Last Thursday, close to 100 “change makers” from across Chatham-Kent filled the gymnasium of the W.I.S.H. Centre to take in some of the leading practices in meaningful community engagement. The event, which was hosted by CK Public Health and the Chatham-Kent Prosperity Roundtable, garnered interest from multiple local organizations spanning a number of different sectors throughout CK. Attendees included both front-line staff and management from different municipal departments, representatives from local not-for-profits, boards, family health teams, and more. Chatham-Kent Councillor Karen Kirkwood-Whyte was also in attendance.
The full day workshop, which was facilitated by Galen MacLusky of The Tamarack Institute, highlighted the importance of engagement when it comes to community building, and assisted attendants on how to break down some of the barriers they face when trying to engage with specific groups.
A circle of chairs in the centre of the gymnasium set the scene for a “fishbowl” activity to take place in the afternoon of the workshop. This allowed for genuine, uncensored discussion between workshop attendees and guests who live with the challenges of poverty to grow our understanding of how to build relationships of trust with groups that are struggling in our community, and how we can best support and work alongside them effectively.
MacLusky, who travels across Canada to assist communities and organizations in deepening their engagement efforts and impact, was impressed by the success of the fishbowl activity as well as some of the more natural, organic engagement that was occurring throughout the day. “It was great to see and hear the real-time connections being made in the room” he stated. “Many tables remained full, conversations still flowing once the workshop had ended and that is a wonderful thing.”
Those in attendance were also quick to bring forward positive feedback. Gabriel Clarke, new to Chatham-Kent as the municipality’s Environmental Planner and responsible for the development of CK’s Climate Change Action Plan, noted the opportunities that were presented throughout the day. “To be able to network with likeminded individuals passionate about the work that needs to be done in the community is always a good thing” he voiced. “But the real magic was the discussions that were sparked about potential opportunities for collaboration, for pooling resources and for coordinating actions to make Chatham-Kent an even better place to live, work and play.”
CK Public Health and Chatham-Kent Prosperity Roundtable officials are happy with the outcome of the workshop, and are hopeful that it could be the first of many of its kind.
