Compassionate cities care for their animals “Compassion is heart-centered. It is a strong desire to alleviate suffering whenever, wherever, and however it presents,” writes Mindful Coach Vanessa F. Hurst on what makes a compassionate city. “A compassionate city is an aware city,” she continues. “It is an umbrella under which small and large, organized and […]
Engagement
public participation & citizen engagement
Public Safety, Compassion and Community Integration
As public safety remains a growing concern in cities around the world, how we treat our most vulnerable people must also be considered. How can we become more compassionate, support these people and help them integrate into our communities? I recently attended a conference which addressed these issues in Victoria, BC (where I now live) […]
Good mayors build strong, creative communities
Good mayors build strong, creative communities How often do you think about your mayor? If you’re like me, not often enough. Yet consider how a mayor can support you and your neighbourhood. Mayors have the ability to rethink the community – with added jobs, improved infrastructure and a collaborative government. According to the International Institute […]
Crime Prevention and Capitalism: What’s the Rub? Part II
In part I of our blog feature from last week I presented the contrast between the corporate world and smaller communities such as Rocky Mountain House, where I recently spoke to about 50 local residents. These rural communities are found beyond the larger municipalities and the city limits. We explored the War on Drugs, policing […]
Crime Prevention and Capitalism: What’s the rub? Part I
We live in a world that often believes that bigger is better – more profit and income – larger homes and communities. That list is BIG and it seems to be growing all the time. This past week I found myself working in two different worlds. There was a stark contrast between them. Stepping into […]
Creative communities six feet under . . . our feet
When my uncle wanted help finding the grave site of a relative who died in the 1920s, I slipped into sleuthing mode. This relative was three when he succumbed to the flu so his brief history was preserved through little more than long-ago stories. Despite calls to cemeteries and churches in the boy’s city, I […]
Peacemaking Circles – Part II
by Dianna Bennett Community Engagement using Peacemaking Circles is not a novel concept, us European types are just slow learners. Circles have been used over the millennia by many first nations around the world. The first people’s (aka indigenous peoples) used Circle process to make serious decisions that impacted all in the community. Indigenous peoples […]
Peacemaking Circles
by Dianna Bennett What are Peacemaking Circles you ask? They are a restorative practice used in Restorative Justice, along with having a few other pretty amazing applications…so stay tuned. Restorative Justice is a voluntary process. It is a grassroots, community based response to crime or harm resulting from situations. It has been practiced in […]
Is social media a BFF or ‘frenemy’?
All you want to do is find out what friends and family are up to on Facebook, right? And why should paying a few bills from your sofa or ordering a drone online be fraught with risk? Because it is. Welcome to the new normal and take a few simple steps to avoid becoming a victim. Be […]
Communities coping with victims of crime
While post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is not a new topic, it’s one with a myriad of dimensions. For victims of crimes, the anxiety felt afterwards can range from mild to terrifying, even life altering. The crimes committed don’t have to be brutal to make an impact. When a friend’s house was robbed while she […]