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Community Engagement

Principles of Community Engagement

Learn more about our principles of community engagement in our online sourcebook

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Action-Oriented Principles

During the Network for Community-Campus Partnership’s strategic planning process over 2015-2016, community and campus partners strongly recommended that a co-developed set of action-oriented principles serve as the foundation of our work together. Informed by our consultations, the principles below will guide our work in initiating, sustaining, monitoring, and evaluating community-campus partnerships. These principles are meant to be broadly applicable for any partnership, from local to global, and can be applied across all Faculties, disciplines, and sectors.

Our Principles

Relationships

We can’t have community without relationships—these are the connections that build community. Any successful partnership must be built on trusting and respectful relationships guided by integrity. We realize that relationships take time to develop and thus we commit to providing opportunities to connect people across communities, sectors, and disciplines to foster a genuine and interconnected network of colleagues to work together for an inclusive, sustainable Greater Hamilton Area. 

Reciprocity

From design, to participation, to the outcomes of a project, we strive to work together for mutual benefit.

Equity

We are conscious of the historical and structural inequities that exist in society and strive to provide access and opportunities to all residents and members of our communities.

Continuity

Acknowledging that different communities work on different timelines and schedules, we strive to consider both the short and long-term implications of our work together.

Openness to Learning

Change takes time. We are committed to continually learn from and evaluate our work together, reflecting on and sharing both our successes and failures to grow as individuals, partnerships, and communities.

Commitment to Act

We aspire to make a positive difference in our community by sharing and acting on our knowledge to contribute to the greater social good.