Building Blocks offers a civic literacy primer – how government makes decisions and how to impact those decisions – in highly diverse, low income communities in the Peel York and Toronto Regions.
But who are the people behind Building Blocks?
They are a diverse group of leaders, each based in one of 15 organizations, committed to engaging residents in making positive change where they live. These 15 leaders will train 60 residents within each community, with a cumulative impact of 900 residents trained across the Greater Toronto Area.
They see their role as animators, convenors, facilitators and mobilizers in their communities. And they describe their communities as rich in assets, full of possibility and ready to tap their power to make good things happen locally.
Watch the “We Are Building Blocks” video to learn about their communities from Building Blocks leaders, in their own words.
We will be profiling leaders more in-depth in the coming months.
First up, meet Terence Williams of PARC (Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre).
“Busy and alive” is how Terence Williams describes his neighbourhood of Parkdale. Apt words to describe a man who by day works as an advocate and relief housing support worker for PARC, a local drop-in and social service agency that has also recently opened a new social housing project, Edmond Place. On his off hours Terence volunteers with the local community health centre, as well as a consumer/survivor organization, his local residents’ association and other local community building initiatives.
What’s next on his agenda? Deputations and lobbying to all levels of government so that he can better serve the marginalized in his community. Williams sees the exponential benefit of Building Blocks as not only will he be able to pass on his training to others, but he will also, gain political awareness.
Affiliations:
Building Blocks is in part funded by
