Understanding New Opportunities...

Are you understanding new opportunities for your own involvement in the community? What has influenced you? What kind of change do you want to see?

            Before I entered this course, I did not know much about community development. Most of our social work education so far has been about individual counselling, so I did not have a very well rounded view of the social work field yet. I pictured community development as a long, difficult, and involved process. I think I was right about that. But I pictured success in community development as being breakthroughs involving a significant issue and a high number of people. I have learned that success in community development can be very small but still make an impact. In many situations, it is the journey of the project that provides the most growth in the community.

            From this learning I have realized that there are many more opportunities for me to get involved than I thought. We have been presented with many events, organizations, and agencies that use volunteers all year round. Volunteers are extremely valuable for community development projects because they are often passionate about the cause and don’t require pay. Before taking this class, I was almost intimidated by the thought of getting involved in community development because I didn’t know where to begin. I had very little knowledge of the many community organizations that are working towards change in Calgary. Now that I am aware of them, it will be much easier and less intimidating to get involved.   

             I believe that there are many people out there who would like to make changes in their communities, but do not know how to go about it. I also believe that many people think that it would be too big of a commitment to get involved with a community development project. From this course, I have learned that even the smallest contributions add up and contribute to the bigger picture. If the community development organizations and projects in Calgary were common knowledge, people would be more likely to participate. I would like to see these organizations getting more exposure to the people of the communities in Calgary. I think it would be beneficial to make volunteer opportunities clear for more people as well. Perhaps if volunteer opportunities were advertised more often, people would become more aware of them. After having conversations with friends outside of the social work field, many of them ask me where they can volunteer their time in their communities.

            From this course, I have been inspired to get involved with some of the organizations that have spoken to us. I have also gained a better picture of what community development is, which makes me want to experience it. Now that I have gained a better understanding of how to get involved, I will be passing along information to friends and family so that they can get involved as well.

A Stand Out Moment...

Did you come across a particular reading/film/case study/event or exercise in class that interested you? Why did you find it interesting? What did you learn from it?

One of the presentations that stood out the most for me this semester was the guest speaker from Antyx Community Arts. I had never heard of this organization before this class. Richard Campbell was very passionate about the work that the organization has done so far and seemed excited about the growth that was happening in it as well. Antyx is a relatively new company that has very few staff. They use art, such as painting, theatre, and dance to bring youth together with a community development approach.

Richard Campbell talked a lot about the organization and how far it has come in the past little while. Antyx was formed when All Nations Theatre and Urban Youth Works united. There are many positive things about their programs. The newly formed organization offers great experiences for the youth to learn through the arts and work with new people. Through Antyx, teens are working toward a common goal as a team and broadening their social networks. I think that giving youth the chance to meet new and influential people is fantastic, especially in their teenage years. It provides them with positive support and relationships that they can hopefully rely on in years to come.   

I believe that working with youth can really benefit a community. By using a community development approach, teens are taught leadership skills and teamwork. These skills are important as they are becoming adults. The art that is produced by the youth also brightens the rest of the community in a variety of ways. Murals and paintings can liven up the streets of a community while theatre gives other community members an opportunity to support the youth. Not only is Antyx giving youth some unique opportunities, but the other members of the community are benefiting as well.   

I was excited to learn about Antyx because the organization seems to mix my passion for social work and theatre arts into one. I strongly believe that arts and extra-curricular activities can improve the quality of life for youth. I have been involved in dance throughout my whole life, and it has shaped who I am in many ways. Through dance, I have learned commitment, dedication, perseverance, and discipline. Working towards goals such as exams, competitions, and performances can teach a lot of skills that are useful for many aspects of life. Personally, dance gave me motivation and inspiration to work hard at other things too. It gave me confidence in myself because I learned that hard work pays off.            

The Antyx Community Arts presentation stood out for me this semester. By working with the youth in a community to combine the arts and community development is an approach that I am passionate about. The youth that participate in the organization’s projects gain new skills, friends, and networks while the community gets the chance to see the talented individuals that live there. I think that this is a great approach to take for community development, and I would like to get involved with it in the near future.

My Social Action

Throughout the semester, I have been volunteering my time at the Thorncliffe Boys and Girls Club. Every Thursday evening I run a dance program for kids aged six to eight years old. I chose to do this program not only because I enjoy working with children, but also because I appreciate the challenge of it. At times, it can be difficult to engage such young kids and gain their respect because I am young. I was placed at the Thorncliffe club for my first social work practicum. During my time there as a practicum student, I built some strong relationships with the kids as well as the staff. When I was asked to continue my time at the club, I was excited to incorporate some of my skills from outside of the social work field into the Boys and Girls Club.

For each week at the club, much preparation is required. I develop lesson plans for each week so that I can keep the kids busy. One of the biggest challenges is to keep them moving, because they have a ton of energy! Therefore, there needs to be a variety of activities planned for each week. Along with planning the activities and skills that I will be teaching, I choose music that is appropriate for the age group. Preparation not only includes lesson plans, but also making a kid friendly playlist.

Once I am at the club facilitating the dance program, I am juggling many things at once. I usually have about seven to ten kids without any other volunteers with me. We often begin by playing an interactive dance game on the club’s Wii. This allows all of the dancers to arrive and have some time for socializing. I participate by catching up with some of the kids on a one on one basis. We then move to the gym to learn dance skills, play games, and be active.

My purpose at the club is to teach dance, but I also end up doing a lot of behavioural and conflict management as well as utilizing many of my counselling skills that I have learned so far. The majority of the kids at the club come from low income families or need a safe place to go after school. The Boys and Girls Club of Calgary help to teach life skills, social skills, and leadership through their various programs. Therefore, I have many conversations with the kids about respect, listening, and supporting each other. I also strive to show them that I care and believe in them as individuals and encourage them to push themselves to grow. I have built relationships with some of the parents as well. The Boys and Girls Club encourages community growth and is a great resource to have nearby.

The Boys and Girls Club uses a strength based perspective in their programs. This includes empowering the kids and allowing them to be responsible and accountable for their own actions and decisions. I believe that this perspective encourages them to be more independent and confident in many aspects of their lives. They also emphasize respect. The three main rules are respect yourself, respect others, and respect the club. The kids are constantly reminded of these rules.

Although the Boys and Girls Club brings the community together and welcomes diverse populations of families, the limitations lie in the children’s home lives. The club gives the kids a great place to spend time after school and teaches many skills but it does not necessarily help the situations that the kids go home to. It is hard for one organization to change everything, but the clubs do a good job of providing a fun environment.

I have outlined many benefits to volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club. Giving the kids an opportunity to learn dance along with respect, confidence, and giving them a safe environment to do so are all positive aspects of this program. It also allows me to grow in many areas; I am improving my social work skills, such as listening and engaging. I’m improving my skills as a dance teacher as well. This experience has given me some great experience as well as provided me with some strong relationships.