a     You have ideas for improving this community

a     You want to volunteer in your neighbourhood and make it a better place to live.

a     You want to develop new skills and gain experience in the community

a     You want to get to know your neighbours and gain new friendships

a     You want to be a leader in your neighbourhood

 Come join the Neighbourhood Action Group

The Bathurst-Finch Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) works to identify issues of common concern and develop positions on these issues, in order to advocate for the interests of the Bathurst-Finch neighbourhood with decision makers and stakeholders.

Anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in the Bathurst-Finch neighbourhood is invited to join the NAG.

Residents are invited to volunteer for the NAG if you would like to:

þ     Voice your opinion about issues of local neighbourhood development,

þ     Advocate for the interests of the neighbourhood,

þ     Participate in developing, monitoring and evaluating an annual work plan of neighbourhood priorities together with other residents.

The first meeting of the NAG will take place in October 2009.

The NAG consists of general members and three working groups. Working groups meet to plan and organize work, including activities and projects, related to three neighbourhood priorities that have been chosen by residents.

Residents are invited to volunteer for a working group if you would like to:

þ Contribute to publication of our quarterly Bathurst-Finch Kaleidoscope newspaper, or

þ Create neighbourhood traditions through organizing and hosting community events (such as arts and crafts fair, community garage sale, events for International Women’s Day, Mothers or Fathers Day, etc.), or

þ     Create ideas, plans and projects that will enhance the quality of life in the neighbourhood.

The three working groups are:

1) Resident Communications Working Group

2) Resident Connections Working Group

3) Capacity Building Working Group.

The first meetings of the working groups will take place in September 2009.

Both the NAG and each of the working groups will help you develop your skills and gain more experience in leadership, advocacy, facilitation and communication. In order to build residents capacity, there will also be workshops and trainings aimed at enhancing these skills. NAG and the working groups will have a budget and a Community Engagement Worker from Action for Neighbourhood Change (ANC) to support the work.

ü      If you want more information or are interested in volunteering for the Neighbourhood Action Group, or any of the working groups, please contact us today.

ü      If you want to be informed about dates of NAG meetings, in order to attend as a guest, please let us know.

ü      Call the Action for Neighbourhood Change (ANC) Office, at 647-436-0385, and speak to Oleksandra, Julia, Hannah, Victoria, Oleg or Julie. You can also e-mail us at anc@newheightshealth.org