The most recent Facilitation Wellington Dufferin Newsletter is out with an important announcement as well as all the usual resources and events. Check it out here: https://mailchi.mp/eeeb6ec08fb4/march-2021-facilitation-wellington-dufferin-newsletter
Facilitation Wellington Dufferin’s latest newsletter is here with resources and events to support facilitation and get you engaged in community. Check it out and sign up for the newsletter here:
https://mailchi.mp/ecc5b31ac570/february-facilitation-wellington-dufferin-newsletter
Check out Facilitation Wellington Dufferin’s latest newsletter here.
It’s full of resources, news, and events from the facilitation space.
The December Facilitation Wellington Dufferin Newsletter is out! You can find all our resource goodies, upcoming events, and more by clicking here.
Our final Impacts of COVID Webinar on Personal Connections began with excitement over our togetherness and anticipation over renewing connections. Joanna started the night off by reiterating some ground rules, celebrating the successes of the webinar series thus far (Impacts of COVID) (Community Connections), and introducing Susannah Joyce, the founder of Realizations and our speaker for the night.
Susannah is deeply involved in the Ontario Independent Facilitation Network (OIFN) and has a long history as a dedicated volunteer in facilitation services. The group introduced themselves to each other, mentioning their roles and what they were bringing to the space in the evening. Many people identified themselves as “friends” and were looking forward to Susannah’s expertise on building and maintaining personal connections. Susannah invited us all to view the night as an opportunity to build our skills and learn.
We began with a discussion on time, and how many demands we are all finding on our time during the pandemic. Susannah noted how difficult it is to find balance and connect when connection is digitally mediated and when that medium (like Zoom!) can also be quite draining. She began her presentation with some quotes about belonging and energy between people. Susannah affirmed that our need for connection and belonging is as important as any other need we have.
She invited us to think about some questions as a method to strengthen our friendships by being intentional about our relationships, and having conversations about them. She invited us to use our passions and our gifts (which are natural avenues that bring us to connection) to explore and deepen our relationships.
Connections are deeply individual, and there are many ways to feel close and connected to others. Similarly, there are many different kinds of people we can choose to deepen our relationships with. The variety is part of the fun! Susannah told us, “There is no right or wrong, there is just what feels comfortable to you.” We were invited to think about what does feel comfortable to us, and how we prefer our friendships to work and what kinds of friendships we have. In addition, we were invited to consider how our friends like their friendships with us to work, and what they need or have time for in their lives. Susannah invited us all to ask our friends “Has what they need changed since we have been distancing,” and to make an explicit space to talk about the changes COVID has given to us all.
She encouraged us that in thinking about strategies for building new traditions with our friends during this time, we can be mindful about what we can give to people we have relationships with, and also what we want to get in return. Some days we might have nothing to give, and that’s okay too. A good place to start in figuring out what we might want and how to go about strengthening our relationships is to think about when we have time and energy, and when the people we want to connect with do as well. She emphasized the important of reaching out to our connections, because we often assume people are doing okay, but it can be a really powerful action to reach out and check in on others, and usually it doesn’t take too much energy.
The group had a bit of a discussion about the kinds of friendships we have, strategies for managing friendships that might be more difficult during COVID, such as friendships with people who are really busy, or friendships that are more based on shared activities in the physical world. After some discussion it emerged that it can be really great to just check in with people, while explicitly stating that we don’t need a response, and that we are just sending that love or connection or care into the universe. We came to the realization that building our skills during COVID and keeping our hearts open because of the pandemic can be a good thing to carry us through and continue on later. We noted the need to balance intentionality with authenticity, but thought that perhaps we could intentionally keep some of the authentic feelings and need to connect that we have right now.
After our conversation, Susannah discussed the nature of conversations and how we can have them, and how they might involve different elements, like sharing stories. Susannah shared some strategies on having meaningful conversations by asking questions, in particular open ended questions, and being comfortable with pauses and really digesting what we hear and waiting a few seconds before responding. Listening was highlighted, and in particular listening with the whole body, and recognizing the beneficial effect that being present and listening to someone can have on them. As we listen to them, we can be carefully curious about them, ensuring that we are authentic in wanting to know more. In discussing, we found too that others feel listened to in different ways, and people may enjoy communicating in different ways. We can find it harder to be curious and listen sometimes when we are tired, and that’s okay too! Susannah reminded us that we are always busy, and always have been busy, even before and after COVID, but its okay to just try a little when we do have the ability to ask questions.
Joanna recommended a TED Talk on “10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation” and recognizing the expertise of the people we talk with. We discussed how it can be harder to listen and show that we’re listening online, but Susannah affirmed that authenticity really shines through no matter what, especially when we are open to our curiosity leading us down a variety of paths.
Even during the pandemic we have a myriad of choices on how to connect with others. We can connect by phone, Zoom, a variety of social media platforms and messaging apps. We can try to safely gather outside, and still participate in virtual activities alongside each other. We might struggle with generational divides, or divides with our existing social circles, and we have to be mindful that there is a learning curve to everything and we can try to meet people where they are. Susannah recommended a movie “Cyber-Seniors,” (link) which was on learning different digital strategies, and demonstrates that we can learn different communication methods.
We ended with a great message about community from Starhawk
By Starhawk
We are all longing to go home to some place
we have never been—a place half-remembered and half-envisioned
we can only catch glimpses of from time to time.
Community.
Somewhere, there are people to whom we can speak with passion
without having the words catch in our throats.
Somewhere a circle of hands
will open to receive us, eyes will light up as we enter,
voices will celebrate with us whenever we come into our own power.
Community means strength
that joins our strength to do the work that needs to be done.
Arms to hold us when we falter.
A circle of healing.
A circle of friends.
Someplace where we can be free.
from Dreaming the Dark: Magic, Sex, and Politics (Beacon Press)
Susannah has graciously provided us with some of the resources from her presentation, some of which are part of her training resources from Realizations.
Strengthening Our Personal Connections
During Covid
With
Susannah Joyce
Realizations Training & Resources *
“Belonging is an intrinsic need for all humanity. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong. When those needs are not met, we don’t function as we were meant to”.
Brené Brown
During these times when responsibilities can feel overwhelming, it can be challenging to find time and energy to stay in touch with people we care about. There is no best way to make sure we are maintaining connections. Some options include:
• Casual, Quick Touching Base
• Catching Up on What You and Another Have Been Doing
• Deeper Conversation
• Doing Something Together
• Just Being in the Same Space
We also need to consider the different kinds of relationships we have, and what might be needed to sustain each:
Partner… Children … Family … Pets. … Friends … Colleagues … Neighbours … Groups… Acquaintances … Professionals…
Another consideration is knowing our own particular approach to friendships and that of others in our life:
· Are we more comfortable with a few close relationships or do we enjoy a wider variety of people in our circle?
· Do we tend to reach out to others or wait till they are in touch with us?
· Do we prefer fairly regular contact or are less frequent interactions enough?
· What do we know about these characteristics in others we are close to?
Who do we tend to turn to for various needs and which of these are we able to offer to others, knowing we all have times when we are able to give more?
Comfort Empathy Ideas Encouragement
Fun Information Validation Moral Support
Unconditional Love and Acceptance
We also need to consider what claims we have on our time and energy and what do we know about those claims on others in our life?
But it’s not just about time and frequency of connection. It is also about the quality of our interactions Below are some thoughts on having meaningful conversations:
· What would you like to know more about someone in your life? Do you actually want to know more about them? Ask new questions or follow-up questions.
· Ask open ended questions … What was it like? … When did you… ? How did you …?
· Its less about what happens to people than how they experienced something…. not just recitation of events …. seeing it from wider perspectives.
· Don’t fear pauses … most of us stop listening to a comment half way through so we can be ready with a response … its ok to wait a few seconds before replying
· Rev. Margaret Guenther said good conversationalists are like midwives helping the other person give birth to what they want to say.
David Brooks, NY Times
We can also use this time to strengthen our skills in listening and in becoming more genuinely curious about learning more about each other.
Thoughts on Listening and Being Curious
“ Humans need to be heard before they can listen.” Amanda Ripley
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” Albert Einstein
“I wonder how many people I’ve looked at all my life and never seen.” John Steinbeck
Be curious, not judgmental.” Walt Whitman
“Listening is being able to be changed by the other person.” Alan Alda
Using different ways to connect long distance, at different times and for different people, can helps us stay in touch, even briefly!
Email Phone Facetime Text
Facebook Messenger What’s APP Twitter
Instagram Snapchat Zoom Tik Tok
“We are all longing to go home to some place we have never been---a place half remembered, and half envisioned, we can only catch glimpses of from time to time. Community. Somewhere there are people to whom we can speak with passion without having the words catch in our throats. Somewhere a circle of hands will open to receive us, eyes will light up as we enter, voices will celebrate with us whenever we come into our own power. Community means strength that joins our strength to do the work that needs to be done. Arms to hold us when we falter. A circle of healing. A circle of friends. Someplace where we can be free.”
Starhawk, Dreaming the Dark
* Content other than Quotes is material from workshops and writings of Realizations Training & Resources
This resource was shared with attendees of our Impacts of COVID webinar series, but we are also sharing it now here with you!
We invited folks to think about this question and then dive into one of the activities we’ve collated for you below:
First think about what you love to do? How did you spend your time as a kid when time just flew by?
Go for a walk with a friend – add,maybe bring some bird seed to see if the birds will land on your hand to eat, or challenge friends to do an outdoor scavenger hunt you have created. Here is list of trails in Centre Wellingtonhttps://www.centrewellington.ca/en/living-here/trails.aspx#, Guelph Trails - https://guelph.ca/living/recreation/parks/trails/, Those in Arthur may have a new option https://www.wellingtonadvertiser.com/arthur-walking-group-under-consideration/
If you like walking but not nature, see if anyone is offering walking tours. One option - Stroll Walking tours KW https://strollwalkingtours.com/, or a self guided walking tour of Fergus - https://www.downtownfergus.com/fergus-historical-walking-tours/, Orangeville - https://www.orangeville.ca/en/things-to-do/walking-tours.aspx Guelph - Self Guided walking tour of Woodlawn memorial park, https://www.woodlawnmemorialpark.ca/guelph-memorial-park-family-events/guelph-memorial-park-walking-tour/, Guelph Self Guided Walking Tours digital booklets - https://guelpharts.ca/gac-programming/2014-08-29-19-34-38/walking-tours-booklets
Join or start a walking group - Fergus - https://www.facebook.com/Fergus-Elora-walking-group-361272730740972/,
Go to the beach - regardless of season
Have a picnic
Skip stones off the water
Geocaching - the world’s largest treasure hunt https://www.geocaching.com/play
Embrace winter sports like snow shoeing, skiing, skating, tobogganing, build a snowman
Bundle up and host a coffee/hot chocolate social and chat in your driveway for your neighbours
Craft in a box – create one and have a friend create one and swap, or take turns -one buy all supplies and drop off at friends and video chat with them and create together
Boredom boxes - make a package for your friend filled with things that you know they enjoy - foods they like, magazines they might like to read, projects or crafts they might like to try
Call a friend - in a world where there are so many technical options to connect - sometimes there is so much power in a regular phone call
Host an online paint night
Host an online movie night – netflix option
Have an online games night – Free Houseparty app https://www.houseparty.com/, Jackbox (on Steam) option for games similar to pictionary etc and use zoom too https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jackbox_Party_Pack, Board Game Arena https://en.boardgamearena.com/
Have a friendly “betting” on sporting events – where the winner gets “?” - or they just a point and whoever gets to 10 wins -could be something with no cost attached - a pick a silly thing the opponent has to do/say
Letters – they do not need to contain words – they can be a meme, pictures of things that person is passionate about cut out from the newspaper.
Send funny Youtube videos - dogs, dances, choir, jokes, geographic images, whales etc
Send a card to someone – this could have a surprise inside like a teabag for the friend who loves their tea. Email what you have done and perhaps that will inspire others.
The Community Resource Center of North and Centre Wellington has a Pen Pal Program. Sending Support program - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfAyslkwoaDH67eFTB6U_quwPYUPKkvNVRUZjkIbK6MBF3JSw/viewform?fbclid=IwAR3R8UIIDFfI5ISNJArgrRJIhW-4aHMs1DvhsBhvzVlSazOUgjB7-2KYa1A
Contribute to the Community Anthology which is a traveling journal for county residents to document their pandemic experience.
Travel without moving - Post Crossing It's a project that allows you to send postcards and receive postcards back from random people around the world. That's real postcards, not electronic.https://www.postcrossing.com/
Organize a cookie exchange – a way to connect and still prepare for the holidays and still keep some traditions
Start new traditions – Christmas hike instead of meal
Find new ways to celebrate successes – car parades, giant banners, roaming driveway dance parties, drive through baby shower complete with hot apple cider and smores
Drop off a small gift to make someone smile, some fresh cut flowers, a seasonal arrangement from outdoor greenery, or a donut or other baked good.
Online cooking classes. The Cambridge Self Help Food Bank has free online cooking classes. please contact Laura, ljohnson@cambridgefoodbank.on.ca or 519-622-6550 ext. 206
Find a recipe and make it together with a friend while doing a video chat
Share your favourite recipe and ask others to do the same. Go further and put them into a book. Go deeper and use as a fundraiser for a local non profit organization! Becomes a win - win - win!
Video lunch visits – maybe with a senior neighbour
Find or start a Facebook group about something you are passionate about
Take up a hobby you always wanted to try or learn – singing, drawing whatever it is there is a free group or video for that
Join a random act of kindness website/Facebook/Instagram – and try out some ideas like dropping off cookies to someone, shovel someone's driveway
Get a camera, or use a phone camera and go out and take pictures. Make it more complex and add a theme. Go further still and ask your friends to join the challenge and have an email thread/Whats app group etc to share the pictures.
Join or start a book club - don’t forget about audio books. Don’t like to read,
Start a movie club, the same idea as a book club discussion but with movies
Join a plant group and swap plants and learn how to grow things
Share bits of you - wether videos that you have made on your phone, halloween costumes, pictures of what you have seen in the neighbourhood, pets, your gardens
Start an online version of Eye Spy - find an item people need to look for and then find that item in your neighbourhood and send the pictures back to the group and maybe even tell a story about it
Creative projects - unleash your inner artist - doodles, mandalas and then display your work on your window/door so the community can enjoy your talents, painting stones for a community installation (one facilitator helped people paint stones for the Guelph General Hospital and Lest we forget messages for Memorial Day)
Take a virtual tour or field trip https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/free-virtual-tours/ or https://www.lifewire.com/best-free-virtual-field-trips-4800629
Offer to help connect someone to a virtual education program
Take an online course with a friend
Connect with the local volunteer bureau
Try some meditation. https://www.heromovement.net/blog/free-guided-meditation-resources/
Take a yoga class. Yogachantalle@gmail.com - Chantalle offers online yoga at a reasonable cost and she is very experienced with folks of all abilities. Or Free yoga classes online https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecut.com%2Farticle%2Fbest-free-yoga-classes-online.html%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3nh9-pMbdRqpqeqa5l4QQdE-RU-Mv0j6r7cUq6LcLPy-7dEaOgapn55oU&h=AT3FKt3i4FO6QDJSNmlSlaRJ_R29KVO5hWxFBl14qj5IHmPOi6dmdDk1jmI9JPNyvDXF5eE4nbVwcUQw6SNkUxf6u6S-IGZIVZST48DipfZfhrH70w42b8eF-ShXDDStmiY or here https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene
Host a virtual Karaoke night
Play some two player card games. https://vipspades.com/blog/2-players-card-games/
Road Trips - and add some road trip games, or forgo the road trip and try them from home. https://thoughtcatalog.com/christine-stockton/2018/06/road-trip-games/
Do you want to get to know someone better? Ask them if they have a photo album or two that they would share with you. Then have a chat about what you are looking at.
Do you like poetry? Write your own poem, listen to a poem written by someone you know and find poems on the internet that you enjoy. And don’t forget that hip hop is probably the most popular type of poetry.
Have you tried audiobooks? These are recordings of books that you can listen to. This website lists websites with audio books. Your local public library may have them too. https://bookriot.com/2016/09/15/11-websites-find-free-audiobooks-online/
Create a workout. Be creative with equipment (use a soup can as a weight). Share the workout with your friends. Take turns serving as the exercise leader. Or try Nike Training app https://www.nike.com/au/ntc-app lots of free trainings available
Create a dance party, turn the lights down and turn your favourite dance music up. Great exercise and fun to boot. Or even learn a tik tok dance.
Every day pick one type of music you’ve never heard before. Listen to a few songs or artists. Find something new that you like. Here’s a list of different music categories. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_popular_music_genres
Set up an obstacle course, for yourself and anyone else you live with. Set it up in a friends back yard or invite them to try it in yours.
Try the the Stay at Home festival brings you live streaming events https://www.stayathomefestival.com/
Go through your kitchen cabinets/fridge/medicine cabinet and throw away everything with expiration dated that has passed. Challenge your friends to do the same and see who has the oldest item.
Create a spa day. Find your favourite scented cream and apply it to your hands, arms, legs and feet. Put a wet face cloth in the freezer and once cold/frozen place it over your eyes and relax listening to calming music. Invite your friends to do it to and chat while doing it in your own homes. Share pictures of your painted nails if you decide to make them sparkle.
Find things on pinterest that you would like to do or try. When using social media be sure to follow these safety rules http://archive.ncpc.org/topics/internet-safety/social-networking-safety.html
Facilitation Wellington Dufferin’s latest newsletter is here with info on our Impacts of COVID webinar series, as well as other events in the community and great resources. Check it out here: https://us12.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=c2832c3b5dc0d7a8b7f5eff2d&id=1bc99690d5
The beginning of the evening was warm and friendly as people trickled into the virtual room. Once again, Joanna introduced FWD and the nature of independent facilitation. Independent facilitation focuses a lot on community and how to strengthen communities, so we were all very excited to gain some new strategies to do in our digital COVID world. After some introductory remarks, we dispersed into some breakout groups to introduce ourselves to each other, and to discuss some ways that we have managed to stay connected with our communities.
Joanna introduced our guest speaker, Brendan Johnson, Executive Director of the Guelph Neighborhood Support Coalition (GNSC). Brendan spoke on what GNSC does and how it supports communities, and in particular works towards inclusivity and building supportive relationships that bring a sense of belonging. The coalition is made up of 15 neighborhoods and 11 partner organizations who create “healthy, inclusive communities that reflect diversity” and “reduce the impact of poverty and promote equity of access to resources and supports.”
Brendan recounted a story from the beginning of the pandemic about the North End Harvest Market, an initiative that came forth from a desire to provide healthy food to the community. The North End Harvest Market is a non-means tested farmer’s market that enables people to shop for free and have choice over the food they access while promoting health and community. When the pandemic struck the market was shut down because it was held in a school space that was no longer open to community initiatives. Volunteer Barb up and worked with the networks of the school, their insurers, and public health to create a plan to enable the market to continue safely and accessibly. The team found volunteers and created a new delivery system that was even able to support increased demand due to food insecurity created by COVID. The team is looking forward to solving new problems relating to helping keep volunteers safe and warm as the weather gets colder.
Brendan emphasized that the best way to solve problems in the community and the reason he is sure the GNSC will continue solve problems going forward is because they cultivate relationships of love and kindness. He attributed this community problem-solving mentality to the values that GNSC holds. He shared some ways that GNSC meets their values goals such as by anticipating barriers before they exist (e.g. offering a ride so that those without the means don’t need to ask for one), and having AGM meetings that welcome the whole community with food and fun.
He finds that communities work best when they are values based. He spoke about how intentionality, vulnerability, and hard work keeps people coming back to the GNSC community because everyone cares, and recognizes that sometimes that means working through conflict. As a community minded organization, he emphasized that GNSC tries to find lots of ways to say yes, and open the floor for people to share their voice and talents, and this includes children. Johnson recounted an experience where a foodshare was created spontaneously though community coming together people find creative, collaborative solutions. Community is not about control, but is about celebrating ideas and seeing how they can become reality.
He focused on the human impacts of community, saying at one point that we should “ measure how much love we have created together”. He spoke about the philosophy GNSC holds about encouraging others to live their values, say yes, and identify their gifts, where then the role of the GNSC and community to ask “How can we help you share them?” Understanding that there are limiting factors, GNSC folks are open to having a warm conversations, and have lots of programs and opportunities for people to join in the community.
After a bit of Q & A Joanna translated Brendan’s work into the facilitation metaphor of a map vs. a compass, where a compass allows us to find our way even when we get lost or off track as it gives us a point to move towards. She saw that knowledge about our own values can provide that compass point even when we lose our way on our map, or during difficult times like COVID. Along those lines, facilitators knows that there are lots of different pathways to the same destination.
Joanna then shared the framework of “Relationship Circles,” which helps us to recognize that we have all sorts of relationships in our lives: Intimacy, Friendship, Participation, and Exchange. This framework can help us understand the relationships in our lives and how those relationships have changed over COVID. This led us into a group discussion on the topic of changing relationships.
We closed the night with by sharing a pre-COVID resource “75 Actions that Build Community” and discussing how to adapt the ideas to pandemic times. We found that it was definitely possible to do so though activities like: sharing food (fresh ingredients or prepared goods like jam or cookies) with neighbors instead of inviting them over for a meal, attending political meetings online, banging pots for frontline workers, having outdoor distanced chats, and more.
For a recording of Brendan’s talk, and some great community resources, please keep scrolling down.
Join us next week for the final Impacts of COVID webinar on Personal Connections with Susannah Joyce, the founder of Realizations. Afterwards, FWD will be sharing “60 Resources to Stay Connected During COVID” with everyone who attends. It’s totally free so click here to register now .
Watch below for a recording of Brendan’s presentation
Guest speaker Brendan Johnson of the Guelph Neighborhood Support Coalition speaks on community connections during COVID in concert with Facilitation Wellingt...
Community Connection Resource page
A sustainable society is a community that shares a belief in humanity.
Emile Haddad
Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition
http://guelphneighbourhoods.org/
75 Actions that Build Community
https://www.centreforwelfarereform.org/uploads/attachment/384/actions-that-build-community.pdf
How to Create a Community
Article
Alone Together, in Community Resilience
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-31/how-to-build-community-while-social-distancing
GUIDEBOOK
Community Engagement during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
A Guide for Community-Based Organizations
31 Ways to build community in your neighbourhood
https://denverdweller.com/31-ways-to-build-community-in-your-neighborhood/
Community Building
Author: Tamarack Institute
Published: Week of April 21, 2020
Here are 5 community building stories and ideas sent in by Tamarack Institute members in response to COVID-19
1. All Hands on Deck: How Community Engagement is Changing in the midst of COVID-19
2. Enging and Celebrating Canada's Volunteers
3. Community Engagement with the Virtual Peer Input Process
4. EPIC Generosity in Nova Scotia
5. Finding Comfort (and Value) in Fresh Past
Start a meetup group about something you are passionate about
Create a block directory. If you don’t yet know your neighbors, this is the perfect way to get started. It doesn’t need to be fancy. Just drop off a sign-up sheet in everyone’s mailbox and, once they return it to you, you can email the final version to everyone.
Host a backyard movie night. Treat the neighborhood to your favorite movie. But keep it PG rated–it will be outdoors, after all. Borrow a projector and screen from a local Non Profit or some libraries even carry them. Try it as a drive in if you have a big enough yard. People can sit in their car and listen to it on their radio if the host is using an FM transmitter
Treat your neighbors to a front-yard concert. Music has always been something that brings people together. Still this one’s a little tricky and depends on the neighborhood. Many would welcome a guitarist strumming on his front steps but perhaps not a full band. You have to know your neighborhood and, of course, be aware and respectful of noise levels. Check out Boulder’s Mapleton PorchFest for inspiration.
Organize a block party. I didn’t learn most of my neighbors’ names until we had our first block party. After that one party, it seemed there was a lot more interaction on our block. This one does involve a little work, but if you share the coordinating duties with other neighbors and keep it simple (at least that first year), this is an easy way to get to know your neighbors. Try doing this online, using a video platform
https://denverdweller.com/31-ways-to-build-community-in-your-neighborhood/
Start your own neighbourhood community group or help build up an existing one. Could be done with a Facebook group or even an app like https://ca.nextdoor.com/ If you are in Guelph you could use this resource http://guelphneighbourhoods.org/starting-a-neighbourhood-group/
Volunteer - Guelph https://pinnetwork.ca/, https://guelph.ca/living/volunteer-opportunities/,
Orangeville https://www.orangeville.ca/en/things-to-do/volunteer.aspx, https://www.volunteerdufferin.ca/i-want-to-volunteer/, or http://canadian-universities.net/Volunteer/Ontario-Orangeville.html
Center Wellington - https://www.centrewellington.ca/en/living-here/volunteer-with-us.aspx
North Wellington - https://www.nwhealthcare.ca/volunteer-opportunities-1 or http://www.canadian-universities.net/Volunteer/Ontario-Arthur.html
Video - What is community engagement?
What is Community Engagement ? - Bing video
Video - The importance of Community Engagement During a Crisis
The importance of community engagement during a crisis - Bing video
Perhaps a way to start to think about how Covid has impacted people who have different life experiences than you do is to read some experiences/perspectives.
Perspectives on the Pandemic
https://liveworkwell.ca/perspectives-pandemic
Finally, Brendan shared this resource for learning about the land we live on:
The night began with some casual socializing and sharing. It was great to see the community out and have a chance to connect with each other organically. Joanna, our executive director, gave a great introduction to Facilitation Wellington Dufferin and what independent facilitation is. We affirmed the values for the night including: responsibility; compassion; balancing risk-taking and openness with keeping personal boundaries; privacy; and acknowledging that learning is a continual process. We invited everyone to check in with how they were feeling, and to answer the question “What do you need to navigate challenges related to COVID that you don’t already have or know about?”
Then, the larger group split off into breakout rooms. The first topic was to talk about activities and hobbies that we were able to maintain during COVID despite changes in the world around us. The mood in breakout rooms was one of discovery and making connections with and about others, as well as focusing on good things in our lives.
We then moved into discussing the more challenging impacts COVID has had on our lives as a larger group. We talked about the ways that our relationships and roles have shifted and continue to shift as we go through different phases of COVID and the circumstances of our own lives change. Many folks were positive and finding the benefits even in the challenges, and emphasized the complexity of the situation and how it was very different for everyone, and even different for the same person at different times.
We then moved into a discussion of self-care and how to ensure we are capable of caring for ourselves by finding the time and resources to do so. We unearthed challenges with balancing our care needs with the care needs of people in our community. Keeping in touch via dropped off gifts, shared but distanced activities, and communication was a big key strategy that was discussed as ways to manage our concern for others.
We talked about the simplicity of life under COVID and learning to appreciate the time we have, as well as how important it is to connect with loved ones. Some habits of our “old lives” we don’t miss at all! It’s okay that self-care and our hobbies have changed. Some folks mentioned they have been enjoying finding mindfulness in their lives through things like walking and meditation. We watched a video called “WTF is Mindfulness?” a very simple guided introduction to mindfulness.
Wondering what mindfulness is? Try this short meditation to find out. https://au.reachout.com/
We discussed ways to keep moving forward in COVID by learning new skills, especially skills that allow us to connect with each other, such as by becoming Zoom experts like facilitator Hailee! Some of us also found new appreciation for old skills. Sharing new hobbies or new expressions of hobbies with our families and communities either virtually or by activities like dropping off delicious baked goods we found was a great way to stay connected and express care.
Joanna shared a quote which invited us to think about how we can take COVID as an opportunity to mindfully move forward and “lock in a new normal” by deciding what habits and methods of living we have enjoyed learning during COVID that we would like to hold on to. We invited everyone to consider how they have stretched or grown during COVID 19.
Participants also received a list of resources including resources on mental health, relationships, finances, fun, and self-care. but we are also sharing them here with you below this post, and at this link!
If you’re interested in attending one of our other webinar events, the next event will be November 26th 2020 at 7pm, and will feature speaker Brendan Johnson from the Guelph Neighborhood Support coalition. To register for this FREE event, please head to Eventbrite by clicking here!
10 Things you can do right now to reduce anxiety, stress, worry related to COVID-19
https://bouncebackontario.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/BounceBack-Tip-Sheet-Covid19-EN.pdf
Canadian Mental Health Association
Covid 19 - Helping Ourselves. Helping Each Other
Course - Free 3 hour online course you can take at your own pace.
Mind Control - Managing your Mental Health During Covid https://www.coursera.org/learn/manage-health-covid-19
Living Life to the Full – Helping You to Help Yourself (January - March 2021)
12 HOURS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE Cost $50 total for the 12 weeks
https://cmhaww.ca/events/llttf-winter2020/
Webinar events hosted by CMHA
BounceBack BounceBack is a free, guided self-help program that’s effective in helping people aged 15 and up who are experiencing mild-to-moderate anxiety or depression, or may be feeling low, stressed, worried, irritable or angry. Participants receive telephone coaching, skill-building workbooks and online videos to help them overcome these symptoms and gain new skills to regain positive mental health. To receive telephone coaching support, clients must either be referred by their primary care provider (family doctor, nurse practitioner) or psychiatrist, or they may self-refer as long as they’re connected with a primary care provider. For those who are not quite ready for coaching, our online videos can provide helpful tips.
Youth 15-18 https://bouncebackontario.ca/what-is-bounceback-youth/
Adults 19 + https://bouncebackontario.ca/adults-19/
Impacts of Covid on Mental Health in our Community
https://www.guelphcf.ca/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=-kDSQDcIjsA%3d&tabid=100
Managing Stress, Anxiety and Substance Abuse During Covid 1
Tips on Talking to Someone in Crisis during Covid 19
Prioritize Your Mental Wellness While Working from Home
Relationships
Power of relationships - video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RijQpsWEdrE
How to start dating during Covid Article
https://people.com/health/how-to-start-relationship-dating-during-covid/
Relationships, community and planning
Ontario Independent Facilitation Network (OIFN)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRFaPgKWflY
How to Build Closer Friendships - video
Thomas Frank
10 Ways to make and keep a friend
Psychology today
21 Ways to build strong friendships
https://tinybuddha.com/blog/21-ways-to-build-strong-friendships/
Self care
Self Care - What it really is - video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBn0ETS6XDk
How to get your life together - self care routine - video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuaDEioc2j4
A self care action plan - video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0iVTQS8ftg
20 Self Care Routine Ideas - video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhVXjq7VUR8
50 Ways for self care
Why is Self Care so Important
https://lifehacker.com/why-self-care-is-so-important-1770880812
45 Simple Self Care Strategies
https://tinybuddha.com/blog/45-simple-self-care-practices-for-a-healthy-mind-body-and-soul/
Headspace app
The Power of Gratitude
https://www.successconsciousness.com/blog/personal-development/power-of-gratitude/
Gratitude experiment - video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5lZBjWDR_c
If you think mindfulness isn't for you
https://auness-is-it-for-you.reachout.com/articles/mindful
Free Mindfulness resources
http://www.freemindfulness.org/download
https://mindfulnessexercises.com/free-guided-meditations-mindfulness-talks/
25 Stay at Home Self Care Ideas
Cultivating Resilience in the Wake of Covid 19
Finances
Managing Financial Health in Challenging times
https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/covid-19-managing-financial-health.html
Managing Covid 19 Financial Stress
Fun
Video Games for Wellbeing
https://checkpointorg.com/games-for-health/
What to do while in isolation covid 19 resources - Disability Sector Resources
https://connectability.ca/what-to-do-while-in-isolation-covid-19-resources/
Stay-at-home activities website links, here are a few:
https://themighty.com/2020/03/bored-covid19-social-distancing/
https://www.familyvacationcritic.com/things-to-do-at-home-with-kids-during-coronavirus-outbreak/art/
https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/30-fun-things-home.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJREjXEAOfQ
50 fun things to do in Winter https://www.wisebread.com/50-fun-things-to-do-when-youre-stuck-inside-during-winter#:~:text=50%20Fun%20Things%20to%20Do%20When%20You%27re%20Stuck,Take%20an%20Online%20Class%20or%20Tutorial.%20More%20items
Plain Language Information on Coronavirus
Coronavirus - What is it and what can I do
http://thearc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Coronavirus-What-Is-It-and-What-Can-I-Do-The-Arc-MD.pdf
Important Things to know about Covid19
https://heller.brandeis.edu/lurie/pdfs/resources/covid-guide.pdf
Information about Covid
https://www.peoplefirstofcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID19InfoForPFCBoard-1.pdf
Resources
P4P- Partners 4 Planning http://www.partnersforplanning.ca/
Family Education & Support Services - familyess.org
ConnectABILITY.ca - A resource site provided by Community Living Toronto
Autism Ontario autismontario.com
Mental Health Commission https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca
Facilitation Wellington Dufferin is please to announce our upcoming webinar series on the Impacts of COVID. This web series will take place in three sessions over three weeks and focus on unpacking how COVID impacts us as individuals, as well as how it impacts our community connections and our personal connections.
These are all FREE events. You can register for one, two, or all three! To get the Zoom link and be a part of this, register at the Eventbrite link. If you have any issues at all with registering, please DO NOT HESISTATE to reach out to info@faciliationwd.com for support. Additionally, if you have any accessibility needs, or if there is any way we can make this webinar series easier and more accessible for you to access, please let us know. Once again, you can reach out to info@facilitationwd.com.
We cannot wait to see all of you there!
For more information on the individual sessions, keep reading!
Day One November 19th
7:00pm-8:30pm
Impacts of COVID
Day 1 will be led by Facilitation Wellington Dufferin and will do a deep dive into the ways COVID has impacted our lives. There will be moderated group discussion and activities, as well as take home resources and more!
Day Two November 26th
7:00pm-8:30pm
Community Connections
Guest speaker- Brendan Johnson, GNSC
Day 2 will be led by guest speaker Brendan Johnson, the Executive Director of the Guelph Neighborhood Support Coalition. It will focus on community resources that are available during COVID, and strategies for maintaining connections with your communities. Once again, joining this webinar will give you access to not only Brendan’s insight and expertise, but also to moderated group discussions, take home resources, and more.
Day Three December 3rd
7:00pm-8:30pm
Personal Connections
Guest speaker- Susannah Joyce, Realizations
Day 3, our final session will be led by Susannah Joyce, founder of Realizations. This session will focus on our personal connections during COVID and how to maintain and strengthen them. Once again, registering for this session will involve getting access to Susannah’s remarks, group discussion, resources, activities, and more!
Check out FWD's October Newsletter for tons of goodies including our upcoming web series, funding opportunities, and other community events!
Our slightly belated Facilitation Wellington Dufferin September Newsletter is out! Check it out for information on resources, upcoming events, and what's next for FWD: https://mailchi.mp/1462d37f0bfb/facilitation-wellington-dufferin-september-newsletter
Check out FWD’s August Newsletter for tons of great resources and events, as well as news on what we have been up to!
COVID-19 has required so many of us to change the ways we go about our business, hobbies, and lives. Here at Facilitation Wellington Dufferin we have been carefully considering what Facilitation means in a physically distanced world and how we can best facilitate and support the people we serve going forward.
Some of our facilitators have been virtually supporting people and their families throughout this time, and we are learning together how to connect and support people in building their best lives virtually.
Still, you might be wondering: What does virtual facilitation look like?
Virtual Facilitation Strategies
Facilitation is as diverse as the people we serve are. Facilitation never looks the same for any two people, and is driven by those individuals’ preferences, circumstances and communication styles. However, here is a list of some of the ways people have been working with their FWD facilitators:
-Video message exchanges and chats
-Real-time messaging and/or video calls on multiple platforms (e.g. WhatsApp, Messenger, Zoom)
-Real-time virtual activities
-Activity materials pick up and drop off
-Facilitated three-way conversations with mentors
-Virtual support circles with friends and family
-Information and resource sharing
-Emails
For example, one of our facilitators, Judith, regularly talks with the people she serves by recording video messages back and forth to accommodate literacy challenges. She works with people to identify their needs and goals, using information they find online as a jumping off point for deeper conversations. She also drives to their houses to drop off activities that fit with the goals and needs they’ve identified. These activities often engage the people she works with in their wider community, such as creating an art project to donate to a front-line worker appreciation rock garden. She supports people as they become excited about the future and their goals, and provides them with the means to work towards their goals in community even in these times of physical distancing.
Some beautiful rocks created for a front-line worker appreciate rock garden
While we hope to return to in-person facilitation and activities when it is safe and possible to do so, we have found that there are many benefits to virtual facilitation. Everyone prefers different things, and some people are finding that virtual facilitation is an even better match for them than meeting face to face. It allows for more flexible scheduling, focused engagements, and fewer distractions. so virtual facilitation may not work for all of our clients, but it can also be an improvement over the old normal for some of the folks we serve.
It also allows facilitators connect with people in a more balanced way. Online spaces are an even playing field, and some people feel more comfortable meeting virtually than inviting facilitators coming into their home. It allows families who may not have the time or energy to support activities outside of the home to still receive valuable facilitation and support. Families may also find it easier to be involved in facilitation activities. Virtual facilitation allows us to bring in family and community support from anywhere as there are no geographic barriers.
Finally, virtual facilitation can help us better connect with people who are less comfortable with in-person communication, or who are just more comfortable when they have time and space to think about how and what they want to communicate. It allows our facilitators to reach out and support people without them feeling a need to respond. Everyone is going through a tough time right now and we understand that. We want to support people where they are at, even if that means we are just reaching out with an encouraging message.
The bottom line is that facilitation is about finding strategies that work for the people we serve and that meet their needs. That is the basis of our motto: “Your Life, Your Way”. Engaging in virtual facilitation allows us to create broader strategies for serving a wider range of needs and that can only be a good thing!
If you think virtual facilitation might be right for you, we encourage you to reach out and contact us. Facilitation is covered through government passport funding (more information here). We want to help you and members of your family and community meet your goals and help your loved ones do the same. Facilitation is more than just activities, it is about getting to deep values and goals based on connection with and knowledge of a person. There are many ways to support even a single person, and its our goal is to offer all of them to you.
Last month, we asked you to fill out a survey on what sorts of digital content we can provide to you during this time of physical distancing. The results are in, and there is a clear interest in a webinar series. Most of you indicated interest in webinars about mental health, including self-care strategies, mental health in a pandemic, and community resources. You also indicated a strong interest in a web series on community connection during a pandemic, including online communities, how to reach out, and how to build relationships in a virtual world.
We will be taking these results and discussing how to best enact them this month. We hope to start providing these types of resources in the Fall. We are also keeping our eye on other resources you indicated would be useful, such as Drop-In Online Facilitation, How-To PDF booklets, and web-series discussions on technology.
If you didn’t yet have a chance to share your voice, we have left the survey open. So, if you want to share your opinion, you can still go to this link, or reach out to us via telephone (226-326-0916 ext 214), our contact us page, or any of our social media links below to let us know how we can best serve you.
Facebook: Facilitation Wellington Dufferin
Twitter: @FacilitationWD
Instagram: facilitationwd
Check out this month’s newsletter for resources, upcoming events, and some preliminary information on the results of our survey (more details to come next week).
Facilitation Wellington Dufferin wants to hear from our community about what FREE outreach options you would find helpful and interesting!
We recognize these are unusual times and FWD is committed to supporting our community members to stay connected to pursue their interests and plan for the future. In order to do this we are interested in hearing for you.
Please help us out by answering this two question survey.
Based on the feedback we receive we will decide on how our outreach looks moving forward.
If you would prefer to give feedback in person please call 226-326-0916 ext 214
Sign up for the FWD Newsletter or follow us on Social media to see how this unfolds.
Twitter: @FacilitationWD
Facebook: @FacilitationWellingtonDufferin
Instagram: @FacilitationWD
We truly appreciate your feedback.
The FWD June Newsletter is now out! Check it out for free resources, and fill out our two question survey on how we can best serve you!
As you might have seen in one of our past newsletters, the Ontario Independent Facilitation Network (OIFN) runs a monthly book club. As part of the OIFN, facilitators and community members from Facilitation Wellington Dufferin often take part in discussions. However, this book club is open to anyone and we would love to see everyone come out and take part.
So, what is involved in joining?
The club meets monthly, with meeting times and information provided through our Facebook group. Right now these meetings are virtual and accessible to anyone to attend. At the meeting, we discuss a text and its links to facilitation ideas. We try to learn things that make us better facilitators and members of the community by practicing kindness, understanding, and reframing our perspectives on a variety of issues. The past few months, and this upcoming month we have been using TEDtalks as our texts.
Last month, we discussed Amy Herman’s “A Lesson on Looking”
This month, on June 17th 2020 at 12:30 pm, we will be discussing Simon Sinek’s “How Great Leaders Inspire Action.”
We want to extend the hand for anyone to come join us, and for more information please feel free to request to join the OIFN Book Club’s Facebook group, or reach out to Facilitation Wellington Dufferin directly by using our contact page.
Here at Facilitation Wellington Dufferin, we see facilitation as a process that supports the people we serve to live their lives the way they want to, built around their own interested, strengths, and choices.
What living a good life means is different for every person. Our facilitators help people to understand what is important to them, and what brings joy and meaning to their lives. Then, we support people to become a part of local communities and networks where they can explore those interests. For one person, that might be an art group, for another person it might mean finding a job, or for another it could mean developing relationships with neighbours and friends. In all of these cases, our facilitators can find welcoming community supports and activities, and provide assistance as people achieve their goals, whatever those goals are. Our mission is to help people live their best lives with the support of friends, family, and community.
While life looks differently now than it did just a few months ago, there are still many ways we can connect with others who share our interests electronically. We have been sharing daily activities that can be done safely on our social media, and our facilitators remain in contact with people through email and telephone. Now is a time when community is more important than ever, and we are finding new ways to strengthen our community and share strategies for connecting with others.
If you’re interested in learning about how you or your loved one can benefit from facilitation, we encourage you to reach out via our contact form. If you’re interested in how facilitation can be funded, more information on passport funding can be found here.
We are constantly working to raise the bar on our services. If you have any questions or concerns about your experience with Facilitation Wellington Dufferin, please let us know.
Joanna Goode - Director
226-326-0916 x 210
Joanna@facilitationwd.com
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