Building trust and relationships

Module 2 Building trust and relationships

Learning objectives

This module will provide an overview of the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of building relationships with and within the community. After completing it, you will better understand how engagement approaches can impact the balance of power in each relationship and interaction and when different approaches may be appropriate.

Download the module slides

For any questions, email us at ABCD@calgary.ca or call 311.

Put it into practice

  • Worksheet

    Take stock of your relationship with a community.

  • Discussion questions

    Apply your learning to your work with these discussion questions.

Local story | Manchester yard sales – Finding community treasures

In the Spring of 2023, Manchester residents, with support from the Community Social Worker (CSW) and Calgary Dollars, hosted their first-ever yard sale in the courtyard of a local housing complex. Residents who helped organize the event or hosted a table received a small Calgary Dollar honorarium, which some could use to pay their rent. While attendance was low, residents could build relationships with one another, with one even cooking a collective meal for her neighbours who were also selling items. 

And, out of little things, big things grow. Participants enjoyed the experience and the animation of the community so much that they decided to host another event in the summer.  A resident applied for a Neighbourhood Grant to help with promotion, cover the costs of a City permit for the greenspace, and provide light snacks for those who attended. This yard sale was a success for the neighbourhood’s residents — with over 100 folks attending from all over Calgary and every vendor selling at least one item. 

As the grant applicant and organizer noted, “I am proud of the sense of community and connection that the community yard sale created. When I first started planning the event, my goal was to create a space where neighbors could come together, connect, and sell their items.” Community is built through time, space, resident direction, and concrete opportunities for connectivity.

Optional further learning

  • Guide

    Read Beyond Inclusion – a guide for practitioners on recognizing and addressing barriers to community participation.

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Modules

  • 1. What is Asset-Based Community Development?

    An overview of ABCD, including context, how it works, and resources and methods of its practice.

  • 2. Building trust and relationships

    How ABCD can support you to build authentic relationships, enable community leadership and build trust.

  • 3. Finding connectors

    Why are connectors important to this work, how to identify them and support them.

  • 4. Community listening

    How do we authentically listen and how to host listening conversations.

  • 5. Asset collecting, connecting, and weaving

    Learn how to weave and connect all that you learn from your neighbourhood. We will talk about asset mapping, connections and how to build your plan.

  • 6. Bringing it all together

    We will talk about the key components, share a community ABCD story and talk about sustainability of ABCD.

For any questions, email us at ABCD@calgary.ca or call 311.

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