At its core,
"The Building Capacity Project"
is a grassroots initiative that aims to enable people with dementia to participate in community life as full social citizens. We use an asset-based community development (ABCD) approach to support the growth of innovative community initiatives that foster inclusion and reduce stigma by creating meaningful opportunities for people with dementia to remain active and socially connected.
the Building Capacity Project developed initiatives in areas like the arts, fitness, volunteerism, and social participation. The project also adapted pre-existing resources (at libraries, in congregations, and at community and seniors’ centres) to make them more inclusive of people living with dementia. Overall, we’ve supported the growth of innovative community initiatives that foster inclusion and reduce stigma by creating opportunities for people with dementia to remain active and socially connected.
After four years of collaboration, connection, implementation, and evaluation, we developed a body of knowledge we wanted to share more widely. So, phase two of the project kicked off with the development of our Action Guide. Project lead researchers, community partners, and advocates living with dementia worked together to create this important resource helping people in different locations, industries, and contexts start their own initiatives, become more inclusive, and build the advocacy and inclusivity climates to help us all expand our knowledge and capacity. Alongside that initiative, we worked with original community partners to sustain and deepen their work, and with a new set of communities to help them establish their own initiatives.
Though our federal funding has now run out, the work continues through our outstanding community partners and advocates with lived experience. They are developing communities of practice that will continue to support people with lived experience to live as full social citizens in their community. As we pursue new funding avenues, our dedication to growing dementia inclusive initiatives and culture won’t waiver. Stay tuned for updates on our progress!
Vancouver Team
While the project engaged two distinct communities in BC and Ontario, together these communities united under three shared objectives:
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Implementing an ABCD approach to adapt and create community programs and services that are meaningful and inclusive for people with dementia.
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Conducting a developmental evaluation that allowed the team to learn how to best support the growth and integration of programs and services that are meaningful and inclusive for people with dementia.
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Disseminating learnings to increase awareness and support communities and their efforts to create opportunities for meaningful participation by people with dementia.
The Building Capacity Project is not just about community organizations developing a whole new set of separate programs and services for people with dementia. It’s also about figuring out a sustainable process for adapting what already exists, creating meaningful programs and services that are inclusive for people with dementia. We want more people with dementia to be active and participate in their community in a variety of ways, but more importantly, we want increased capacity in our communities so this kind of active participation can continue to grow and flourish.
OUR LOGO
Our logo represents connection, transformation, and joy. The text within the circles, captures the sense of belonging we feel connecting with people who share our values. The interwoven circles signify the unity of diverse communities in different places and spaces, illustrating how support and advocacy bring about transformation. Additionally, the three colors -indigo, light blue and red- represent distinct communities and individuals and the joy that comes from sharing a collective purpose.