Community Belonging

Wednesday, 7 May 2014 17:46

Discussion next week aims to collect resident's feelings around community well-being and community belonging locally in Oxford.

WOODSTOCK -- Trying to find out where you belong in your community can be as easy as starting a conversation.

A group of local agencies and community members have been busy organizing a Belonging Coffee Chat with an evening and day session next week.

The public discussion invites those who attend to share their "Community Belonging" experiences as a resident of Oxford County.

It's part of an ongoing discussion around community well-being, which a group of Oxford agencies are collaborating on to strengthen the experience of community belonging locally.

Jenilee Cook, Outreach Social Worker with the Woodstock and Area Community Health Centre says the idea of "belonging" in the community came following discussions around the Canadian Index of Well Being, saying community conversations on belonging happened through the United Way.

"In those conversations, one of the main themes they were hearing from people was them wanting to feel like they belong in the community, in areas they feel like the belong and areas they don't."

Cook describes the type of conversation starters organizers would like to see -- in what promises to a relaxed and informal atmosphere.

"Things like, 'Where have you been in Oxford County and where you felt like you really belonged?' 'Where have you been where you felt like you didn't belong? What does that look like, and what does that feel like? What did you need in order to feel like you belonged? It's a chance to sit around some tables, drink some coffee, eat some snacks on a Tuesday evening and talk about your community."

Cook says the discussions will happen over two days next week, featuring a daytime and an evening session so more people can attend.

"We realized that the Wednesday event is during the day and people work or have places where they volunteer and things that they do. So we created an evening event in hopes of getting those folks who wouldn't be able to come to a daytime event to come out and share those experiences."

International Expert on Resiliency, Dr. Michael Unger will also present and facilitate a two part Experience Sharing and Knowledge Swap May 13th and 14th at the UNIFOR Hall on Beale Street in Woodstock.

Attendees will also hear from United Way Oxford about what members of Oxford County said about their experience of belonging, while Dr. Ungar will share his experience in helping communities build community resiliency and belonging.

Cook adds it's one more conversation on how to create a sense of belonging in Oxford County and says although attendance at both events is not mandatory for participants, Tuesday evening’s sharing will help inform Wednesday’s discussion.

If you wish to secure your spot in the conversation you can RSVP by calling the WACHC office at (519) 539-1111.