The Community Animator
What is the Community Animator?
A pilot project of Skills Society, the Community Animator is a paid, part time position that draws on Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) principles and Systemic Design to build community connections and nurture a sense of belonging and safety amongst residents living within apartment buildings.
The Animator strives to create meaningful experiences with residents rather than doing programming for them. Recognizing that residents like to connect and contribute to their community in a variety of ways, the Animator works in four pillars:
Where did the Community Animator Idea Come From?
The Community Animator concept was co-created with people with disabilities, allies, housing providers, disability service organizations, and funders. The idea emerged out of the Future of Home: Inclusive Housing Solutions Lab, a two year social innovation lab that explored accessible, affordable, and inclusive housing and support options with people with disabilities and other diverse stakeholders.
You can learn more about the Future of Home Lab here.
Where are we now?
As a new concept, the Animation Service is in a Research & Development (R&D) phase. Using Developmental Evaluation (DE) we are on a continual learning journey, building in mechanisms for us to both build and try new tools and approaches to community development whilst also gathering data and insights to inform future iterations. As part of this R&D work we are building and testing a theory of change for the service and continually iterating service models and delivery in collaboration with residents and our partners.
Current Partners and Pilot Sites
We are excited to be partnering with both Leston Holdings and Civida on this innovative project, piloting the Animation service in a 334 unit apartment complex in a west end suburb as well as in a 115 unit building in a central neighborhood in Edmonton. Both Civida and Leston Holdings have funded the operations of the project at their site as well as supported ongoing learning, iteration, and growth of the project.
We are also grateful to the City of Edmonton Community Safety and Wellbeing granting program as well as the Edmonton Community Foundation for their generous financial support of the research and development components of the project.
Interested in partnering with us on this initiative as a funder or pilot site? Contact us at actionlab@skillssociety.ca.
Tools, Reports, and Knowledge Products
Here are some of the tools, reports, and knowledge products we’ve created out of this project so far. We hope they might provide some helpful insight or inspiration in your own community building journey! If you choose to download them and remix them into your work, we kindly ask you give attribution to Skills Society and the Community Animation Project.
Edgemont Flats Pilot: Mid-Way Evaluation Report
This report shares learning from the first 6 months of pilot.
Sorry I Missed You Cards
Creating a way for the Animator to connect with residents in a passive but friendly way, these postcards can be left in the door or mailbox of a resident when the Community Animator stops by and the resident is not home or does not want to come to the door.
Community Board
A prototype that is showing a lot of promise in sparking resident engagement, the community board is a large whiteboard that invites residents to share thoughts, insights, and ideas. The Board is posted in a high traffic, public space and different prompts, generated by volunteer residents, are added weekly to the centre (e.g. “Share your favorite ‘Dad joke’” or “What does community mean to you?”.
Asset Keys
Drawing on Asset Based Community Development, the “head, heart, hand” framework used in these Asset Keys, provides a helpful framing for residents to think about what they can offer their community. Fillable on the backside, the Animator invited residents to complete a key at community events to help them understand residents strengths and gifts.
Door Hangers
Reflecting our learning that not all residents prefer face to face or direct engagement, we prototyped these door hangers to provide a passive but friendly way for residents to share how they would like to be engaged by the Community Animator.
Funding
Civida Foundation
City of Edmonton
Community Safety and Well-being Grant
Leston Holdings
Leadership
Andrea Streisel
Community Animator
Rebecca Rubuliak
Project Coordinator
Paige Reeves
Project Coordinator
Autumn Sanders
Project Designer