Project Communitas aims to strengthen individual and community resilience through the development of inter-cultural and inter-faith community-based resilience projects that foster social interdependence, active citizenship, dialogue and youth leadership.
Individual and community resilience can take on many forms. This project analyzes the role of young people in building resilience by developing various inter-religious and inter community initiatives. This project focuses on cultural and faith-based groups and organizations.
The project is engaging 7 cities (Montreal, Ottawa, the Greater Toronto Area, London, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver) and 300+ diverse youth (18-30) from across Canada in training, knowledge building and community development.
Community advisors are selected across the country to help bring the focus to the particular needs of each city. The advisors will connect with the project coordinator to better define resilience. This process will culminate in a national gathering that will be held in Toronto on November 7th, 8th and 9th 2014. Advisors will get the opportunity to build a national network, engage in meaningful discussions on resilience and community building, and develop strategies to build stronger communities in their own cities.
Each city will be hosting a resilience training for young adults. Participants receive training in the areas of inter-cultural engagement, community mobilization, resilience (community, individual, existing models and best practices) and challenges to Canadian public safety. The trainings will begin in November 2014 and will continue until January. Please take a look at your city’s page for more details.
This will be followed by the planning, development and mobilization of a community resilience initiative in each of the 7 cities. Each project will be reflecting the distinctive needs of each particular community. Following the initiative, the youth will connect with various community leaders and share their project. A forum will take place, which will seek to invite professionals from each community to share their vision of a resilient community. Q&A and discussion periods will be facilitated.
The project will culminate in the creation a final publication which, among other things, will provide readers with information on individual and community resilience, overviews of the six projects and challenges and strategies for developing a resilience project and engaging in community mobilization.
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