Our Mission
Our mission is to build connected communities that welcome diversity, invite contributions and mobilize around what matters to them.
We are trying to do two things:
- Enhance social inclusion through reduced dependence on professional support systems = Build unpaid networks of support (friends!) around people, and connect them to activities and associations in their neighbourhoods.
- Grow and thicken the ties of community and connection wherever we go.
Who’s Involved?
Building Caring Communities (BCC) is a partnership of four agencies (Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion, Kinsight and posAbilities) who came together to end social isolation and address the issues around flourishing and resilience for people with developmental disabilities in urban, suburban and rural environments.
Our work is guided by the principles of Asset Based Community Development – we believe in the gifts, passions and skills that everyone can contribute. Community Connectors spend time in neighbourhoods in search of welcoming places, always looking for ways to support people in sharing their gifts with others.
Why Are We Doing It?
A large percentage of people report experiences of social isolation and loneliness. This can be shown in surveys and quality of life indices, particularly for people labeled with an intellectual, cognitive or developmental disability (or as some say, ‘people living with diversabilities’) At the same time, there is considerable research showing that social relationships are critical to our physical, mental and economic well being.
Our goal is to facilitate connections that will develop into meaningful relationships, which over time will strengthen the overall fabric of community life.
