Community The Power to Change

Regional Events Traditional events such as a toast at holiday time or a community fair serve as a stage on which initiatives operating in the field can introduce themselves to many populations and even recruit additional volunteers to join their ranks. These events foster a holiday atmosphere and local pride, and are influential in building a local identity for the residents, even those who are less active. At each fair, a different community may host and present that community’s specific environmental work and also introduce the community itself and its unique characteristics. Time-focused Initiatives Short-term and focused initiatives are a means to raise awareness and to make connections within the community, both among those who work together on the event, as well as among the participants who meet their neighbors in a new context. The circulation of a call for proposals for time- focused initiatives is directed at those who dream of promoting an idea or field that is close to their hearts, through community gatherings. Not everyone is a long-distance runner; not everyone wants to run a long- term project. Jane’s Walks and Open Gardens are events that have become a tradition and are held annually. The advantage of these initiatives is that they require no infrastructure, nor must they be managed over time, which may serve as an obstacle when meeting with the local authority.

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