About 80 people from Kitchener attended this year’s community summit. Over 30 grass roots collectives from neighbourhood organizations to various affinity groups shared common interests about social concerns. There was representation from municipal and regional offices who also participated by hosting information tables on the day of the Summit. It created a real opportunity for people who share common geographic locations but who may be different in other key ways. It offered the opportunity to exchange knowledge, compare circumstances and build both common ground and connection.
City of Kitchener Love My Hood attended as did the City of Kitchener’s Lived Expertise Working Group and the Region of Waterloo’s Plan to End Chronic Homelessness participants. This offered Kitchener residents a chance to connect to active working groups, and offices connected to the municipality that are directly engaged in improving our shared quality of life while addressing the most pressing issues of our day in a more relaxed environment than other mechanisms for civic engagement that more formal.
At the Summit we were able to share thoughts, opinions, and shared desires related to two core questions.
Question One: “I we us they belong when…?”
Question Two: “How do we make where we live a kinder place?”
I we us they belong when…?
When considering belonging feed back included important points like safety which seemed to be improved by indicators of familiarity such as knowing our neighbours’ names. This connected directly to the Festival of Neighbourhoods propinquity pillar which extends a commitment to creating and feeling a sense of kinship amongst strangers in our neighourhoods through gatherings that neighbours create. There were various themes that emerged in the conversations related to belonging. These included equity, being heard, and ownership.
Equity
People fed back that when basic needs are met it contributes to knowing you belong. This relates as well to ensuring that resources are shared equitably. Through an equitable approach basic needs can become more accessible to those who are most in need. This can have real impact on how people feel they are included. Two of the Festival of Neighbourhoods pillars are Inclusion and Belonging. This was an important sentiment reflected in the comments by several of the tables participating.
Being Heard
On the matter of inclusion and belonging there was significant feedback that spoke to the heart of the matter through these comments. “When voices are listened to with an intent to understand, people feel heard and that contributes to that feeling of belonging that also helps you know you are welcome. All of this gives us a sense of ownership; that we belong to a place we call our place. When you have that feeling of belonging you feel invested in where you live. We feel most welcomed when decisions are not imposed.”
Ownership
There was a strong belief in trusting bottom-up decision-making. It was felt this invoked trust of the grass-roots. And supported individuals as well as collectives with common interests in gaining some sense of control over their lives. It was considered that gaining this control aligned with the values of self-determination which then helps everyone have a stake in the city.
Connecting
Different tables from different neighbourhoods were expressing their lived experiences with each other and neighbours had the opportunity to share what they were experiencing directly with various members of local government from both Kitchener and the Region who attended the event. We were very pleased to have representatives from all levels of government who live in Kitchener attend the event and address the crowd. This included federal, provincial, regional and municipal representatives. The Festival of Neighbourhoods provides a real opportunity for elected officials who are our neighbours to connect with regular folks from all walks of life and create rapport that otherwise might not occur.
Well-Being
A big topic that came forward was housing and the challenges that some Kitchener Neighbours are experiencing around mass renovictions occurring in vertical villages. Some buildings can have hundreds of individual units which if they were stretched out as single houses on a street would be considered quite expansive or large neighbourhoods. One of the areas of concentration for the Festival this year was looking at challenges for people who live in these tall neighbourhoods to foster shared senses of well being. Another important pillar of the Festival.
Those who are experiencing vulnerable circumstances were able to communicate very tangible and real concerns that related to both the belonging question and how we create more kindness when we know we are experiencing a growing affordable housing crisis in the city. One of the questions brought forth was, “How could local City Councillors be more responsive to citizen’s concerns?” For example people expressed wanting to have connection with Council before landlord tenant hearings.
There were specific concerns expressed regarding the special needs for safety, security, supports and housing for seniors, citizens on fixed incomes, single parents and persons with disabilities. There was a general call for councilors to take steps now to preserve our affordable housing supply to meet these distinctive and varying needs while creating more options to fill identifiable gaps. The general sentiment that was voiced by several tables on the day of the Summit was for all political parties in power to uplift people over profits.
There was a direct ask and assertion that people attending the summit wanted council to pass a housing protection bylaw as soon as possible. Because otherwise citizens are facing a risk of homelessness. We were told that we need mechanisms to stop renovictions. This would be one way to help people feel more of a sense of trust and safety in their neighbourhoods. There was general support and agreement that a balanced approach to current challenges was desired where we can assess what is going right and what is currently going wrong so our city can make the changes that would increase belonging and kindness where we live.
How do we make where we live a kinder place?
Generally, people wanted to open doors for everyone experiencing homelessness and there were desires for more commitment to actions. There was understanding that some of us might need to put ourselves out of our comfort zones when considering actions that would support equitable approaches to these challenges. There were lots of suggestions for doing things together that would be multi-generational and working toward lessening polarity where us versus them stances seems to be more common than people would like. There were also suggestions for decolonizing language and holidays to create more inclusion and a desire to support and help each other wherever possible. Listening was equated to showing and acting intentional with mutual respect.
Inclusion
There were concerns about the loss and erosion of public third spaces that are inclusive, and accessible where everyone can meet. There was an expressed desire to encourage accepting people as they define/see/name themselves. What was striking throughout the event was the sense of care people were bringing with them and we hope that those who attended were inspired to take the spirit of such welcoming and kindness into their neighbourhoods to transform strangers into potential friends.
Options
One neighourhood shared that they do not have a community centre, and that more meeting places with resources that encouraged gathering and connecting were valued and desired. It was affirmed that when neighbourhoods lack these resource there can be challenges. The spirit of the desire to remove obstacles once a larger enough group agree on a project was important to support so that no one can go back on agreements.
Ideas
People shared ideas that would help improve where they lived. These included picnic tables, yard sales, and gardens. They discussed the need for more security cameras at some housing complexes. They saw the value in creating giveaways for clothing, furniture, and food, to help offset costs for those neighbours struggling to make ends meet but also to help everyone redistribute and save along the way. The idea that sharing is a way to generate a spirit of kindness was fulsome.
Desires
Some people talked about peace and how they would like women’s and men’s circles where they lived so they could talk about and address mental health needs. People exchanged information about different funding options and grants through the city for different ideas and agreed that when they could draw from the wisdom of those who have tried things and succeeded or failed that they would be able to consider concerns like liability.
Connecting
Getting the word out for encouraging and inviting neighbours to gather remains a barrier. This is especially true with vertical villages whether they be condos, rentals, or other kinds of housing. Because vertical neighbourhoods are private property, there are identified barriers to connecting effectively. Some community neighbourhood organizers do find that good old newsletters remain one of the best ways to connect with new people and stay in touch. There were discussions about the role of tenant’s unions when addressing challenges like en- masse renovictions as well as increasing accessibility which contributes to both a sense of belonging and can become a way to increase kind approaches to the lack of adequate housing at some addresses.
There were suggestions to make more use of the existing spaces we do have, such as faith sites– like churches in our neighourhoods. There was a call for more funding for the operation and continuance of programs that people enjoy and value with services that connect people. There was a general consensus that more funding for grassroots activities could be really helpful. People stated they wanted more public showers, washrooms and laundromats to support people who are not housed and that we need more shelters with wrap-around services; anything that meets basic necessities including a guaranteed basic income. Generally, anything that increases more human interaction within the community was considered positive. Contributing to both belonging and a part of creating a kinder neighbourhood, ensuring better disability access.
The Festival of Neighbourhoods has a beautiful tradition of a long view group shot of everyone who attended. This year we carried on this wonderful tradition. There were many serious conversations shared with a real commitment to cherishing the community we call home knowing we can always improve what we are doing to create greater belonging and kindness in whatever we do and wherever we focus our efforts. This year the top three themes, where serious suggestions were made to increase belonging, while creating a kinder future included; 1. Housing 2. Creating, using, and sharing third spaces better 3. Dinding new strategies to connect more.