Organize a Community Network
 

 

Every municipality has, on average, 50 community groups that are active in promoting conservation.  Yet, surprisingly, very few municipalities have a community conservation network.  This will change.

Community groups are at the heart of our movement.  From schools, business associations, ratepayer groups, faith groups, cultural groups, service clubs, and (of course) local green groups, community groups can engage their members and provide services to help people become better conservers.

The key to organizing for community action is to build on the existing groups and programs already in place in your community, and to find the provincial or national support programs that can help you move to the next level.

Need help?
We've put together Community Action for the Environment as a guide to community action, based on our years of experience.

 

  
 

What if We Already Have a Community Plan?

No problem. Developing a Community Action Plan is not a new idea, nor is it a rigid process that must be followed to the letter.

Community planning for the environment already exists in many forms. There are many existing types of action plans, including Healthy Community Plans (combining health, social and economic issues, and the environment), Remedial Action Plans (for water quality), Green Community plans, and Transition Towns.

We're not hung up on the name, just looking to help make sure community groups and community leaders are included.

Check out our map of Community Action in Ontario, and you'll find links to the major community organizing programs that we are following in Ontario (along with our own Community Networks approach)

 

Fifteen Steps to Organize Your Community

 

There is no set way to organize for action, however, just as we can find common threads within the conservation movement, there are also a number of common elements in community organizing.

You don’t have to do them in order, but at the end of the day, the strongest communities will be the ones that have at least considered each of these points.

Remember, too, that there are different stages of intensity in community organizing. As your community action process evolves, how your community organizes itself will need to adapt over time

 ORGANIZE

1.   Identify your mandate – Who in your community wants to organize? Is there an issue, a goal or a public motivation to do it now? Is there a local, provincial, or national program that you want to connect your community with?

2.   Find community sparks – Who are key people and groups who can make it happen?

3.   Set up a coordinating body – Bring together representatives from sectors of the community who are interested in helping promote and support community-based projects.

4.   Find funding – Throughout the community organizing process, you will need to address funding – for community planning, for core projects, and to provide ongoing support for community-based projects and services.

5.   Designate a community coordinator – Hire someone, or designate a volunteer or municipal staff person to be the main contact person for members of the community net­work, and to communicate with provincial and national community support programs.

6.   Develop a community network – You will thrive by your lists! Create a contact list of groups and individuals that share common aspirations and goals – including other community groups, cultural groups, schools, businesses, service clubs, and all levels of government.

7.   Engage your community -- Find some early projects and activities that will help build community interest and support – including movie nights, green cafes, local food tastings, community walks, and bike tours.

PLAN

8.   Conduct a community scan – Do background research on the groups, activities, issues, support programs and funding, and other resources that exist within the community. This helps you find a common wavelength.  Use the scan as an opportunity to listen to the needs of the community.

9.   Draft a community action plan – Bring your network together to prepare a community action plan, including a brief statement of the environmental priorities for the community, the lead organizations for each issue, and some of the projects that will support the community goals.

ACT

10.  Support community projects – Use your network to engage the community. Pick projects early on that will show some measurable success and create community spirit.

11.  Develop community campaigns – As your network grows stronger, you can develop integrated campaigns that support an overall community goal. 

REVIEW AND IMPROVE

12.  Celebrate success – Make sure you hold events and take opportunities to recognize groups, businesses, and individuals who make a difference.

13.  Update your plan – What worked? What didn’t? Go back over your tracks and find new ways to reach your goals, or set new goals.

14.  Intensify your efforts – Over time, as your community is ready, identify some longer term collaborative efforts that will connect community action with proactive government policy and infrastructure investments.

15.  Plan for the future – An organized community is resilient and adaptive. Use your network and action plan to help address emerging issues and crises, and to help with the long-term transition to a more sustainable conserver society.

 

Download our
Community Action Worksheet
(MS Word or PDF)