Transcript Creating Community Through Special Events (March 31.08).ppt

Creating Community Through
Special Events
Lucy Stern: Manager of Community Engagement
Parks, Forestry & Recreation, City of Toronto
416.392.0460
Email: [email protected]
Creating Community Through Special Events
Background
How I discovered the POWER of community
through special events.
Creating Community Through Special Events
What is a Community?
• Community is vital for humans
• The initial community is your immediate family, your extended
family, local community (school, work, where you live)
• It becomes more complex – involved with associations, join
groups, teams, etc.
• Communities are nested, one can contain another
Creating Community Through Special Events
Sense of Community
Four Elements:
• Membership
• Influence
• Overall needs
• Shared connections
Building a sense of community is easy. It is maintaining this
sense of community that is difficult.
Creating Community Through Special Events
Types of Community
• Geographic: local neighbourhood, suburb, village, town or city,
region and nation
• Communities of culture: local clique, ethnic group, religious,
multicultural and communities of needs
• Community organizations: associations, political decision making
structures and professional associations
Creating Community Through Special Events
Themes
• QUALITY events/productions
• All ages
• Free of charge-eliminating
all barriers
• Positive media stories
• Event a month
Creating Community Through Special Events
Calendar of Events
• Jan – Winter Carnival
• Feb – Valentines Dance
• March – Easter Event
• April - Volunteer Recognition
• May – Spring Showcase
• June – Music in Parks
• July – Summer Festival
• Aug – Sports Banquets
• Sept – Harvest Event
• Oct - Halloween
• Nov – Open House
• Dec – Holiday Events
Creating Community Through Special Events
Why?
• Special events enhances the quality of life, culture, recreation and
provides economic benefits to local business
• Provides an avenue for partnerships, relationships and sponsorships
• Fundraising initiatives
Creating Community Through Special Events
Guidelines
• Purpose/goal
• Size
• Cost
• Complexity
• Bylaws
• Policies and procedures
• Building a community planning committee
• Marketing and communication plan
• Evaluation/measures
• Document the entire process of the event planning and evaluation
Creating Community Through Special Events
Strategies
• Creating a Community Planning Team
• Partners/Stakeholders
• Politicians
• Funding Sources
• Media
Creating Community Through Special Events
Creating a Community Planning Team
Develop a comprehensive community/stakeholder planning committee.
• Represents community, staff and stakeholders
• Include other community resources
• Councillor’s office
• Business Improvement Associations (BIAs)
Creating Community Through Special Events
Partners/Stakeholders
Establish a partnership/stakeholder strategy that compliments your
event.
• Police
• Public Health
• Fire Department
• School Boards
• Local agencies
• Business Improvement Associations (BIAs)
• Libraries
• Churches
• Media personalities
• Film industry
Creating Community Through Special Events
Politicians
• Keeping them involved will create
a healthy partnership
• Source of funding
• Ability to attain support
• Promote events through
councillor’s newspaper and other
marketing opportunities
• Invite all levels of government
• Relationships developed with the
community and stakeholders
• Creates a platform
• Power
Creating Community Through Special Events
Funding Sources
• Sponsors – local and corporate
• Grants
• Partnerships
• Fundraising
• Councillor’s office
• Donations
Creating Community Through Special Events
Media
• Keep the image and profile of community positive
• Media can change the perception
• Live coverage (radio, television, judging, celebrities and participation)
• Community and local newspapers
Creating Community Through Special Events
General Outcomes
• Leadership
• Partnership/relationships
• Volunteers (programs – advisory
committees)
• Sustained sponsors
• Other programs and services are
developed
• Safe and vibrant communities
• Growing the community
• Form personal and cultural values
• Power of unity
• Rewarding communities, partnerships and sponsors (strengthens the
cohesiveness and makes the community more enduring)
Creating Community Through Special Events
Outcomes
Children
Youth
• Happy
• Responsibility
• Safe
• Engaged
• Involve parents
• Sense of ownership
• Get them into programs
• Decision making
• Allows interaction
• Leaders in training
Adults
• safety
• Socialization
Community
• Develop relationships
• Reclaim their space
• Civic engagement
• Safety
• Celebration
• Increase trust
Creating Community Through Special Events
Benefits of Special Events
• Sense of community spirit and pride
• Provides a meaningful experience – sense of purpose
• Common space for all ages and cultures
• People begin to know each other, increase respect and trust
• Good way to learn about community needs and dynamics
• Relationships developed with the community and stakeholders
• Recruit volunteers and staff
• Awareness of your facilities
• Networking opportunities
• Sponsors and partnerships developed
• Image and media profiles