At the Opening Retreat program participants become part of teams that will partner with existing community organizations to develop and deliver projects with a lasting benefit for the community.   Each team is assigned an experienced Coach to help ensure that projects are manageable, to assist in connections with community resources and to intervene in team dynamics if required.

Community Action Projects give participants an opportunity to work collaboratively, practice group development and engage in participatory decision-making.  In essence, the projects make communities laboratories by providing unique opportunities to exercise skills and knowledge gained from Community Learning Days and to apply leadership skills in a tangible context that results in concrete outcomes.

Community agencies and their constituents benefit as participants develop their leadership capacity. In the course of their projects, participants gain practical insight into the workings of Greater Victoria communities.

Teams present the results of their projects at the June graduation. For a list of past Community Action Projects click here.

SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY ACTION PROJECTS 2009/2010

Victoria Micro Lending Society Mentoring Program

Object: Increase the success of the Victoria Community Micro Lending Society by designing a mentor program for its borrowers.

Approximately 15 volunteer business-experienced mentors will be recruited and trained to work with the initial five business start-up borrowers from the Micro Lending Society. The project will form the base for future mentor recruitment and establish a network of support for Micro Lending borrowers.

Volunteer Trail Ambassadors Program

Object: Create and recruit volunteers who will provide information and assistance to users of Greater Victoria's walking/biking trail network.

A sustainable program will be designed and implemented that engages existing trail users to be "ambassadors" or information/assistance providers to other trail users. New and generally younger volunteers will be targeted who have the knowledge, skills and familiarity to assist anyone encountered on a trail in their neighbourhood.

The Art of Re-Gifting

Object: To raise awareness and increase support of the arts in Victoria through a unique event.

Three visual artists will each give a piece of art to four Victoria arts organizations, who will then – in some creative manner – re-gift the pieces to each other at a public event organized by the CAP team and co-hosted by the four artists and the four organizations

Green Acres
Object: To create a project in partnership with Power to Be Adventure Therapy Society that would grow community relationships, leadership and food.

Developed and implemented creative garden-focused activities intended to broaden and enhance the therapeutic experiences for three Power to Be youth groups.
These activities strengthened the community partnerships between Power to Be and Mary’s Therapeutic Farm, Essencia Gardens and Woodwynn Farm.