Reflections on Exploring the Value of Community-Led Economies
By Amanda Palmer
On Wednesday, August 31, 2022 CDLI hosted a Meet Up around the question of “Exploring the Value of Community-Led Economies”. To help us unpack this question, we heard from two community leaders in this space, Camie Leard of the Crescent Heights Village BIA and Sierra Love of Calgary Dollars, Arusha.
“Community impacts all areas of our lives if we let it”
Prior to the roundtable conversation, Ethan Shi provided some context and framing for the conversation which I found to be quite moving. He shared that he is “curious about the possibilities that can be unlocked when we discover that the people around us often have what we need or look for”.
He went on to say that this topic “is important because it encourages us to question who gets to lead and determine how economic activities are run and ultimately who an economy should serve”.
These are important questions for us to consider and reflect on. There is so much space, value, and many possibilities in engaging our communities through economic activities, and by focusing our economic efforts using a community-lens where possible.
Camie and Sierra had so much experience and brilliance to share, way too much to capture at length here. When you can, we strongly encourage that you watch/listen to the video! However, as the first few questions were being explored, three key messages or common themes emerged for me:
Build bridges between people and businesses.
There are so many opportunities, big and small, to foster these connections, and one of the biggest challenges with this is time! So if we can, act as a bridge between people and businesses and see what magic happens! We are always delightfully surprised by the creative ways collaboration can unfold and the lasting impacts that can have of building a sense of belonging.
Relationships are the key!
Throughout the entire conversation, so much of what was spoken about in terms of ways forward, things to think about, experiences and stories of success, all came back to the importance of relationships. Taking, making, the time to build relationships with one another, and with the places we are in, is an essential practice. Community-led economies are economies that are rooted in our relationships with each other and with the land.
Access to small grants supports community-led possibilities.
Both spoke to how much of a difference that the small grants their organizations make in building those bridges, deepening relationships, and re-centering community in economic endeavours. If you have an idea in your own community, see if your local Business Improvement Area organization has some funds, or check out Arusha’s Take Action grants! People from certain neighbourhoods may also be able to access small grants from City of Calgary - Calgary Neighbourhoods.
One last thought to leave you with… in our conversation the idea of ‘apathy’ came up a few times with regards to peoples’ participation and engagement. I deeply appreciated Camie’s words on this, captured in the images below. She asked, “Is it apathy, or is it… exhaustion? fatigue? stress? survival?”, acknowledging the many forms and layers of challenges being faced by so many people in our communities right now. It also begs the question, “is it apathy, or are we not connecting to what really matters to people?”
If we find ourselves using the framing of ‘apathy’ when we think about community engagement right now, perhaps we need to be asking ourselves, “are we really listening to where people are right now?”, “are we creating the conditions for our community to support one another to have their needs met and to be cared for?”, “are we proceeding this way because that’s how things have always been done or because it is easier for me, or are we proceeding this way because that’s what the community has asked for”?
