Creating a Sense of Belonging
Last night I had the pleasure of attending an event hosted by We Belong in Jasper Place. For those of you who haven’t heard of this initiative before, We Belong in Jasper Place is a community driven initiative aimed at strengthening the social infrastructure of west-central Edmonton.
In the fall of 2023, the Projects for Belonging Grant was developed as a way to empower community members of Jasper Place to explore how belonging might be strengthened in the community. Last year I had the pleasure of being on the selection committee that reviewed proposals and finalized the list of projects to support with grant funding. It felt incredible and so inspiring to witness these projects come to life.
Last night’s event was called, “Belonging in Action” at the beginning of the event, the facilitators (Tilia Consulting) asked us to close our eyes and think about the most recent time where we felt like we truly belonged. What did it feel like? Who was there?
And truly, it took me a while to think of an instance but once it came to me it was so clear. The last time I felt like I truly belonged in a space was at the mural unveiling for the Azure Dragon by Branden Cha. This event was planned in collaboration between Chinatown Re:Vita and The Mah Society.
I spent the day volunteering for the event and I had met so many people who had a shared care and vision for Chinatown. Before our eyes we saw Branden’s mural come to life with the help of music, colourful projections but what truly made the experience was the people.
I could hear gasps in the crowd when the lights and sounds came on, the smell of delicious food wafted in the air and I ran into so many old friends as I walked around. Friends I hadn’t seen in person in years! I also met many new friends. That day I foolishly wore shorts on this cold, cold day and I had people I had just met that day offering me warm layers and warm water.
You could feel the care that people had for each other and the shared space we all occupied. Over the years, the Chinatown of my childhood has really changed and the truth is it’s been hurting for a while now. But even on a cold September day, in an empty Chinatown parking lot, you can create a sense of connection and community.
Towards the end of the We Belong in Jasper Place session, we identified the barriers to create a sense of belonging. And for myself I know that initial shyness and discomfort is one of the greatest barriers for me.
Another big one was getting connected to folks with the same interests and goals. My west end neighbor and friend Melissa said that “we need the mortar for the bricks!”
She explained how there were many people and organizations who were so creative and already doing great work. Rather than duplicating and trying to reinvent the wheel, we need to connect those with shared goals.
I don’t have all the answers on how we can create a better sense of belonging but my answer, along with another person’s answer and another person’s answer can give us a clearer picture of a community where we can all feel like we belong.
