February 2024 CD Practitioner Gathering Harvest - CDLI
On Wednesday, February 14th we hosted our second gathering for community development practitioners of 2024!
We had three discussions with notes and resources provided in each. See our shared harvest here or in the slides below. If you see a conversation that has no notes but you are interested in it please reach out to let us know and we can include it again in a future COP date that works for you cdli@caryacalgary.ca.
In the share back participants identified key take away/points of reflection that came from these conversations:
Room 1: What are some ways bigger more formal organizations can support smaller grassroots organizations?
When you are smaller collaboration and building meaningful partnerships are the key to accomplishing your vision.
There are more barriers to larger organizations participating in meaningful collaboration and it often ends up being transactional. Have to intentionally keep working at prioritizing collaboration.
There is a need for building social capital so that all organizations can thrive.
Room 3: How does Arts for Social Change relate to your living a creative life?
Placemaking is an extension of community. Art is holding space which reflects the community.
Art became a different piece of people’s lives during the lockdown.
Art is both a tool and a target.
Call to action proposed is to attend an upcoming event, sign up for a newsletter or read more via the resources linked in the harvest slides.
Room 5: How to create community led initiatives that foster improved/good mental health in communities?
It is integral that community members are given the space to own their own experiences.
Building relationships to create spaces takes time and is essential.
Systems change is needed to make space for people to actually do this work!
Call to action proposed is to look into policy/systems changes that we can each advocate for. Those in the group specifically highlighted mental health talks taking place in schools/communities.
CDLI looks forward to welcoming Community Development Practitioners (paid or volunteer) again on March 13th for our third Community of Practice Open Space Gathering in 2024! Dates for the year are in the graphic below.
