Knowledge-sharing resources from Diane Dyson

in community stories

This is the third installment in our Best practices in Community Empowerment series.

Diane Dyson (@Diane_Dyson) is Manager for Planning & Research at WoodGreen Community Services, and author of Belonging Community. She says there’s no real rhyme or reason to her selections, but thought that each of these were simply good examples of how knowledge-sharing can occur. So of course they’re mainly Canadian.

Any thoughts/stories on the practice of hoarding/sharing best practices?

There was some resistance when I wanted to publish the United Way Best Practice reviews. I believe, even the title “Best” is intimidating. Publishing your “best” only to later have it disproved is risky. I think that’s why we are seeing discussions of “promising” more.

Action for Neighbourhood Change/United Way Toronto – This list of various webresources was built to support the resident engagement work of United Way Toronto as part of its Building Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy. Knowledge exchange was an explicit part of the the BSNS strategy. I assembled this set of resources when I was a research analyst at United Way.

The final links on the page lead to two best practice pieces we commissioned, but had never shared publicly. They show, whether working with newcomer immigrants or youth, the best practice is to do “it” (basket-weaving, ping pong, etc.) for a while and to build a relationship while doing so.

Well Scotland – Lists range of literature reviews on topic of elements which promote a mentally healthy neighbourhood.

Health-evidence.ca – Resources to support evidence-based decision-making” in the health field. Has a very good resource list to other sites.

What Works – Good example of a useable, plain language web resource. This one is for educators in the U.S.A.

Promising Practices Catalogue/Imagine Canada - Imagine Canada is the voice for Canadian charities. It maintains an on-line searchable library, one section of which is dedicated to “promising practices.”

Next up: Matthew Singh

Making Community Happen Here, and other stories

in community stories

Making Community Happen Here

Richmond Times Dispatch – David T. Anderson – What if we brought together a disparate group of people who serve wide-ranging needs through a variety of institutions, and the families they serve, and worked together to build community? An expanding group of local people is doing just that, and last Sunday many of them gathered at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on Grove Avenue to celebrate the work they are doing in partnership with one another.

‘Heartwarming’ turnout for event

Williamsport Sun-Gazette – David Thompson – L-3 Communications employees washed windows at Hope Enterprises Inc., Susquehanna Health workers painted the dining room and office at St. Anthony’s Center, Lycoming College students mulched around trees at Brandon Park, the Young Professionals trimmed trees, loaded brush and leveled tombstones at the Oval Cemetery, and Pennsylvania College of Technology students performed work at the Children’s Discovery Workshop. Elsewhere, volunteers cut grass, painted, cleaned, organized, repaired, landscaped – anything that was needed to help the organizations.

Valley Mission volunteers brighten up the place

Staunton News Leader – Cindy Corell – Beneath the cross-shaped sign that says, “Jesus saves,” the folks among us who need the most help are being welcomed, nurtured and given a chance to grow. But it is a program that offers a hand up, not a handout, Reed says. To make it work, the guests must look for work, save their money, help with cleaning, cooking and serving others.

A well-spent $8

Suffolk News-Herald – Tim Reeves – Marlow is nothing more than a 4-way stop in central Baldwin County, but during heavy rains, floods, hurricanes and fires, this department provided quick and dependable emergency service to those of us living along Fish River. The members of that department had other jobs, but aside from their family and their faith, they had no bigger calling. For the men and women who volunteer in these area departments, their instincts to go into a burning home at the risk of their own lives is something all to rare in our society. They do so without call for fame or riches, but for the chance to serve their community and protect their neighbors. Saturday’s fish fry was an effort by the department to raise needed funds to help augment its force with new equipment and pay for upgrades to current equipment, while reducing the burden on Suffolk taxpayers. The $8 plate was well worth the investment.

Nixon embraces idea of church-state disaster relief partnership

St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Tim Townsend – White has persuaded two governors — one a Republican and the other a Democrat — to follow his advice and organize religious groups in partnership with government to prepare for calamity. In doing so, White has helped Missouri emerge as a model for states hoping to forge partnerships between church and government for disasters. He has done so despite long-standing concerns about the separation of church and state, especially when it comes to government funding.