Cover Story
In from the Cold: Survey Outreach in Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park
by Shabnam Meraj and Julie Chamberlain
Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park are neighbouring communities in the central-east part of Toronto in Ward 26 Don Valley West. Connected to each other by the main thoroughfare Overlea Boulevard, a walk across the bridge brings you from one to the other – a cold and windy walk in the middle of winter. Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park were paired together as one site for the APCOL survey to reflect how the neighbouring communities are interconnected.
Weston - Mount Dennis: A Resident’s Perspective
by Zannalyn Robest
I first heard about the APCOL research project through my involvement with the Action for Neighbourhood Change (ANC) as a resident representative. The research was an opportunity to see how people of the area felt about issues in the neighbourhood. I was also hopeful about the possibility of the research findings serving as a quantitative document with which to organize and seek change.
Not Another Survey! Conducting the APCOL Questionnaire in KGO
by Joseph E. Sawan
On the heels of two APCOL case studies; the housing case study in Kingston Galloway – Orton Park (KGO) and the food security community leadership development case study with FoodShare the APCOL survey began with the support and direction of a team of animators and organizers who have led antipoverty campaigns in their communities. After a year of survey committee meetings, the survey was finalized and we were ready to conduct our first interviewer training. Rather than rely solely on graduate student researchers, it was clear that our plans to incorporate the energy coming from the case studies could help organize and design a unique approach to survey research.
It’s Where We Live: Housing and Anti-poverty Organizing in Scarborough
by Joseph E. Sawan
Anti-poverty organizing takes on many forms, but I believe that successful movements share some key qualities: hope, perseverance and enthusiasm. The residents in East Scarborough, specifically in the Kingston Galloway – Orton park (KGO) neighbourhood, go above and beyond in their organizing efforts. From the Market to Community Speaks to its busy East Scarborough Storefront office on Lawrence Ave., this is a place where it seems an increasing number of residents are working to engage more people in their work and encourage social change in their community.
FoodShare Toronto: Building Community From the Ground Up
by Phung Lam
It was a rainy Friday afternoon when I set foot in the FoodShare building located on 90 Croatia St. in the heart of downtown Toronto. Coming to the interview at the end of a work week, I was not expecting to see many people or much momentum around the building. To my surprise, there were several FoodShare members and kitchen staff working hard at their stations. A young intern greeted mewith a friendly smile at the reception desk. As I waited for Ravenna in the office, the intern expressed her enthusiasm and love for working at this organization. After a few minutes of waiting, the intern walked me to Ravenna’s office to begin our interview.