What is a Community Initiative?
A Community initiative (CI) is a mini or small project initiated by a group of three or more individuals interested in improving the health and well being of their community.
A CI is a SEED for a community building process, watered by committed citizens interested in fostering collaboration and collective action to address issues related to community health and well being. Using a community development model and AHC Seed Grant criteria AHC staff work with community members following the Seed grant process to develop an initiative for which the group can apply to AHC for a grant of up to $1,000. This usually involves forming a group of 3~5 Group Representatives who work with Initiative participants within a CI that improves community health and well-being. For example, people might seek AHC support to create a summer program for their children, form a collective kitchen for themselves and their friends… (**See the bottom, of this page. examples of some the current Community Initiatives supported by AHC).

What's AHC's Community Initiatives Criteria?
AHC seeks to support marginalized Edmontonians as they collaboratively develop actions to improve the health - as holistically, broadly defined - of themselves, their neighbors and their communities. The Ottawa Charter of Health Promotion defines health as follows: peace, shelter, education, food, income, a stable eco-system, sustainable resources, social justice and equity. AHC adds to this idea with aspects of physical fitness, understanding All applicants must demonstrate they will make effective use of the resources and wherever possible, are expected to contribute resources to the project and solicit support from other community stakeholders. All CI will have concrete and measurable outcomes for groups to develop measures to sustain the initiative. Seed Grants cannot be used to cover operating costs or to fund ongoing projects; rather they are a resource that is instrumental in getting resident initiatives off the ground. We work through the Group representatives of each group - three unrelated individuals. Three people must attend a Community Dialogue and present their idea at Community Initiatives Gathering and in working with us, complete and submit a CI Application form.

What is AHC's Community Initiative Process?

1. Give us a call or come visit us! Action for Healthy Communities can help you develop your idea, connect you with potential resources, and help bring your Initiative to life.
2. First, attend a Community Dialogue. This is a public meeting of community members about community concerns and solutions. Here is where you can share your ideas while also connecting with and learning from other community members. (Give us a call we tell you how. You can also check out at our website when the next Community dialogues is.)
3. Form a group and decide on 3 unrelated people who will be representatives for the Initiative. These representatives will be responsible for the Initiative and will sign an agreement with Action for Healthy Communities.
4. Fill out a Seed Grant Application Form that describes:
5. After you hand in your application, the three of you (or more) will present your Initiative at an Initiatives Gathering. This is an informal and festive event where you will get to meet the rest of AHC's staff, members of other community groups who will also be doing presentations, and our Initiative Team. You are also welcome to come to any of AHC's Initiatives Gatherings even if you are not presenting.
6. You will know if your Initiative is approved within a week of the Initiatives Gathering. If your Initiative is approved, you can begin putting the Initiative into action! Once you have gotten started, we will ask you to come to one more community event to share the results of your Initiative. We can help you with this at any time.

7. Finally, at the end of your Initiative, we will sit down and discuss together your group's successes, challenges and how to move forward.

Example of Some of the recent Community Initiatives supported by AHC

Colombia Querrida Tierra
This group offers opportunities where newcomer youth from Colombian communities in Edmonton can learn and practice Latin American dance. It encourages them to get physically active while connecting with their heritage. Their goals is to motivate the youth to take pride in their culture, allow them to network and meet other youth, and enable them to be positive members in the community.

Healthy Aging for seniors.
This group is aimed at providing healthy education for Filipino seniors. They are seeking to target isolated and lonely seniors and connect them with other seniors. Their aim is to address the health and well being of the seniors. There will be sessions on health education, food and nutrition as well as exercise classes and injury prevention techniques.

Students for learning in City Centre Communities.
This initiative is all about fostering healthy-minded individuals. Although academic learning is the focus and philosophy of the Initiative, the group also strongly believes that helping disabled children to read and participate in-group activities will stimulate their mind and spirit, hence fostering health and wellbeing.