Six ways our alumni are building community
By Amelie Goulet-Boucher and Sarah Van Tine
- Blogging for a cause – Alumni Gerry Meek and his team at the Calgary Public Library System tapped into a topic that is important to a growing number of people by developing a blog for the environment. Gerry, who has completed five programs and holds a Certificate of Leadership Excellence, tells us the blog focuses on news and information that will assist readers in making smarter, greener choices.
- Community development programs – The Calgary Police Service and the Public Library system have collaborated to develop a literacy program aimed at increasing the education level of the general public, which has been shown to reduce crime. The program, called “It’s a Crime not to Read”, partners two unlikely institutions with a goal to build collaboration within the community– more details:
- Open doors and education at the fire department – The Fire Department of Lethbridge opened its doors to the public for a taste of the services they provide. Roy Pollmuller, Deputy Chief of the Lethbridge Fire Department, and alumni of Leading Strategically, says his department has used the opportunity to connect with community members and provide free education around health and safety.
- Arts and expertise –Alumni Suzie Leblanc, Artistic and General Director of Le Nouvel Opera, now co-chair of the Elizabeth Bishop Centenary Festival 2011, has incorporated “prototyping with clay” into her meetings. By using this medium, she fully engaged her event team to develop innovative ideas for this year’s festival. “One of the benefits of this kind of prototyping is that you can see everyone’s viewpoint and personal connection to the project,” says Leblanc, an alumni of Leading the Innovative Organization. “Instead of having a few people with strong voices lead the way (as often happens) everyone’s idea is taken into account and the project is greatly enriched because of this.”
- Support and networking group for executive directors working in Winnipeg’s inner city –Kreesta Doucette, executive director of Food Matters Manitoba, is involved in an informal support and networking group where she shares ideas and resources with other young, female executive directors working in Winnipeg’s Inner City. Many of the women involved in the networking group work with neighbourhood and community development organizations that focus on poverty, safety, arts, and many other community focused areas, says Doucette, an alumni of Managing in the Middle. Due to low operating budgets and a lack of professional development funds, this women’s networking group offers a low-cost opportunity for their professional development.
- Community conversations address youth issues – Donna Rapp from Calgary’s Education Matters Foundation, and an alumnus of the Building Personal Leadership program at The Banff Centre, is taking action in her community to get people talking about issues facing youth. She is part of the team that started Kafe12.org, a place for the Calgary community to discuss and take action on important issues facing Calgary youth. Their focus includes Calgary students, vulnerable youth, and providing a place for them to find solutions. Since 2008, along with many inner city partners, Kafe12 has run programs across Calgary that aim to increase high school completion rates.
These are only six of countless examples of important work being done in communities across the nation, and internationally, by alumni of Leadership Development programs. No organization would exist without the support of a community behind it. As organizational consultant, author, and citizen of the world, Meg Wheatley said: “People learn from each other, find support, create solutions, and gradually discover new capabilities from this web of trusting relationships. This is no surprise. We’re all ‘bundles of potentiality’ that only manifest in relationship.”
