By Bailey Telo, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
On October 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the City of Burlington will be hosting a presentation led by renowned community development expert Jim Diers on the theme of “Neighbour Power” at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre.
Neighbour power is all about engaging and activating neighbourhoods so that the people within those neighbourhoods are actively involved in identifying their local issues as well as working on a solution alongside local government. The idea is to make communities stronger, empowering people to work together for a better place to live.
Not only does neighbour power restore faith that participatory democracy is achievable, but it — and this upcoming presentation — also provides citizens with lessons and authentic examples for those that are interested in making a difference in their community.
Senior Manager of Community Development Denise Beard says, “This inspiring presentation will highlight how important community champions are to turn a neighbourhood into a truly connected community and the power of a neighbourhood.”
Now, who is Jim Diers?
Diers is a community engagement enthusiast, a speaker, a facilitator, and an “activator” with a passion for getting citizens involved in the decisions that affect their lives and community.
Since relocating to Seattle in 1976, Diers has been dedicated to encouraging community participation. In addition, he has been involved in multiple projects and worked with adirect-action neighbourhood association, a community development corporation, and the largest health care cooperative in the country. In 1998, he was nominated as the first director of Seattle’s Department of Neighbourhoods. Diers worked in this department for the next 14 years, where he helped the city’s neighbourhoods with their local issues, including urban growth and gang violence. Amongst his writings (in his book, Neighbor Power: Building Community the Seattle Way, or on The Empty Square website), there are truths that are easily transferred to aspects of life other than community engagement: meet people where they are, listen to what they have to say about what they need, and value the skills that other people have.
Not only has Diers gone on to teach courses in community development, but he continues to inspire and educate citizens through his presentations. Ed Murray, mayor of Seattle, says that “His work with neighbourhoods is passionate and progressive”; Burlington will get a taste of that next week.
Diers has already made a significant impact in his previous two visits to the City of Burlington; his lessons motivated the launch of several programs in Burlington, including the Community Rink program, Love My Neighbourhood program, and the Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund program.
Besides having been inspired by Diers, what these programs have in common is their overarching purpose: to create stronger community connections, address neighbourhood needs, and allow local people and municipal government to work together as partners..
The Cogeco Neighbourhood Community Rink program allows residents to apply for a skating rink in their neighbourhood’s city-owned park; the city provides and installs the boards, rink liner and hoses, and neighbourhood volunteers build up and maintain the rink with their own water sources. Applications for 2023 are being taken now, up until November 30. Find public skating guidelines and application information here.
The Love My Neighbourhood program (LMN) was created to enhance community relationships and build stronger social circles within Burlington. According to Burlington.ca, LMN “is a one-time per year grant of up to $500 per neighbour, resident or street section, condominium, or apartment group in Burlington.” These grants can be used for one-time events for the whole of the neigbourhood or weekly activities; the city asks for LMN applications at least six weeks ahead of the proposed event. Eligibility criteria, a budget template document and other information can be found here.
The Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund provides up to $10,000 per project. This is again for community-led solutions to improve neighbourhoods, increase well-being and belonging, and get people involved in the community. Past projects that have been the recipient of this grant include a public pollinator garden at Port Nelson United Church, and accessible picnic tables and a sensory garden at Sycamore Park, to build a “bumping space.” Bumping space is Diers’ term for a welcoming place that encourages neighbours to bump into each other, creating more opportunities for relationship-building. Find more information here.
All residents are invited to hear Diers speak next week, and perhaps be inspired to help strengthen their own neighbourhood.
If you have an interest in engaging with your community and contributing to the changes that will help make an impact on the City of Burlington, this is an event that you won’t want to miss. No registration is required, and the event is free to attend; just arrive for the 6 p.m. start at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre (2285 New St.).
Sources:
City of Burlington. Oct. 13, 2023. Neighbourhood Power! Jim Diers, renowned community development expert coming to Burlington Oct. 24. Url: https://www.burlington.ca/en/news/neighbourhood-power-jim-diers-renowned-community-development-expert-coming-to-burlington-oct-24.aspx (accessed October. 16, 2023.)
Diers, J. n.d. About. Jim Diers is all about building community. Url: http://www.neighborpower.org/about.html (accessed October. 17, 2023).
The Empty Square. Jim Diers, community cuilder. The Participants. Url: https://www.theemptysquare.org/the-participants/jim-diers (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).
