January 2024 CD Practitioner Gathering Harvest - CDLI
On Wednesday, January 10th we hosted our first gathering for community development practitioners of 2024!
We had six conversations proposed with discussions and notes on three. See our shared harvest here or in the slides below. If you note proposed conversations that you would like to be a part of but you weren’t able to make it to this gathering please feel free to email your interest to cdli@caryacalgary.ca.
In the share back participants identified key take away/points of reflection that came from these conversations:
Room 2: What are the links between community development work and advocacy? How can community minded people advocate for change such as an increase in minimum wage?
Starting with education and stopping misinformation.
A number of organizations offering publicly available information on issues such as housing, social justice, elections, civic engagement in general were named and listed in the notes.
Room 4: Navigating challenges of Asset Based Community Development approaches when community members are overextended.
Practitioners discussed about the uniqueness of urban and rural based ABCD approaches.
Experiences of newcomers and trends in demographics were discussed as unique impacts on ABCD approaches as well.
Some are over engaged in many ways and this can impact their ability to participate in ABCD approaches (examples are community associations, Indigenous youth, etc.)
There is a general reluctance to get involved, rallying support/volunteer base.
Room 5: How do practitioners support newcomers who have been in Calgary less than a year to access the Fair Entry pass?
A Notice of Assessment from Canada Revenue Agency is required to qualify for a Fair Entry Pass, if you have lived in Canada less than one year you don’t have a Notice of Assessment.
211 would have an updated list of agencies that offer a letter by a social worker that can be accepted in place of a Notice of Assessment from Canada Revenue Agency.
City of Calgary CSW role isn’t writing these letters so when they receive a request they recommend people contact 311 to be put in touch with Fair Entry directly.
CDLI looks forward to welcoming Community Development Practitioners again on February 14th for our second Community of Practice Open Space Gathering in 2024! Dates for the year are in the graphic below.
