Institutional Strengthening 

AHC strongly believes that community development is a collective responsibility of all citizens of Edmonton. For a real community development to happen it is imperative to strengthen individual organizations’ capacity and create or strengthen partnerships. It is also important to base all community development programs and projects on community grass-root participatory research where potential participants define the strategies needed to develop their communities. 

AHC then is committed to increase its internal capacity as well as to help to increase the internal capacity of sibling organizations to achieve community development goals and to effectively implement programs and projects by adopting various strategies and practices aimed at increasing effectiveness. 

We provide coaching support, training workshops and educational material to collaborate with service provides and community development organizations to help their clients/participants strengthen their communities as a way to improve the health and well being of their members. We also develop public engagement activities to increase the interest of the public at large to get involved as their capacity allows them. Involvement can go from making in-kind donations to donating their time or funding specific initiatives, among others. As a result of these processes, new partnerships have emerged and we work collaboratively with our partners to continue improving our approaches and strategies to community development. 

Training
In 2005-2006, AHC offered 17 workshops to staff of 31 organizations, including AHC staff and some community members, interested in becoming more inclusive of marginalized population, including People with Developmental Disabilities (PWDD). As a result of these workshops, AHC has created a curriculum (see Social Inclusion Curriculum), with the intention of providing a tool to agencies interested in enhancing their capacity building in building inclusive communities. We encourage you to read the curriculum. Our staff can come to your site to facilitate some training sessions. Please contact us at 944 4687 or e-mail action4@shawbiz.ca.

Research
We are currently researching the History of AHC. We believe that going to our roots will allow for us to continue researching the impact of our current strategies and the potential for developing, helping us to lead our future, responding to community needs and aspirations.

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