The following is
a list of useful links that provide a range of broad perspectives, practical
insights, lessons learned and tips for effective practices for collaborations.
Government
of Canada and Neighbourhood Renewal
- CITIZENShift
This National Film Board of Canada web site initiative is dedicated to citizen engagement and social change. Get unique content from active citizens, independent filmmakers and multimedia artists. Voice your opinion, or contribute creatively!
- National Homelessness Initiative
The National Homelessness Initiative (NHI) assists governments and community organizations to come together and alleviate homelessness. By encouraging innovative and progressive cooperation, this approach is supporting long-term local solutions to address homelessness.
- Policy Research Initiative
The federal government requires the development of a strong knowledge base and policy capacity in order to respond to the increasingly complex policy issues facing Canada. The Policy Research Initiative's core mandate is to advance research on emerging horizontal issues that are highly relevant to the federal government's medium-term policy agenda, and to ensure the effective transfer of this knowledge to policy-makers.
- Urban Development Agreements
Urban Development Agreements involve a partnership between the federal, provincial and municipal governments to work in collaboration when addressing broad urban development issues. Whether it is inner city revitalization, strengthened innovation, or sustainable economic development, each urban development agreement is tailored to address the needs of the city it involves. These agreements are resourceful, flexible instruments that coordinate action among the levels of government and result in the seamless delivery of programs and services.
- Urban Aboriginal Strategy
In 1998, “the Government of Canada established the Urban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS) in hopes of better addressing the serious socio-economic needs of Canada’s urban Aboriginal population. The UAS was designed to improve policy development and program coordination at the federal level and with other levels of government.” In 2003, the Government of Canada allocated $25 million of funding to support pilot projects in selected cities across Canada that test new ideas on how to respond to the local needs of urban Aboriginal people.
- Western Economic Diversification Canada
A department of the Government of Canada, Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) was established in 1987 under the provision of the Western Economic Diversification Act. WD works to strengthen Western Canada's economy and advance the interests of the West in national economic policy. Our programs and services support three strategic directions: Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Communities. We support the Western Canada Business Service Network, which offers over 100 points of service across the West.
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- First
Nations Community Planning Project
The First Nations Community Planning Project represents a shift away
from government-imposed development to a community-based approach.
The rationale behind this approach is that First Nations communities
can gain some control over their future by collectively determining
the need for change and by defining the direction in which they want
to proceed. According to the Cities and Environment Unit of the School
of Planning at Dalhousie University: “The idea is that through
planning, First Nation communities would articulate a vision and achieve
a sense of empowerment that would then become the basis of the relationship
with the federal government and improve the quality of life in each
community.
- Inclusive
Cities Canada
Inclusive Cities Canada: A Cross-Canada Civic Initiative is a unique
partnership of community leaders and elected municipal politicians
working collaboratively to enhance social inclusion across Canada.
The goals of Inclusive Cities Canada (ICC) are to strengthen the capacity
of cities to create and sustain inclusive communities for the mutual
benefit of all people, and to ensure that community voices of diversity
are recognized as core Canadian ones.
- Integrating Art & Social Services
Summer is a great time to take advantage of the cultural activities offered within our communities! This article, from the Creative City website, emphasizes the important role that art plays in creating healthy communities. Read the article here.
- Neighbourhoods
Alive!
The Manitoba Government created Neighbourhoods Alive! to provide community
organizations in designated neighbourhoods with the support they need
to rebuild these neighbourhoods. Neighbourhoods Alive! recognizes
that often the best ideas for neighbourhood revitalization come from
the community itself. The aim of Neighbourhoods Alive! is to support
these ideas and goals with funding and planning assistance.
- Regina
Inner City Community Partnership
The RICCP is a community-based partnership dedicated to the renewal
of Regina's inner city through a process that engages neighbourhood
residents and organizations in determining the future of their community.
The RICCP Steering Committee brings together governments, community
partners, the private sector and area residents to address the priorities
identified by the community in the Report on the Community Vision
and Action Plan.
- Strong
Neighbourhoods Task Force
The Strong Neighbourhoods Task Force is a much-needed response to
the challenges that are weakening [Toronto]. A year-long initiative
of United Way of Greater Toronto and the City of Toronto - with the
support of federal and provincial governments - the Task Force will
help build stronger neighbourhoods. It responds to the Toronto City
Summit Alliance's 2003 report, Enough Talk that recommends funding
and services for Toronto neighbourhoods. It also builds on the work
of the City of Toronto and United Way of Greater Toronto.
- The
Vancouver Agreement
The Vancouver Agreement is an urban development initiative of the
governments of Canada,
British
Columbia, and the City
of Vancouver. The agreement was signed in March 2000 and commits
these government partners to work together, and with communities and
business in Vancouver, on a coordinated strategy to promote and support
sustainable economic, social and community development. The first
focus of the Vancouver Agreement is the city's Downtown Eastside area.
- Vibrant
Communities
Vibrant Communities is a community-driven effort to reduce poverty
in Canada by creating partnerships that make use of our most valuable
assets – people, organizations, businesses and governments.
- What Motivates Low-Income Volunteers?
Vibrant Abbotsford is engaged in actively learning about what motivates low-income volunteers. Learn more about the volunteer work being done by residents in British Columbia here.
- Winnipeg
Partnership Agreement
The City of Winnipeg has over twenty years of experience working with
federal and provincial partners to address the city’s economic
and social issues. Winnipeg received funds in the 1970s under the
federal government’s Neighbourhood Improvement Program (NIP).
Other tri-partite neighbourhood revitalization initiatives followed
in the 1980s (the Core Area Initiatives) and the 1990s (Winnipeg Development
Agreement). In 2003, the three levels of government negotiated a renewed
a five-year, $75 million Urban Development Agreement, called the Winnipeg
Partnership Agreement (WPA). The (WPA) will focus on four core components:
Aboriginal Participation; Building Sustainable Neighbourhoods; Downtown
Renewal; and Supporting Innovation and Technology.
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- Canadian
Centre for Policy Alternatives
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is an independent, non-partisan
research institute concerned with issues of social and economic justice.
Founded in 1980, the CCPA is one of Canada’s leading progressive
voices in public policy debates. By combining solid research with
extensive outreach, we work to enrich democratic dialogue and ensure
Canadians know there are workable solutions to the issues we face.
The Centre offers analysis and policy ideas to the media, general
public, social justice and labour organizations, academia and government.
- Canadian
Council on Social Development
The Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD) is a non-governmental,
not-for-profit organization, which was founded in 1920. Our mission
is to develop and promote progressive social policies inspired by
social justice, equality and the empowerment of individuals and communities.
We do this through research, consultation, public education and advocacy.
Our main product is information.
- Canadian
Policy Research Networks
Our mission is to help make Canada a more just, prosperous and caring
society. We seek to do this through excellent and timely research,
effective networking and dissemination, and by providing a valued
neutral space within which an open dialogue among all interested parties
can take place.
- CEDTAP
The Community Economic Development Technical Assistance Program (CEDTAP)
is Canada’s largest non-profit (non-governmental) granting agency
in the field of Community Economic Development (CED). National in
scope, this bilingual program serves all provinces and territories
in Canada. CEDTAP provides grants to Community-based Organizations
(CBOs) and also promotes activities that strengthen the CED sector
as a whole. To date (May 2004), CEDTAP has assisted over 345 CED agencies
in support of leading-edge, community development initiatives to create
new, sustainable economic development solutions in disadvantaged communities
throughout Canada.
- Centre
Canadien d’etude et de cooperation internationale
CECI fights poverty and exclusion; it strengthens the development
capacity of disadvantaged communities; it supports initiatives for
peace, human rights and equity; it mobilizes resources and promotes
the exchange of know-how.” Conducts mostly international development
projects, but also works on public engagement initiatives in Canada.
- Centre
for Community Enterprise
The Centre for Community Enterprise is a pre-eminent source of expertise
and resources in starting and strengthening CED organizations, revitalizing
communities, developing community-minded businesses, CED curriculum
design and delivery, and publishing - including the quarterly CED
magazine Making Waves.
- The
Canadian CED Network
Our mission is to promote and support community economic development
for the social, economic and environmental betterment of communities
within Canada.
- Easy to Use Community Level Data
The first in a series of products from the 2007 edition of the Urban Poverty Project is now on-line. Community Profiles includes national, provincial, and community statistics about population, households, labour force activity, and education levels. More here. [Source: CCSD]
- Federation
of Canadian Municipalities
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and municipal government
occupy a central position in the political and economic structure
of Canada. In its 60 years it has learned that the diversity of Canada
and of municipal institutions is a centrifugal force, which at the
same time stimulates the vitality of the organization.
- Ontario
Healthy Communities Coalition
The Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition is a registered charity
that was established in 1992. Our membership represents provincial
associations, local and regional healthy community coalitions and
others who support the principles of healthy communities. Our mission
is to work with the diverse communities of Ontario to strengthen their
social, environmental and economic well-being.
- VanCity
Community Foundation
VanCity Community Foundation is a catalyst for community transformation
based on social and economic justice in a sustainable environment.
- Villes
et villages en sante
The Quebec Network of Healthy Cities and Towns began in 1988 and now
has over 140 member municipalities. “The concept is simple and
flexible: integrated action by various municipal services and with
organizations in the community, be they resources in the health network,
the education network, the work world, community groups or citizens
themselves. It is based on the fact that municipalities represent
the political level closest to the population and undoubtedly the
most significant for its health, since an individual's quality of
life is a key factor in his state of health.
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- Centre for
Urban and Community Studies – University of Toronto
The Centre for Urban and Community Studies (CUCS) promotes and disseminates
multidisciplinary research and policy analysis on urban issues…The
Centre’s activities contribute to scholarship on questions relating
to the social, economic and physical well-being of people who live
and work in urban areas large and small, in Canada and around the
world.
- Institute
of Urban Studies
The Institute is committed to “examining urban development issues
in a broad, non-partisan context and has never lost sight of the demands
of applied research aimed at practical, often novel, solutions to
urban problems. IUS has continually refocused its research objectives
and broadened its mandate to incorporate issues within a prairie and
national urban context, including inner city, environmental urban
sustainability, Aboriginal and northern concerns, and community development
issues.
- Public Policy in the Neighbourhoods
Public Policy in the Neighbourhoods: Challenging Governments and Communities, a presentation by Neil Bradford, CPRN Research Associate, reviews the principles that should govern the rebuilding of neighbourhoods: inclusion, diversity and collaboration. Download the presentation here and learn more about CPRN’s work on Cities & Communities here.
- SFU Centre
for Sustainable Community Development
Since its founding in 1989, the goal of the SFU CED Centre has been
to encourage accountable, sustainable and appropriate community economic
development in British Columbia. The CED Centre has accomplished this
by provided research, training and advisory services to the CED sector
in BC through a team of associates drawn from the University and CED
practice.
- UNBC –
Community Development Institute
The Community Development Institute at UNBC is interested in two fundamental
issues for communities in northern BC: community capacity and community
development. By undertaking research, sharing information, and supporting
education outreach, the Institute is becoming a vital partner to communities
interesting in making informed decisions about their own futures.
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- A
Fairer Victoria
A Fairer Victoria is the Australian government's social policy action
plan in the state of Victoria. Launched by the Premier on 28 April,
2005, the plan sets out 85 actions the government will take within
14 major strategies to address disadvantage in Victoria. One of these
actions is to extend and expand Neighbourhood Renewal.
- Building Communities, Changing Lives
This report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation explores the contribution of large, independent neighbourhood-based regeneration organizations in tackling social exclusion and provides practical recommendations to boost these organizatons’ ability to build vibrant, integrated communities. To learn more, click here.
- Community Building: Coming of Age
This report from the Urban Institute provides an excellent ‘where are we now’ summary of community building initiatives, with a focus on major emergent themes and strategies. It focuses on a new, non-uniform approach to helping address the problems and opportunities of both impoverished inner-city neighbourhoods and rural areas. This approach focuses on replacing feelings of dependency with attitudes of self-reliance, confidence and responsibility. To read the report, click here.
- Building Communities from the Inside Out
This guide to "asset-based community development" summarizes lessons learned by studying successful community-building initiatives in hundreds of neighbourhoods across the United States. Learn more here.
- Community Builders NSW
This site aims to help local communities across New South Wales share ideas on how to enhance and strengthen their community, with a strong focus on case studies and practical achievements. The site was developed in response to the desire expressed by communities to access information about what others are doing and what works to make their community safer, healthier, inclusive, and more vibrant and enterprising.
- The Dynamics of Neighbourhood Sustainability
The Dynamics of Neighbourhood Sustainability is an electronic publication available through the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The book, written by Geoff Green, Mike Grimsley and Bernard Stafford, considers the key role that neighbourhood assets play in neighbourhood sustainability. Designed to uncover the causes of neighbourhood growth and decline in deprived areas of England, the study charts, over time, the influence of four assets – social, human, environmental and fixed – on the self-reported well-being of residents of eight former coalmining communities of South Yorkshire, England.
- End of One Way
This profile by the Annie E. Casey Foundation tells the stories of three community-based organizations in south Minneapolis that are working to restore, sustain, and create community. These stories illustrate effective, unconventional ways that service organizations can work for and through their communities. Download the paper here.
- ESRC Centre for Neighbourhood Research (UK)
The Centre for Neighbourhood Research (CNR) aims to advance theoretical and empirical understanding of neighbourhoods. It will provide a resource for other researchers and policy makers working in this field through an assessment of existing evidence and through original research.
- Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program
An innovative effort to bring residents into the priority-setting process of their city, this program is based on the belief that the empowerment of residents and the mobilization of untapped resources, energy and creativity can make a progressive vision of the future a reality. Visit the website here.
- Neighbourhoods at the Tipping Point
Neighbourhoods at the Tipping Point is a study published by Jacksonville Community Council Inc. in 2003 which examines neighbourhoods in Jacksonville, Florida that are vulnerable to decline, and recommends steps that residents can take to strengthen their neighbourhood. Learn more here.
- Neighbourhoods
of Choice and Connection
Prepared for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s Centenary Event,
this paper, by Bruce Katz, explores the American response to neighbourhood
deprivation over the past several decades in hopes of providing policy
and programmatic lessons for both Britain and the United States.
- The Ripple Effect
This study explores the economic impact of a unique policy to direct public and non profit investments to specific communities with the aim of attracting and sustaining additional private capital. Access the study here.
- Thriving Neighbourhoods
Check out this section of the Pew Partnerships for Civic Change website. It's dedicated to highlighting the types of work that result in positive change within communities to create "thriving neighbourhoods." Visit the website here.
- UK
Neighbourhood Renewal Unit
The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit is responsible for implementing the
UK government's long-term vision for narrowing the gap between deprived
neighbourhoods and the rest of the country. The site has an extensive
information on Neighbourhood Renewal policies, strategies and programs
including the New Deal for Communities program. Practical information
is also provided on Neighbourhood Management plans, funding allocations,
local strategic partnerships, research and development and community
forums.
- UK Renewal.net
Developed by the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit, the purpose of this site
is to provide an independent, evidence based view of what works and
what doesn't in neighbourhood renewal. The documents commissioned
for renewal.net have been produced by a team of independent experts.
- U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was established
in 1965 to provide decent, safe, and sanitary homes. HUDs work includes
creating opportunities for homeownership, providing housing assistance
for low-income persons, working to create, rehabilitate and maintain
the affordable housing, enforcing fair housing laws, helping the homeless
and encouraging economic growth in distressed neighbourhoods.
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- ABC’s of Asset Development
The Asset Based Community Development Institute website showcases the Institutes findings on capacity-building community development through extensive and substantial interactions with community builders, and by producing practical resources and tools for community builders to identify, nurture, and mobilize neighborhood assets. Visit the website here.
- Association
for the Study and Development of Community
The Association for the Study and Development of Community (ASDC)
is a research and development organization for community capacity
building and social problem solving. ASDC represents a network of
leading community development practitioners and scientists in the
United States and Europe, with offices in Gaithersburg, Maryland and
Milan, Italy. ASDC combines the principled, rigorous use of scientific
methods with practical tools to foster learning and improved capacity
for social change.
- Civic Practices Network
Civic Practices Network (CPN) is a collaborative and nonpartisan project bringing together a diverse array of organizations and perspectives within the civic renewal movement. We share a commitment to bring practical methods for public problem solving into every community and institutional setting in America.
- Community Organizing and Development
The Online Conference on Community Organizing and Development, COMM-ORG was founded in 1995 with the mission to link academics and activists, and theory and practice, toward the goal of improving community organizing and its related crafts. Visit the website here.
- Community
Development Exchange
CDX's mission is to be a strong and effective voice for community
development. We are a diverse membership-led organisation, aiming
to bring about positive changes towards social justice and equality
by using and promoting the values and approaches of community development…CDX
acts as a catalyst for change by sharing information, experience and
practice through a variety of means including conferences, networks,
newsletters, website and research.
- ESRC
Centre for Neighbourhood Research
The Centre for Neighbourhood Research (CNR) aims to advance theoretical
and empirical understanding of neighbourhoods. It will provide a resource
for other researchers and policy makers working in this field through
an assessment of existing evidence and through original research.
- Imagine
Chicago
Imagine Chicago is a non-profit organization that helps people develop
their imagination as city creators. It offers everyone, especially
young people, the opportunity to invest themselves in the city’s
future. Imagine Chicago works in partnership with individuals and
local organizations – schools, museums, churches, businesses,
and community groups. Together, they design and implement innovative
civic projects that build meaningful connections across generations
and cultures and have lasting institutional and community impact.
Imagine Chicago encourages individuals and organizations to focus
constructively on their capacities and opportunities to make a difference
as they: understand what is; imagine what can be, and create what
will be.
- International
Healthy Cities Coalition
The Healthy Cities/Healthy Communities project is a worldwide effort
promoted by the World Health Organization. Its goals are to promote
a holistic concept of health that includes social, economic, psychological
and environmental well-being, and to develop community-based actions,
programs and policies for communities to implement in support of this
goal (Marcia Nozick, Canadian Dimension 32 (3), May-June 1998).
- Neighbourhoods
Online
Neighborhoods Online was created in 1995 by the Institute
for the Study of Civic Values as an online resource center for
America's neighborhood builders – people who work through grassroots
organizations, as volunteers, and in government to build strong neighborhoods
and communities throughout the country. Our aim is to provide fast
access to information and ideas covering all aspects of neighborhood
revitalization, as well as to create a national network of activists
and people in government working on problems that affect us where
we live.
- Not Quite Chaos
This report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation is intended as an aid to thinking more concretely and uniformly about features that can be modeled and understood in ways that make the "art" of community building more like a disciplined field of study and practice. The report addresses two questions: What is community building and how do we model it as a sustainable community change process? What might a community-building effort look like on the ground? Access the report here.
- Pico
National Network
PICO is a national network of faith-based community organizations
working to create innovative solutions to problems facing urban, suburban
and rural communities.
- Roundtable
on Comprehensive Community Initiatives (Aspen Institute)
The Roundtable on Community Change was established in 1992 as a forum
in which people engaged in the field of comprehensive community initiatives
(CCIs)-including foundation sponsors, directors, technical assistance
providers, evaluators, and public sector officials-could meet to discuss
the lessons that are being learned by initiatives across the country
and to work on common problems they are facing.
- Together
We Can
Leaders across America - from neighborhoods to state houses, from
parent groups to public and private agencies, from schools and social
welfare organizations to economic development and community organizing
groups -- are endeavoring to work together toward a shared vision
for their communities and improved results for their children and
families. The mission of Together We Can is to strengthen and sustain
the capacity of community collaboratives and state initiatives to
move toward that shared vision.
- Untapped Markets & Win-Win Stories
Win-Win Partners is an outgrowth of the Ford Foundation Corporate Involvement Initiative, and focused on sharing new and innovative win-win stories of companies and organizations achieving competitive advantage through community investment. Be sure to check out the “Untapped Markets” section of their website here.
- Urban
Ecology
Urban Ecology uses urban design, land use planning, and policy reform
to help communities plan and build neighborhoods that are ecologically
healthy, socially just, and economically fair.
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- A Community Decision-Making Cycle
This model, by H.J Aslin & V.A Brown, outlines different stages of the engagement process and describes which community engagement tools can be used to assist each stage, as well as how to move the process forward through to action. This is a useful framework because it helps people match community engagement tools with the right stage of decision-making. More on this model here.
- Dynamics of Neighbourhood Sustainability
This book considers the key role that neighbourhood assets play in neighbourhood sustainability and charts the influence of social, human, environmental and fixed assets on the well-being of residents of eight communities in England. Download the book here!
- Katrina's Window: Confronting Concentrated Poverty Across America
Hurricane Katrina's assault on New Orleans' most vulnerable residents and neighborhoods has reinvigorated a dialogue on race and class in America. This paper argues that the conversation should focus special attention on alleviating concentrated urban poverty—the segregation of poor families into extremely distressed neighborhoods. Learn more here.
- Neighbourhood Management and the Future of Urban Areas
This paper, from the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion at the London School of Economics, focuses on low income neighbourhoods, their organization and management, and also addresses environmental and social problems within neighbourhoods to foster a wider understanding of social exclusion, sustainable development and the need for greater care of urban communities. Download the paper here!
- What Works in Renewal
Developed by the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit in the UK, this website provides an independent, evidence-based view of what works, and what doesn't, in neighbourhood renewal, and includes guides, project summaries, case studies & more. Visit the website here.
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Action for Neighbourhood Change
was in operation from 2005-2007. This site exists to capture and share
the learnings that emerged from this initiative, but new material is no
longer being added on a regular basis. ANC is not responsible for the
content of external links, which may change; however, if you find a broken
link, please let us know. |
