Becoming a community builder
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
Through a competitive process the Town of Strathmore and Wheatland County were selected to be a lighthouse community for the Becoming a Community Builder initiative.
“This is an opportunity to increase volunteerism, business profitability and strengthen community resiliency through training in community capacity building emerging training practice,” said Teri McKinnon, chair of the steering committee at the Sept. 4 town council meeting.
Becoming a Community Builder is a 15-week competency-based community and professional leadership development program offered with two distinct but simultaneous learning tracks. One of those tracks is for the general adult community service provider, non-sector driven.
The other track is specifically for high school students.
“The purpose of Becoming a Community Builder initiative is based on two very simple principles. One, that people closest to the problem are the best equipped to solve the problem,” said McKinnon.
“And two that education and support of grassroots organizations and community leadership knowledge aligns time, talent and treasure towards a common goal. The purpose is to prove and establish in Strathmore and Wheatland County an emerging practice that when present enhanced community leadership capacity makes great things happen.”
Six desired outcomes were thought of for measurement of the attainment of instigating this initiative. McKinnon listed the top three, which include: increased alignment and connectedness of the community; the increased entrepreneurialism and support for local business; and enhanced leadership training for youth.
Upon being selected as a lighthouse community, there was a leadership development program, and training on how to deploy the program in Strathmore.
Access to the program is unlimited. All it requires is a username and a password. The program will remain free and accessible to Strathmore and Wheatland County for life.
“That means it can be reused for high school students, it can be reused for new executives on community service boards, it can be reused as training for elected officials or any business team development,” said McKinnon.
She asked for the participation of council in the actual program so they can see first hand what it is all about. She also asked for a one-time grant of $1,000 to go towards the tuition of the program. The tuition that was paid by Bow Valley College was $7,500 and they have recouped some of those costs thanks to some local support.
The program is on demand but participants can go to the live stream webcast and follow the program on the 21 one day change continuum.
McKinnon said though if you want to go in and do the competency on a Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. then all you have to do is log on.
“It’s a really non-traditional and exciting learning continuum,” said McKinnon.
Ian Hill developed the content. Hill is the founder of the Let Them Be Kids Foundation, which is a North American-based organization that builds skateboard parks and playgrounds. He also is the executive director of the Changing Point, which was contracted by the government of Alberta to pilot a test project at Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo.
The pilot test project, Becoming a Community Builder, was well received and now other Alberta communities have been selected to see if it works well in other areas.
Once the template is built it will be evaluated and measured. An evaluation summary report will go back to every participating community. Then the final template will be built and it will be marketed to other provinces across the country and then nationally.
“We believe that Rural Communities are relevant in the 21st century and that Community success always boils down to leadership. Community Leadership Capacity is the key,” said Hill in a press release.
“Community Leadership Capacity is leadership excellence of both formal and informal leaders within all sectors, silos, and corners of a community. We are excited to have Strathmore and Wheatland County as a Lighthouse Community. They were selected because we believe the organizing committee and community will be a great example of what can happen when a community makes an all out commitment to develop informal leaders in the community.”
Hill will be spending a half-day in the community to help launch the program on October 8, 2013. Mr. Hill’s day will feature a series of both formal and informal activities to learn more about the program, partner associations and meet community members.
Community members can register for free to the leadership development program by going to www.register.becomingacommunitybuilder.ca.