Introducing the Connected Community Approach: Social Innovation With and In Community

Authors

  • Anne Gloger Catalysts' Circle

Keywords:

community-centred, community development, social fabric, marginalized communities, connective tissue

Abstract

The Connected Community Approach (CCA), a framework created ‘by the community for the community’ in Scarborough, Ontario, seeks to shift the paradigm from communities being vulnerable recipients of systems-level interventions to being active partners in addressing the issues of our time. CCA draws on social innovation, deep equity, and community development theory and practice to build cross-sector coalitions in the context of geographic communities. The Connected Community Approach introduces three innovations to cross- sector, place-based collaborations: 1) the concept of a community-based facilitator (aka a community backbone organization), 2) processes to support organizations, institutions, and businesses to center community in their own strategies and action planning and 3) 10 keys that can be used both at the local and at the systems level, to help unlock the potential of a connected community. The focus of CCA is on strengthening a community’s social fabric, which is seen as the foundation of healthier and more equitable communities. The Connected Community Approach has a 25-year history of nurturing social fabric to create impact across domains and issue areas.

Author Biography

Anne Gloger, Catalysts' Circle

Anne Gloger has spent her career delving deeply into the whys and hows of effective community development and engagement.  She does this work from a deep belief that communities are the foundation for addressing the urgent issues of our time: racism, climate change and economic inequities.  Anne believes that it is intentional, meaningful and authentic  investment in communities, relationships and equitable processes that will create the kinds of transformational change that our world so desperately needs.

As Strategy Director at the Catalysts’ Circle, Anne supports a wide variety of change catalysts from communities, organizations, institutions and governments to design and implement strategies that truly centre communities.  She does this by leveraging more than 3 decades of work with and in communities, and especially from her roles as founding Director at the East Scarborough Storefront and Centre for Connected Communities.

Anne’s work is deeply grounded in the innovative community development framework the Connected Community Approach (CCA) which she co-created with hundreds of community members, community development professionals, academics, designers, funders and planners.  CCA encompases  both theoretical and practical ways of thinking and acting with and in communities so that people can effectively and meaningfully  work together towards a more equitable and healthier society.

Anne’s early career in Early Childhood Education began at Centennial College where she still maintains today she learned so much of what she knows about working with people. Her unique combination of educational experiences at the Toronto Waldorf School, University of Waterloo (Social Development Studies) and Wilfrid Laurier (Business) all contributed to her current work coaching, mentoring and helping others to live into the principles and practices of Connected Communities.

Anne has been the recipient of many awards for her work including the Jane Jacobs prize, the Courage to Lead Award, the William P Hubbard Award for Race Relations, Leading Women Building Communities, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal, and Vital People.  



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Published

2024-05-08

How to Cite

Gloger, A. (2024). Introducing the Connected Community Approach: Social Innovation With and In Community. Social Innovations Journal, 24. Retrieved from https://socialinnovationsjournal.com/index.php/sij/article/view/7728

Issue

Vol. 24 (2024): Innovations in Cross-Sector Collaborations: An Approach to Increase Ecosystem and Place-Based Impact

Section

Collective Impact and System Transformation

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Anne Gloger (Author)

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