Counting on Community: What are we asking of each other?

100in1 Day is an initiative that started in Columbia and quickly spread around the world. 

On June 7, Montreal will be hosting its second edition of this event, which sees citizens organize 100 actions in a single day, and University of the Streets Café is thrilled to be involved.

They will be hosting a public conversation entitled, "Counting on Community: What are we asking of each other?" 

When:  Saturday, June 7, 2014 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Where:  Lhasa-De Sela park, corner of Clark St. and de l’Arcade

Guest: Miranda Chapman is a passionate activist, environmentalist, and community builder and has been exploring intentional living for almost ten years. Her work with diverse community spaces and collective action spurs her toward her ultimate dream of a village based on deep, unbridled love, trust and commitment. 

Moderator: Eryn Fitzgerald is excited to be returning to University of the Streets Café to moderate this conversation. Currently employed as Concordia’s Community Relations Coordinator, Eryn takes the practice of building community very seriously both in her work and her life beyond the office. 

The word 'community' gets thrown around a lot these days. On the one hand, there is a growing recognition that strong, vibrant communities are a key ingredient in healthy societies.

On the other, there is a widespread sense that many of us lack meaningful connections in our lives. Sure, we might have a lot of Facebook friends and maybe even a good crowd that we can gather for the occasional 5 à 7, but many of these connections remain surface-level and fleeting.

In this public conversation, we will talk about community not as an abstract concept, but rather as a practice grounded in everyday behaviours. What does it take to build community? Who does this work and what skills do they employ? How do we ensure the relationships we nurture are not only diverse and intergenerational, but also reciprocal and non-hierarchical? How important is physical space in fostering all of this?

Please join us to share your stories, tips and tricks as we take the first steps towards developing committed communities for today and for tomorrow.