Groups often struggle to secure funding and leadership commitment after the start up phase – to achieve sustainability, or move to the broader concept of resiliency.
On this page, we’ve included resources that address four common issues related to sustainability based on the experience of the Vibrant Communities initiative and other similar efforts across Canada and the United States.
On this page you’ll find:
The Resilient – Not Sustainable – Community Change Effort - This resource explores sustainability of community change efforts using the lens of eco-cycles. Contains a description of the different elements and phases of a community change efforts and transitions traps that prevent groups from moving from phase to phase. Includes a series of ‘big ideas’ about creating a resilient community effort, including the controversial statement that it is sometimes more productive to allow an effort to wind down in order for something more robust and durable to emerge. Coming Soon.
When a Collaboration Stumbles: The Opportunities Niagara Story - Vibrant Communities convener organizations across the country were saddened by the termination of the Opportunities Niagara initiative in late 2008. This story introduces five elements of the ‘parasitic trap’ as a lens through which to evaluate Opportunities Niagara’s performance. Access the story here.
The Tale of the Core Neighbourhood Development Council in Saskatoon - Between 2001 and 2003, organizers in Saskatoon developed a comprehensive plan for revitalizing eight downtown neighbourhoods but the initiative ground to a halt at the moment of action. Find out why in this story from the Caledon Institute here.
Opportunities 2000’s Year of Change - Opportunities 2000 faced an important year of change in 2001 when its members decided to shift from a focused poverty reduction campaign to an ongoing community revitalization initiative. This story details the chronology of events and asks important questions about the nature of transition in a community process. Access the story here.
Phases of Collaborative Efforts to Reduce Poverty - The second seminar in the Foundation series on the themes of poverty, complexity, collaboration and leadership explores four phases of poverty reduction efforts using an eco-cycle lens, including implications for planning, delivery and renewal of initiatives. Access the seminar here.
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