A New Story is Needed…..
As a Friend of Crime Prevention, I believe that that the heart of crime prevention is through social and community development…..
Imagine neighbourhoods where everyone feels a sense of belonging, where inclusion trumps fear.
Imagine workplaces where people belong, and where respect and collaboration trump power and politics.
Imagine schools where belonging trumps bullying and streaming.
On October 15th, 2013, the New Story Group of Waterloo Region hosted the first of a two day event, “Building a Community of Belonging: It Starts with Conversation” with the second day taking place on November 25th. Facilitator D’Arcy Farlow led the 89 participants, representatives of a number of diverse community sectors thought an interactive process to:
- Discover, what it means to belong in a diverse community,
- Imagine an ideal future where all citizens experience a sense of belonging,
- Create momentum that moves us toward this ideal future
- Sustain communities of belonging through leadership and innovation
John Lord, the founder of the grass-roots organization, The New Story Group of Waterloo Region, was the keynote speaker on October 15th. The New Story Group is dedicated to building inclusive communities where every community member has an opportunity to experience belonging. Our current story has:
- Seniors living alone and very isolated
- People with mental health issues being lonely and having few friends
- New Canadians needing support to enhance their sense of belonging
- Civic Engagement at an all time low
- Access to affordable and social housing is down
- The number of people requiring emergency shelter is up
(Waterloo Region Vital Signs Report, 2013)
I learned a few things during this two day event.
In his keynote address John Lord outlined some of the fundamentals that must exist before people can experience a sense of community belonging:
- Presence –this is a simple as showing up, but we have to make it easy for people to show up!
- Participation – if we make it easy to be present participation becomes easier
- Relationships – as humans we have a strong need for affiliation and relatedness
Building a Community of Belonging is strength-based work. We need to build on the assets of individuals, neighbourhoods, and the wider community. There are four key elements of Leadership and Belonging:
- Intentionality – communities and individuals must be intentional about belonging.
- Belonging Lens – use a belonging lens to guide policy
- Connections – identify bridges to enhance belonging
- Judgement Free Places – people need to be able to enter community spaces and not feel that they are being judged.
The passion and commitment to write a new story was evident amongst the participants. Inspiring speakers, such as Brandon Spunar, of the Connection Project, and founder of Our Common Ground, spoke of his efforts to connect people in our community, to build bridges to inclusion by connecting people with common interests with each other.
The challenge was given to participants to do something, a small thing that would contribute to making their neighbourhood a more welcoming place, something that would contribute to belonging, to do something to help write the new story. Participants committed to doing this and sharing by March with their groups what they have done. Individually they committed to start writing the new story.
Personally I have committed to three actions that will foster community belonging;
- one within my own Forest Heights community,
- one within the City of Kitchener, and,
- the last one that has an impact across the Region of Waterloo.
As a Friend of Crime Prevention, I believe that the heart of crime prevention is social and community development, so I challenge you to become involved, do something to make our region one of belonging, be part of the writing of the New Story of Belonging.
Author: Doug McKlusky was born in Ottawa but is a long time resident of Waterloo Region including his university days. Doug recently retired from 30 years with the Waterloo Region District School Board. Doug was co-chair of the inREACH Street Gang Prevention Project until it closed in December 2013. But his newly retired days, time has very quickly filled with important work such as Out of the Cold, Nutrition for Learning and the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee for the City of Kitchener. And, wisely, Doug connects all his work to being an all-around ambassador for Friends of Crime Prevention – it really is about connection.
Doug McKlusky‘s writing reflects his own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views or official positions of the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council.