Strengths Setting Actions Next Steps 2

3 1. DEFINING BELONGING WHAT DOES COMMUNITY BELONGING MEAN TO YOU? bottom-up decision making knowing a diverse group of people willingness to put community first feeling welcome and a part of the community safe feels like home relationships built around caring a recognition of shared values while accepting individual differences friends local and global participation contribution feeling at ease knowing and the ability to converse with folks at event sharing activity-pursuit goals feeling welcome and invited when I m new to a group asked to contribute to common efforts accessibility flexibility how to meet like-minded people to volunteer, for recreation, for carpooling being accepted giving back making it a better place for everyone building relationships sense of place proud of the valley s accomplishments helping/supporting those in tough situations being supported and challenged at the same time having the sense that your efforts matter being able to make a difference welcoming the efforts of others safe to be yourself part of something greater than myself care for and nurture one-another compassionate communities welcoming communities we get each others backs membership in a group with common goals and interests supporting broader feeling of community caring and responsibility opportunity relationships respect 3

4 acknowledgment inclusion contribution considered sense of community welcome feeling part of something bigger than self knowing community members achieving a comfort level with others familiarity knowing it is safe to admit fault/weakness participating in activities together welcoming representative of actual demographics feeling connected supported shared beliefs and philosophies basic rights acceptance encouraged respected included acceptance of your authentic self openness to new ideas sharing ideas open to newcomer welcoming curious feel embraced by a community To build a sense of belonging requires active effort and practice. ~Karyn Hall 4

5 2. UNCOVERING STRENGTHS WHEN & WHERE: STORIES OF COMMUNITY BELONGING Participants were asked, When and where do you experience a sense of belonging. Listed below are specific situations mentioned in their personal stories. The examples are themed and organized according to the categories described by the Community Foundation of Canada indicating what influences our sense of belonging and connection to community (2015 National Report). Personal & Social Connections: time spent with family, friends & neighbours Shared experiences and passions Community Connections: neighbours helping neighbours Community support through husband s death Neighbours shovelling snow for one another Pot-lucks Social Inclusion & Diversity: being welcomed and including people different than we are Neighbours welcoming new families Engagement & Participation: Going to event, playing sports, volunteering Club membership shared sports (biking, hiking, skiing, golf etc.) Being involved with groups (church, condo groups, legion, coffee klatches, participating on non-profit boards) Active volunteering Slow Food Events Speaker Series Wings over the Rockies Farmers Market Political Inclusion: being involved and influencing decisions that affect community Community consultations and meetings (e.g. debris slide conversation in 2012) 5

6 Take-Aways from the Stories about Belonging Although the story sharing was initially framed with a strength-based focus by asking what works to build belonging, it became clear that there also needed to be space to share the challenges that people may experience. What Works to Create More Belonging Taking the initiative to engage and getting involved When you receive an invite and feel welcome Attend! Join! Build on formal and informal connections Trust + Familiarity + Need = Belonging Trust people Find what you care about (interests) and volunteer around it Not being pressed for time to meet others and really get to know them Create your own opportunities (e.g. introduce yourself) Uncovering and healing all aspects of belonging Find the opportunity in times of change To have a true sense of Challenges Identified in the stories belonging one needs to feel embraced by a Isolation community and in small Got my BC plates- phew! towns that is hard. Hyper-sensitivity of what others think ~Participant Finding people with common interests Have heard it s hard for 2 nd home owners to break in Riffs exist among outsiders and insiders Barriers differ for different age demographics (e.g. those without kids) Being aware that newcomers are unfamiliar with the places and faces of the community (e.g. Even a new grocery store can feel intimidating). Aging alone in the community Feeling a sense of belonging, but not of connection Accessibility (travel and timing limitations) Hard to know about volunteer opportunities The pioneer spirit that draws people to the Valley can create barriers to connecting Local business owners are not available to attend meetings/events (working) Hard to feel belonging when only here part of the time (e.g. traveling) Same group of people showing up at meetings and events and volunteering 6

7 3. SETTING ACTIONS IDEA BRAINSTORM TO SUSTAIN & STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY BELONGING Personal & Social Connections: time spent with family, friends & neighbours Community Potlucks Community shared meals with a service groups taking on a meal monthly Impromptu meals Holiday meals Coffee Klatch 4pm Friday Socials Dance Party Music Fest Community Connections: neighbours helping neighbours Bartering system in cooperative space Volunteer swap (you help us, we help you) * e.g. free tickets to events for helping Senior home visits The local Buy & Swap Facebook Group is SO popular utilize it! New Style Welcome Wagon or ambassador initiative Intentional communities Resource website Ride sharing to town, Cranbrook, lunch out 30 Day help you neighbour challenge Social Inclusion & Diversity: being welcomed and including people different than we are Families that are new to the community welcome them First Nations inclusion Newspaper expose on cultural differences Create a community collaboration toolkit Welcome in classified (instead of Cheers & Jeers) Block parties with ethnic theme Welcome survey what do you want to learn, what do you need? Accessibility Story Slam onion Get to know you. Realtor connections to CA 7

8 Engagement & Participation: going to events, playing sports, volunteering What s on year round Pedestrian market in the downtown core Valley Appreciation day pancake breakfast Community Events Calendar Long Table dinner downtown Volunteer database & website Cultural Celebrations Community Centre Celebration family oriented Mobile Book Trailer Invite to a walking/social event Hiking group different levels (e.g. Fort St. John Now) All sports communication about them Political Inclusion: being involved and influencing decisions that affect community Affordable, cooperative housing Town council/ municipality/ mayor send letter to newcomers Pocket neighbourhood (changing zoning bylaws) Transportation and walkability CA Ambassador to connect communities Continual invitations Community Association Recreation Society CA invite another CA Open and free space for community groups to meet Communication of follow-up to a meeting when something starts, there should be follow up to participants Things to still learn more about How many languages are spoken in this community? How do we increase the diversity of people involved in these conversations? Are the changes in census data similar to demographic changes in other parts of the province, or are we different? Best ways to invite others and provide ongoing communication about this work. More about the volunteer website (and how to find information). The experience of 2 nd homeowners having a difficult time breaking into the community. 8

9 4. SETTING ACTIONS PLANS ACTIONS TO START: Story Slams (Onion) with first topic as revised welcome wagon START Invitations; ask people to bring someone new New conversations (rotating topics) Community Shared Meals Welcome Dinners Small home meals or large community meals for holidays Engage Realtors, Property Managers & House Checkers to welcome new people NEW style Welcome Wagon mayor writes a letter of welcome basket of local products cater to type of family list of volunteer opportunities Community Guide Calendar of Events Involve realtors, council, volunteers, community associations, schools and doctors Celebrating differences on a more visible level Multicultural day Becoming aware of languages spoken in Valley Food lessons from heritage recipes Inclusivity of First Nation Communities Multicultural day Understanding our shared heritage of the geographic place Host a Pop-Up Picnic in Pothole Park 9

10 ACTIONS TO CONTINUE: Events Make them accessible Carpooling, public transport Invitations; ask people to bring someone new Striving to Improve Communication CONTINUE Valley Appreciation Day Create opportunity for newcomers Support, participate and innovate Food (pancakes) Supporting local business and other local organizations/groups Pop-up Potlucks STOP ACTIONS TO STOP: Assuming people know what is going on Considering 2 nd home owners as not belonging Negativity stop reading Jeers online comments and other energy draining outlets Wasting time on challenges and focus on positive areas (positive will always outshine negative) 10

11 5. SUGGESTED NEXT STEPS Share this report with those that participated in the community conversation evening and with others in the community. Invite reactions and feedback. Repeat the evening (or select activities) with new participants to seek a wider perspective. Gather specific perspectives such as local First Nations, 2 nd homeowners or seniors Narrow the topic to focus on one issue such as being welcomed as a newcomer Change the format to encourage interaction at community events (e.g. Farmers Market, Pot Luck, Valley Appreciation Day) Gather interest. Is there a core group of people who would like to and are able to invest time to actively creating a greater sense of belonging in the Columbia Valley and begin action? Revisit the list of things to learn about and determine what the focus will be, who needs to be engaged, and what it will take to make it happen. Get more detailed and specific on the action ideas generated. Which actions will help to reduce isolation and increase connection? Which actions require more learning first? What are some easy wins that can happen immediately? Who will take the lead on different ideas, who will help? What resources and time are needed? Host a deeper conversation that explores barriers to belonging or distinctions that people may feel between belonging and connection. "I am recognized when I go to the store or when I walk down the street, but then I go home and feel a keen sense of isolation." ~Participant 11

12 APPENDIX Below is a snapshot of the statistics on belonging from the Columbia Valley Vital Signs report. One survey result suggests that 33% of seasonal residents feel very connected while 55% of permanent residents feel very connected to the community. This statistic celebrates the connectedness that exists to create belonging and reflects that there is room to increase connectedness and belonging. This information provided the foundation for the community conversation. The full Vital Signs Report is available on the Community Foundation website 12