genesis wellness centre presentation

GENESIS CENTRE OF COMMUNITY WELLNESS

A CASE STUDY

C E S A R C A L A , L A L I TA S I N G H A N D J A I M E E N A C H E S C UU N I T E D WA Y O F C A L G A R Y A N D A R E A

Building Collaboration between Residents and Service Agencies

Community Development Conference 2011

Agenda

The Case: Genesis Centre of Community Wellness

Building Strong NeighbourhoodsAudience ParticipationAsset Based Community Engagement From Theory to ActionQuestions and Answers


History

The Genesis Centre of Community Wellness is a

community initiative, started in 1994 by residents of Martindale, Saddle Ridge and

Taradale.

“To develop a community centre that would meet the growing and unique recreation, sports, culture and educational needs of

Northeast Calgary.”


North of McKnight Communities


Castleridge

Falconridge

Saddle Ridge

Taradale

Martindale Coral Springs

The Uniqueness of the Area

Rapid growth The area experienced a 90% population increase from 2003 to 2008;

continue growth is expected in the next five years.

Diverse Population Immigrants comprise 42% of the population (compared to 21% in

Calgary) Aboriginal People represent 3% of the population 58% of the population are visible minorities (compared to 24% in

Calgary) Top source countries for the immigrant population - India, Philippines ,

Vietnam

Children and Youth Children age 0-14 comprise 26% of the population, compared to 18%

in Calgary 11% are children from 0 - 4 years old (compared to 5.8% in Calgary)


Genesis Centre of Community Wellness


YMCA

Calgary Public Library

Soccer Centre

Community and Human Services Area

Community Spaces

January 2011


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January 2011



Space - 10,000 square feet for:Meeting Rooms, offices and Community Space

In addition use of shared spaces and facilities:Use of community (large) spaces ChildcarePossibility of sharing space with all partnersPerformance/festival spaceCombined programmingFood services


Building Strong Neighbourhoods

Residents are supported to create strong, safe and supportive neighbourhoods

Creating opportunities for resident engagement

Enhancing individual and collective capacities

Developing networks – social support networks and networks of participation



A consortium of agencies and resident groups working to support resident initiatives and provide seamless services to community members

An "incubation space" for resident-led projects and activities that increase civic involvement and community participation

Workshop and multipurpose spaces for flexible programs to suit community needs.


Resident-led Community Development

Traditional Organizations Community Development

Certainty Unpredictable, messy, risky

Short to mid-term focus Long term focus

Vertical accountability Multiple stakeholders

Fixed, standardized responses Customized, evolving processes

City/region perspective Neighbourhood perspective


Help Wanted


Questions at your tables

Questions:

As a resident what can I contribute to making the neighbourhood stronger?

What can service agencies contribute?How can we best work together?


Enabling Characteristics for a CD approach

Asset-based, community engagementResponsive tailored solutionsInnovative and adaptive leadershipPartnership and collaborative approachesFlexible, nimble, adaptive mechanisms and

processesCleary articulated community focused

mission, vision and values


Asset Based Community Engagement

Residents are the agents of change

Relationship between residents and organizations based on acknowledgement of contributions and shared responsibility

Residents and organizations work together to prioritize issues and plans of action


Responsive and Tailored Solutions

Actions are suited to the situation of the neighbourhood

Solutions are developed with the local community

Flexibility and innovation is important


Innovative and Adaptive Leadership

Ability to pursue agendas beyond the reach of any one organization

Willingness to be accountable to residents

Share leadership with others stakeholders


Collaborations

Collaborations give the organization the ability to reach beyond their own limitations

Requires diverse people and organizations to work together

Awareness of the interdependence of all activities in community development


Flexible, Nimble and Adaptive

Flexible – less bureaucratic structures to reduce barriers to participation for residents

Nimble – the capacity to respond to community work

Adaptive – the ability to allow for neighbourhood context


Shared philosophical framework – Community-centred

Mission, vision and goals grounded and aligned with the community agenda

Intentionality


Community Focused Mission and Vision

From Theory to Action

How do we put this into reality?

To begin, we embarked on two parallel processes Building resident engagement and

organizational capacities Developing collaboration among agencies

who have expressed interest in participating


Parallel Process


• North of McKnight Residents Committee

Residents

• The CollaborativeOrganizations

North of McKnight Residents Committee

A group of residents representing ethnic, faith and community associations focusing on:

Meaningful participation of residents in their communities

Providing a forum for community issues and concerns Influencing public services and programs Promoting greater cooperation in the community


North of McKnight Residents Committee

Key elements of building the residents committee are building trust, working collectively and connecting communities

United Way has been working with the residents for the past four years

Terms of Reference developedActivities include:

Festival of lights We are one festival Roundtables and 1000 Voices project.


The Collaborative

A group of organizations that is committed to work collaboratively with the community and each other to provide seamless services to the community.

Based on needs assessment in the community organizations were invited to participate in the planning process.


The Collaborative

Worked together for 2 years to develop plans on how best to work together and share the space of the Community and Human Services Area.

The work is based on shared understanding of the purpose, goals and objectives.

A Memorandum of Understanding between members of the Collaborative will be signed to form the foundation for the Community and Human Service Area.


The Collaborative

The purpose of the CHS Area is to provide a place for Genesis Community members to access services that are important to them and to contribute their talent and time in strengthening the Genesis Community.

The purpose of the Collaborative is to provide a coordinated, collaborative approach by service agencies providing services and programs in the CHS Area, to fulfil the purpose of the CHS Area, and to achieve results for members of the Genesis Community that could not be attained by any one of the Members acting alone.


Minimum Specs for Programming

All programs must provide opportunities for building social networks;

All programs must demonstrate a commitment to community collaboration and community building;

All programs must demonstrate an awareness/understanding of the other resources available in the Centre and the Community for their target population;

All programs must demonstrate evidence of being based on an identified need, strength or opportunity in the community.


Residents and Organizations Coming Together


Roundtables

• Shared leadership between residents and organizations

• Provides an opportunity for organizations to listen to residents

• Provides an opportunity for residents to express their ideas about building stronger a stronger community

1000 Voices


Governance Model

Collective outcome is greater than individual outcomes combined

Building on the strength community members bring


Constellation Model of Governance

Innovative model; encourages people/organizations to think beyond traditional roles

Provides “excitement” Governance model

Based on shared purpose, goals and objectives Promotes collaboration Decreases bureaucracy Focuses on Action Participation is based on interest Includes residents in decision making




Enabling Characteristics for a CD approach

Constellation Model

Asset-based, community engagement Includes residents in decision making

Innovative and adaptive leadership Decreases bureaucracy

Responsive tailored solutions Participation is based on interest

Partnership and collaborative approaches

Promotes collaboration

Flexible, nimble, adaptive mechanisms and processes

Focuses on Action

Cleary articulated community focused mission, vision and value

Based on shared purpose, goals and objectives



For more information visit:http://socialinnovation.ca/blogconstellation-governance

http://socialinnovation.ca/blog



Elements of the Constellation Model

Residents:

Participants at all levels in the governance structure

The North of McKnight Residents Committee is the supporting organization for resident members in the governance structure.



The Collaborative:

The collaborative is a group of organizations that have signed an agreement to work together with the community in the Community and Human Services Area and will respond to the needs that have been identified in the community.Community Development Conference 2011


Stewardship GroupProvides oversight and

makes strategic decisions

Made up of residents, members of the collaborative and two standing members

Central information point

Provides direction and oversight for the Trustee AgencyCommunity Development Conference 2011


Trustee Agency: Is a member of the

Collaborative Holds the fiscal and legal

responsibilities for the Collaborative

Supports the work of the Collaborative and Constellations

The stewardship group provides direction and oversight to the Trustee Agency



Constellations:

Self governing action-teams

Consist of residents and organizations

Identify desired outcomes for the groups or issue and work towards solutions

Report to the Stewardship group to keep the Collaborative informed about their activities


Where We Are

Governance Model has been adoptedMOU has been developed and is close to

signingResidents developed TOR Roundtable discussions held; 1ooo voices

report publishedConstellations are formingTrustee Agency chosenGenesis Centre of Community Wellness is

under constructionCommunity Development Conference 2011

Where are we going?

Invitation to you to participate in further development



Questions and Answers


genesis wellness centre presentation

Real Estate

community centre

community needs

community workadaptive

community initiative

community agenda

community engagement

community spacein addition

resident groups