Action for Neighbourhood Change
Building Strong Neighbourhoods Together
Action for Neighbourhood Change (ANC) is a key component of United Way Toronto’s Neighborhood Strategy—a coordinated response to the growing needs, and lack of services in Toronto’s inner suburbs.
ANC is about neighbourhood revitalization. To achieve success, we must all work together—local businesses, governments, volunteers, community agencies and most importantly, the residents of the neighbourhoods we are working to strengthen.
"What United Way has done is to make funds available to residents to build a better neighbourhood," says Bruce McDougall.
Read about this ANC success story.
United Way believes that, at its core, neighbourhood change must come from the community itself. For this reason, ANC will create opportunities that enable local residents to play a central role in shaping their neighbourhood.
ANC has been introduced in nine of the 13 priority neighbourhoods. ANC is modeled on a successful resident-led community revitalization pilot project taking place in Scarborough Village, in the Markham and Kingston Road area.
Pilot Project - 2005
- Scarborough Village
2006
- Eglinton East/Kennedy Park
- Weston-Mt. Dennis
- Lawrence Heights
- Steeles-L’Amoreaux
2007
- Jane-Finch
- Westminster-Branson
- Flemindon Park - Victoria Village
- Dorset Park
2008 (PLANNED)
- Jamestown
- Malvern
- Kingston-Galloway
- Crescent Town
Neighbourhoods in transition
Strong, healthy neighbourhoods improve the quality of life for everyone. They are also critically important to the long-term prosperity of our city.
Yet many Toronto neighbourhoods are showing signs of stress. There have been major population changes over the last two decades, with growing levels of poverty in the inner suburbs and few services to meet the needs of residents. The number of youth in these communities is growing, and there is an increasing need for programs and facilities that provide guidance and opportunities for their personal growth. In addition, the steady influx of newcomers creates a need for programs and services that are inclusive and assist with the transition to their new communities.
Left unchecked, growing neighbourhood needs can result in more serious community issues. ANC marks the beginning of this vitally important neighbourhood renewal process.
What are the goals of ANC?
ANC aims to establish resident-led neighbourhood associations in each of the 13 priority neighbourhood areas that have been identified. These associations will produce a vision, and develop plans to bring about positive change in their communities. It will provide:
- Strengthened influence of local residents
An empowering belief that residents can make a difference. The emergence of capable community leaders. Leadership opportunities for youth. Dependable support from local politicians, police, schools and businesses. - Enhanced quality of neighbourhood life
Enabling residents to connect with and depend on one another. Shared public spaces that are well maintained and well used. Children and youth are occupied and stimulated, seniors are supported and newcomers are welcomed. - Increased access to resources
New services and infrastructure are introduced to under-serviced areas of the city. Neighbourhoods offer a range of shops and services that are accessible and responsive to local demand. Local residents feel their vision for a strong and vital neighbourhood is achievable.
Scarborough Village empowered
Two years after Action for Neighbourhood Change came to town
Local resident, Saltan Islam signs up for the Children's Programs Committee at the Scarborough Village Community Association meeting.
On Saturday, June 2, 2007, a group of committed local citizens gathered together at the Scarborough Village Neighbourhood Association (SVNA) meeting. For some, this was the second year they were lending their voice to community improvement efforts. For others, it was their first exposure to grassroots community change. Both groups were curious, passionate and clearly dedicated to the cause.
Two years ago, there was no SVNA and many of these people had no outlet to express their concerns or effect positive change in the neighbourhood they call home. It was a distressed community in dire need of the social tools and infrastructure necessary to help create change for the better. Today, thanks to Action for Neighbourhood Change (ANC), a major component of United Way’s Neighbourhood Strategy, residents in neighbourhoods like Scarborough Village are leading the charge with their vision for a better, safer, stronger place to live.
Among the many positive inroads being made, Scarborough Village is now home to a new playground at Scarborough Village Park, a community cricket program at the local Recreation Centre and a Bengali Social Club. As well, there is a new mural on Eglinton Avenue produced by local youth, and last summer the Toronto Raptors hosted two Raptorball camp sessions for area youth. If that wasn’t enough, a new youth leadership program teaches communication and public speaking skills, and coaches participants on the most effective ways to bring about change.
How did all this happen in such a relatively short time? ANC connected local residents and businesses to each other and to the programs and services available to them. The ANC team helped them identify needs and develop solutions. It also nurtured community-based leadership and resident-led change. In short, ANC helped people help themselves—people like Shamima Ahmed who along with her husband and three young children, is a resident of Scarborough Village and a very active member of the SVNA. She is also a part time student at Centennial College. But she always makes time for the SVNA. “I want to make our neighbourhood better,” she says. “I want to participate in many activities so that I can have knowledge about our different needs and help us get strong and prompt results.”
When the SVNA meeting wrapped up that warm June afternoon, Shamima and her fellow SVNA members didn’t take their civic duty hats off. Instead they mingled over sandwiches and juice and signed up for a host of committees where they felt their knowledge and talents would best be put to use for their community. Shamima? She signed up for three.
Read the Scarborough Village Highlights (pdf - 650 KB) or the press release United Way takes action in under-served neighbourhoods Across Toronto (pdf - 35 KB).