Summary notes: Who needs to be ready for inclusion to happen?

There is a quality even meaner than outright ugliness or disorder, and this meaner quality is the dishonest mask of pretended order, achieved by ignoring or suppressing the real order that is struggling to exist and to be served. Jane Jacobs

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Something that stood out for me in this conversation was a comment made by one person that communities don't want to be engaged, consulted or included. They just want to get things done. This began a lively discussion about a movement toward "Let's just do it."

Our guest speaker, Sandra, shared a story about an event that occurred in a downtown Toronto community. Within this community, there was a barrage of hold ups that were occurring – all against food delivery people. These robberies were happening at particular buildings. The community was of course concerned and the service providers sprang into action. After meetings and following of processes, metal signs were ordered giving community the number for police and encouraging them to report all crimes. After paying for a city employee to put them up there was no change in the occurrence of robberies.

Within that same building there was a drop-in space for youth. They got fed up with the whole polite response. They knew that within the community people knew the police number and they knew the individuals that were committing the robberies. That was not the issue. The truth was people were afraid. The young women decided they were not waiting for any one else to make a change in their community. They knew they had to take matters into their hands. And their actions were successful.

What did they do?

They made a simple sign that said something like, "We know who you little @$$*(#^$ are. Knock it off or we are telling the police."

The community had the capacity and knowledge of how to best deal with the issue. In some ways, they just needed people to get out of their way and let them do it.

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The first of our Conversation cafés was held at the 519 Church St. Community Centre on July 29th. Guest speaker was Sandra Costain, community worker and activist and the discussion was moderated by Tammy Décarie, health promoter.