What is the key to community-based policy-making?

The answer is simple. “Be quiet and meet them there”. Those were the words of Evergreen Brickworks’ Urban Agriculture Educator and Program Leader, Isaac. More often than not, we tend to propose solutions to complex problems based on our own ideals and values. However, this past week I learned that if we make real efforts to ask individuals what they want, our problems that we often describe as “complex” and “challenging” becomes easier to solve. As explained by Issac, problems are often much more difficult to solve because we don’t ask the right questions, we don’t acknowledge alternate approaches to problem solving and we don’t take the time to engage and develop meaningful relationships for those who we are trying to “help”.

Although many programs and policies go through the “consultation” process, Issac notes that consultation often gets lost in translation resulting in cycles of endless problems. However, when we ask the right questions and engage in a meaningful way that benefits the community, the results can be astounding. Luckily for me, I got to see/experience first-hand what a true community-based programming looks like at Lord Lansdowne Public School. I received a 45-min crash course from Grade 5 and 6 students on just about everything a developer needs to know on building an effective and fun playground. Since the playground revitalization is a student-led and teacher-supported project, I got to hear directly from the students on their approaches and strategies . Some of the few things included:

• Creating a stimulation of risks
• Developing consultation processes that are kid-friendly. This included creating a student survey/evaluation about the current playground while use terminology that could be understood by young children.
• FOOD! Kids love to eat. If you’re looking for kids to blurt out ideas, give an honest opinion and be themselves, then its important to have snacks at these consultations process. Food is a gateway that can increase socialization.

The playground revitalization is still going through consultation. Based on the intel received from students, it seems to be going well and on the right path. While the new playground has yet to be built, it seems as though students are content with the process and feel as though their ideas and thoughts are being heard!