Have you held an amazing gathering in your neighbourhood this year and you want to share your success? Are you a grass roots organization that wants to get to know more neighbours and share your information or knowledge? Want to network?
Are you a grassroots program or social enterprise that addresses issues related to trends in rapid neighbourhood change across Kitchener, greater vulnerability of residents in underserved areas, rise of homelessness, intensification and infills with the high pace of developments.
Does your initiative address equity, encourage interaction across diversity, and value inclusion? Become a Summit Table Presenter. Does what you do bring people together!
Just contact heather@waterlooregion.org. Set up is at 11:30 the day of the event in the City Hall Rotunda. Express your civic pride and your desire to make a difference be a part of the conversation.
Join the Festival Of Neighbourhood’s Community Summit, November 24th Noon until 3pm at the City Hall Rotunda. To register click here.
Trends in rapid neighbourhood change across Kitchener. Greater vulnerability of residents in underserved areas. The rise of homelessness. Intensification and infills with the high pace of developments. All of this has called for a thoughtful response from our Festival and we have been learning a lot. We are taking careful consideration about our role in our civic future. Now it’s time to hear from you.
In 2022 Councillor Paul Singh/Ward 6 Kitchener expressed the intrinsic value of Festival of Neighbourhoods and its capacity to work with grassroots when he stated that “We [the city counsel] cannot possibly replace what you [neighbours] can do for yourself in your neighbourhoods.” With this in mind, and after reaching our 30th year milestone in 2023, we paused our regular operations to take stock of our accomplishments and consider our future direction. And now we want to share our findings with you.
This year we considered challenges for Vertical Villages and Tiny Home Neighbourhoods when confronting an epidemic of loneliness in mixed use neighbourhoods where a variety of housing is in conversation. We considered the relationships and tools needed to support ongoing mentorship when it comes to creating inclusive gathering and how to encourage peer planning and support for those new to organizing. We focused on how to support people with ideas, dreams, and desires, but who are not quite knowing where to begin, or how to get started. We have been considering and enacting new ways to engage neighbors in building capacity for more inclusion, propinquity and well-being while nurturing a kinder future where everyone belongs.
What makes our neighourhoods great? What could be improved? How do you wish you could connect better with your neighbours especially if your neighbourhoods is experiencing rapid change or you are new to the area where you are now living? Come and share with us, and your neighbours, your thoughts and ideas around these important questions.
Join the conversation and connect the dots through participating in interactive roundtables about making a difference where you live. The Festival of Neighbourhoods is empowering our grassroots to grow while asking: “What does it take to transform strangers– into neighbours– into friends? What does it take to make space for everyone?” Help us get a clearer picture by helping us join the dots of belonging, inclusion, propinquity, kindness, and well-being for everyone.
With uncertainty comes potential and opportunities to make a real difference. If you or your neighbourhood has hosted an inclusive gathering come and share with us your challenges and successes. The summit is an opportunity to connect, network, share, and learn from each other. It helps us set goals and look forward to possibilities while building upon successes. We want to meet you and hear from you. Come and be a part of it! To register for this year’s Festival of Neighbourhoods Summit click here. Attendance is free!
Festival of Neighbourhoods was featured on CKMS’s “Welcome to the Civic Hub” podcast every Monday in September where we were able to give some of our community leaders the opportunity to speak about their neighbourhood and the various events that they have planned.
Check out the podcasts below!
Episode 034 – Heather Majaury from Festival of Neighbourhoods
Episode 035 – Mukul Verma of the Doon South Neighbourhood Community
Episode 036 – Martin de Groot and Cindy Ward of the Schneider Creek Porch Party
Episode 037 – Debbie Chapman of the Cherry Park Festival
