During this major revitalization of a large social housing community more than 50 years old, Public Interest developed a unique community engagement model that is now the standard for community work in Regent Park. This model has been used for two years to involve the community in all aspects of the redevelopment and has consistently produced participation from about 1,000 Regent Park residents (10–12% of the population).
Public Interest responded to concerns about the difficulties in many communities in Scarborough and developed the Scarborough Community Summit process. This community-based planning process has brought together residents, community groups, small business owners, service providers and community leaders to determine appropriate formats for the community summit, identify community priorities, and develop strategies to address these priorities.
Public Interest worked with the City of Kingston, the Boys and Girls Club, the United Way, Kingston Community Health Centers and the Community Response to Neighbourhood Concerns and Youth Diversion to help one of the city's most distressed communities develop a community hub and create programs and networks to help make Rideau Heights a healthier, stronger neighbourhood. Public Interest developed the strategies for outreach as well as for long-term community engagement.
As part of the United Way’s national strategy to strengthen neighbourhoods facing significant challenges, Public Interest was chosen to deliver a two-year pilot program called Action for Neighbourhoood Change (ANC) in Toronto’s Scarborough Village community.
A national program located in five Canadian cities, ANC is designed to increase the involvement and connectedness of community members to help identify locally relevant ways to revitalize neighbourhoods. The program approach involves:
