How does it work?
This spring, Building Resilient Neighbourhoods and the City of Victoria’s VictoriaReady initiative are offering a fully online version of the popular Connect & Prepare program to groups of neighbours living in either a multi-unit building or complex or on the same street. Each site requires two or more “resident co-champions” to help us launch and deliver the program. This involves gathering your neighbours to participate online in two virtual workshops and two customized coaching sessions between April through June of 2021. In these sessions, you will learn about emergency preparedness, and strengthen neighbour connections and resilience together. With our new online program, for the first two workshops, you will join up with sites across the City to learn together. The customized coaching sessions will be scheduled and facilitated just for you and your neighbours to develop action plans specifically for your building or block.
Program Schedule:
- Champion’s Orientation: April 14th (6:30-8:30pm)
- Workshop #1 (online): May 12th (6:30-8:30pm)
- Workshop # 2 (online): May 26th (6:30-8:30pm)
- Customized Action Planning Sessions: June dates TBD – Facilitated coaching support just for you and your neighbours!
Here’s what we’ll need from you:
By filling out this application, you’ll be letting us know that you would like to work with us and be a “co-champion” for the Connect & Prepare program on your street or in your multi-unit building or complex. Being a co-champion involves the following commitments:
- You’ll identify at least one or two other neighbours who will commit to being “co-champions” for the program with you.
- You and/or one of your other co-champions will attend a fun and informal Zoom orientation session with us on April 14th to learn more about the program and gather tools and resources to get started. You will also attend a fun wrap-up evaluation session at the end of the program.
- You’ll reach out to some or all of your neighbours on your block or in your building to invite them to participate in the fully virtual Connect & Prepare program.
- In order to successfully participate, we require a minimum of 6 committed neighbours (more is better!) for the full program. If you can bring together at least 15 neighbours, we will deliver a personalized program just for you.
- With our support, you’ll collaborate with your neighbours to develop activities or projects that enhance neighbour connections, resilience, and preparedness.
- You’ll share your experiences, provide feedback, and engage in evaluation & learning activities about the program, to help us continue to improve it.
What you and your neighbours will get:In addition to strengthened connections with neighbours, fun gatherings, and becoming more prepared for emergencies, you’ll receive the following support:
- An orientation session for site Champions on April 14th, and helpful tools such as neighbour invitations and program materials to get you started and organize your online gatherings.
- Facilitated workshops and professional resource people from Building Resilient Neighbourhoods and VictoriaReady to provide emergency preparedness and community-building expertise.
- Program materials such as emergency preparedness checklists, discussion guides and a Neighbourh-to-Neighbour emergency plan template
- A customized bin with up to $500 worth of shared emergency supplies and equipment for you and your neighbours.
- Access to $200 project micro-grants to help with other projects or activities that you and your neighbours may wish to undertake together.
- Support with accessing additional resources for larger projects
Deadline for Expressions of Interest: Thursday, April 1, 2021