The Alberta Centre for Active Living has a goal to turn all communities into healthy active communities. To begin bettering these communities someone must begin the initial movement towards change.
Healthy Active Communities: Creating Change in Your Community is an article released from the Alberta Centre for Active Living. They created a three-year initiative, Alberta Active Communities in 2006. The “ARPA selected 10 diverse communities to participate in the Alberta Active Communities” and facilitated their efforts.
“Without leaders, change cannot happen.”
- Carol Peterson, Active Communities Manager
Many members in our communities want change but they do not take the initiative to start change. Organizations like the ARPA are essential to encouraging communities to better themselves. By promoting community development and encouraging the formation of local coalitions, members can begin bettering their own communities. A diverse coalition consisting of individuals with various skills, backgrounds, and needs that collectively help a community thrive and become an active community.
“If you have a vision, if your want to change the status quo, if you want change, then you are a leader.”
- Carol Peterson, Active Communities Manager
Alberta Active Communities wanted a diverse group of individuals to step up and facilitate the change, taking place in their community. It is very important, especially in communities that include a diverse people, that the leaders reflect all groups within the community. By having a diverse group of people driving the change and putting forth effort, the results will better reflect the wants of the whole community.
“Older adults, youth, cultural groups, low-income families and other groups are often not heard”
These minorities are commonly disregarded in community decisions because they are not active members in the community. I see this as the largest issue. Most communities will have people step forward and take control in a movement towards change but will they really be working towards goals that satisfy the community as a whole? The ARPA has created a Community Assessment Tool that can help committees help those who do not have the availability or ability to be an active member of the coalition. By using tools like this and encouraging participation in inclusive community activities, the community will be able to develop a vision as a whole and reflect the values of all its members.
What is community development all about? “It’s about the relationships that bring individuals together to create positive change in their neighborhood.” Everyone in the community should be involved at some capacity, and remain as active as possible. Being involved in community development helps us to create a better place for ourselves and everyone else that is a part of it.
to view the whole Healthy Active Communities: Creating Change in Your Community article go to:
I completely agree with what you are getting at here; the addition, contribution and inclusion of diverse groups is necessary for community development, especially in this day and age. The disregard for minority groups is a large issue, but both sides can be held accountable, the lack of understanding by one group vs. the lack of initiative by another, perhaps fear can contribute to this? I can add to your thoughts with my first blog entry, I focus on bridging groups, groups that aid in the integration of minor communities. Using bridging groups to close the gap between differing communities takes us one step further to building a larger stronger, more adaptable community.
ReplyDeleteContribute, Create, Change. Sounds like three great ways to to develop a community. The two things that stood out to me were the points about diversity and leaders. Without leaders you won't get anything done. Having people step up to get a task done is mandatory. Also, clearly you can't just have a bunch of people with the same skills and attributes. You need people of all types with all different abilities in all areas in order to succeed !
ReplyDeleteKari, I like the way you have used the quotes to help get your point across. You have a very good vision and I like your points regarding diversity. It really got me thinking!
ReplyDeleteCheers!