Blog #4: Priorities

     

            Action expresses priority.

                                 – Mahatma Gandhi

 ‘NSTEP is the definition of a community. The operation of this organization is dependent on maintaining its delivery, which would require identifying the building partnerships with other organizations that understand the need of having the health of Calgarian youth as a priority.

The Process

The initiation of connecting with ‘NSTEP is multidirectional. Organizations have approached ‘NSTEP to include them in development of some objectives. More likely, ‘NSTEP has approached other organizations such as The Running Room and the University of Calgary to engage these groups in the program, what they are expecting and discussing relationships that can be built as a result of shared appreciation for this need. There are two priorities that ‘NSTEP will act on are varied and vast; which is dependent on how the ideas are presented. The priorities must include funding activities to enable ‘NSTEP to continue to be sustainable, or must promote the development of healthy lifestyles in children. These priorities are made evident by the quote by Mahatma Gandhi; ‘NSTEP acts on activities that connect the organization to these two outcomes.

Once the engagement to the idea has taken place, the next step is communication of innovative methods available to execute the idea. This phase requires open minds and creative thinking; both skills are encouraged and supported within this community. If there is missing information or a lack of manpower, additional involvement is sought. This can include expert consultation based on experience or providing a new perspective to determine the feasibility of the project. There is no limit to the connections that will be made in aid of the cause. An example of this is the founder being on a morning run in Vancouver and finding the head of a major grocery chain, so she approached him to identify the organization, the mandate and her involvement.

After all necessary parties are on board, the execution stage is in effect. All members collectively make these ideas a priority and contribute their expertise to the project.

These steps reinforce the quote above, and reiterate the community aspect of the ‘NSTEP program. This program could not exist without a community of support or well identified priorities. As priorities gives the organization direction and leads to action. Priorities are necessary. Without priorities, nothing would get accomplished.

 Everyone has different priorities. What are yours? 

- Dawn

Blog #3: My Community Group

The Community that I belong to is a program called ‘NSTEP, which I contribute to as a volunteer program facilitator. ‘NSTEP’s mission is to promote nutrition and health to young children in schools. It is a very simple concept of encouraging the use of the Canada’s food guide and physical activity to enrich the lives of children.  

My role of the volunteers is to deliver educational lessons in an interactive experiential learning model that treats each school as an educational and holistic community. It is not enough to teach the students health class, it is equally important to reinforce these lessons on a daily basis in class, with snacks and at lunch. ‘NSTEP also takes opportunities to inform parent about the program and the benefits of encouraging healthy eating and fitness habits on their children’s ability to learn and succeed in life. This program is a great example of a community because it requires the cooperation of program facilitators and reinforcement of lessons by the teachers.

I suggest that this organization although aimed at improving the nutrition of the students that it serves, has a greater power. As a result of the communities that the program targets, which are low-income communities, it is often the case that the parents of these students have very limited knowledge regarding the importance of eating well or living actively. Even if these parents do receive these messages, it is unlikely that they understand the potential positive impact that implementing behavioral changes could have on their children’s health and ability to learn.

The students are very much a part of this community development process as well because they then act as ambassadors to pass what they have learned to their parents, siblings and friends that are outside of their educational community. The student’s ownership of the program increases the effectiveness of the program beyond the classroom and the organizations mission of developing the healthy lifestyle skills in youth. These students are setting themselves up for their futures to be better learners because they will be able to concentrate better on lessons in high school and beyond. In addition, these students are becoming experts in an area that they are proud to share with their families and friends.  The long terms affects will lead to increased confidence in their own abilities and skills that will lead them to contributing further in their communities as leaders.

“The more hands the lighter the load”

Additionally, resources are an area of constant strain on most community-oriented programs. The challenge is that there is so many programs and organizations out there competing for charity and sponsorship dollars that it is difficult on companies and government representatives to decide on which causes to support. The sad reality is that the companies that we have supporting us, are not able to support others, as they too have limited resources available for charitable contributions. These companies and their representatives including the government must make choices about where to lend their support. This lesson translates to us as community leaders also. There is not unlimited time or money that we can give to a community in need. It is necessary to determine where best to utilize the resources that are available and determine, as an empowered group, where the attention is most needed.

In the case of the community of all nonprofit organizations, the ideal resolution would be if we could get everyone together as a community and pool resources and funds. Through the creation of this kind of symbiotic relationship, all similar organizations could create a great community that would be more willing to share creative ideas and efficient use of pooled resources due to better understand of each organizations needs and what strengths each group brings to the table. Currently there is a competitive mentality between organizations, which each group holding their resources and knowledge close to their hearts to avoid sharing their knowledge. If a community like this could develop, the end result would be greater impact on all programs and agencies by conserving man power from sharing established protocols rather then having to make up their own, testing them, and then implementing them all independently.

“A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm.”

Henrik Ibsen (Major Norwegian playwright of the late 19th century, 1828-1906)

 - and that is my two cents

Dawn