Civic Engagement: What Can Residents Do? Addendum One

As stated previously, I believe that the only authentic way to improve local governance on a long-term basis is to 'increase the relationship of engagement between the residents and their Councillors'.

The direction of the engagement is paramount. It has to come from the citizenry to be authentic and longstanding. The primary impetus has to come from us.

When you're trying to compile a list, as much as you know that you can't possibly expect to remember everything, you endeavour to be as thorough as possible. I did when I posted 'Civic Engagement: What Can Residents Do? A Multipart Plan'.

When you're dealing with a topic that holds meaning above and beyond the intellectual, adding to a list such as this isn't frustrating, or annoying (as it presumably would be for a Virgo-rising individual), it's actually uplifting. 

You're reminded of another opportunity to accomplish what you've set out to do, and there's this rush of...well, hope. 

So the first addition to be added to my list is the notion of community gardens. Offshoots of 'victory gardens' from the First and Second World Wars. (On a personal note, I began a creative project last year predicated on this notion, set in Hamilton post-steel industry collapse.) 

Community gardens, beyond the wealth of good created by way of growing things to be eaten, increased awareness of the environment and our places in it, inculcating a more holistic awareness of all this in our children, are opportunities to bond neighbours. 

To create connections. 

To facilitate communion, communication, increase the opportunities for dialogue about both commonalities and differences. 

So community gardens are most definitely a mechanism towards 'increasing the relationship of engagement between residents and Councillors in local governance', because they're community-builders.