AHC FAQ

  »  1. What does AHC do? 
  »  2. What do you mean by community capacity building? 
  »  3. What is it a Community Initiative? 
  »  4. How can we start a community initiative? 
  »  5. How can we get a seed grant? 
  »  6. What is AHC community development criteria? 
  »  7. What is a Community Initiatives gathering? 
  »  8. What is a Community Initiatives Volunteer Team? 
  »  9. What does the Multicultural Gatherings Steering Committee do?

1. What does AHC do?  

AHC promote community development as a strategy to improve community health and well being. Staff at AHC creates opportunities for people to connect and collectively identify issues affecting community health and well being, helping them focus on specific issues and collectively create strategies for effective solutions. The AHC approach helps staff collect first hand information about health issues from the people directly affected by these problems, therefore we are able to create a knowledge base that helps us provide specific and focused support to individual communities.

     2. What do you mean by community capacity building?

Community Capacity building is the creation of collective capacity to address issues of common concerns. Staff at AHC facilitates processes where participants collectively increase awareness of their own skills and knowledge, share it with others, and learn new things to create initiatives that improve the community health and well being in central Edmonton.

     3. What is it a Community Initiative?

A Community Initiative is a small project initiated by a group of a minimum of three individuals representing self defined communities who are residents of central Edmonton. Through the Community Initiatives, people are provided with support opportunities to help them act upon and address issues of community health and well-being. The process encourages participants to take responsibility for their own health and well being and to work together with other residents to achieve common goals.
 

     4. How can we start a community initiative?  

To start a community initiative get a small group of people together who want to improve something in their community.  Give us a call, we'll meet to help you connect with others, develop a plan, identify the resources needed and figure out how to get them, including applying for a seed grant to Action for Healthy Communities.

     5. How can we get a seed grant?  

As part of the community building support, action for healthy communities can provide seed grants of up to $1,000 to groups of people ready to carry on with a planned and organized Community Initiative that meet AHC community development criteria and lacking basic financial resources.  Phone us for if you require more information.  

     6. What is AHC community development criteria?

CI Representatives - A group can apply for Seed Grants if they have a minimum of three individuals where at least two of them live in the AHC designated ten neighborhoods in central Edmonton.  Each CI group will name three contact people who will be responsible for the project and must sign an agreement with AHC.

     CI Participants - At least 50% of Project participants must be residents of the inner city neighbourhoods.

     CI Idea - Must address health issues as defined by the Ottawa charter of Health Promotion, which includes shelter, education, food, income, a stable ecosystem, sustainable resources, social justice and equity.  AHC also adds to this definition aspects of physical fitness, understanding, togetherness, laughter, pride and food security.  A CI must demonstrate how it will help to improve the health of the community.  Initiatives that plan to do a once time party and have no aspect of sustained community building and health promotion will normally not be considered for funding.

     CI Grand Funding - Grants applied for are not intended and shall not be used to further a profit venture, or to fund operating costs or ongoing projects.

     Resourcing - Applicants must demonstrate initiative and success in generating diverse sources of revenue to sustain a CI.

     Grant Conditions - Applicants must meet the conditions as outlined in the guidelines and policies for funding.

     7. What is a Community Initiatives gathering?

4-6 times a year, AHC host community initiatives (CI) gatherings to provide seed grant applicants to connect with community initiatives volunteer team and other ongoing community initiatives participants and share ideas, experience, get feedback and support each other. It is a community building exercise.

     8. What is a Community Initiatives Volunteer Team?

The Community Initiatives Volunteer Team is a group that reviews and approves seed grant applications.

     9. What does the Multicultural Gatherings Steering Committee do?  

The multicultural gatherings steering committee is a group of about 12 people with different cultural backgrounds committed to facilitate multicultural encounters as part of a community building process. It meets about twice a month (for 1.5 hrs/ meeting) to plan and organize multicultural gatherings.