For the New Year, many of us are inclined to make personal resolutions… to exercise more, to eat better, to spend more time with our loved ones. That is definitely my modus operandi! For 5 years now, the New Year rolls in and I, once again, vow to kick my pastry habit. The result? Another year of me pigging out shamelessly (and I really mean shamelessly) on pastries.
Sigh.
So, for 2012, I’m vowing to make a new kind of resolution – wipe the slate clean and start afresh. Only this time, my resolution will be one that affects my community. It’s my very own 2012 ‘Community Building Resolution’ challenge!
After all, in the bigger scheme of things, no one but me (and my thighs!) is really affected if I utterly fail on my bid to make 2012 pastry-free. However, if I fail on my resolution to make my community better, we all lose out. Imagine, though, if I hold true to my commitment to improve my community – no matter how small that change might be – do you think that my little piece of the world will be better for it? Absolutely!
And so – here I go… throwing it out into the universe…my community resolution for 2012 is: to have more meaningful, courageous conversations with the people who live around me. And I mean REAL conversations!
This resolution was inspired by a chat that I had recently with older gentleman named Herman as I was out walking my dogs. Herman happens to live exactly one block away from me on the same side of the street. I’ve often paused in front of Herman’s house (mainly to let my bassets have a good chance for a sniff) and wistfully speculated on who my doppelganger might be if I lived at number 1417 instead of number 1317.
During one of these recent pauses, Herman happened to be out in his yard and we got to chatting. Turns out that Herman is a widower, with just a small extended family left in Calgary, who was a pet owner too but lost both his dogs to what he phrased as a malady of old age… death! I liked Herman instantly. I figure I might pop by Herman’s with some Christmas cookies this year to pass on some holiday cheer and offer some company. I think that if I do, my little piece of the world will be better for it.
Imagine now if others in my little neighbourhood decided to also make a small but positive change in their community. If say… my neighbour does the same as does their neighbour, and their neighbour, and their neighbour, and their neighbour. Before we knew it, we would have a place where you’d want to set down roots, raise your children, and walk your dogs.
So I’m throwing this out to all of you…make a resolution this year that will help make your community better - consider this your 2012 ‘Community Building Resolution’ challenge!
You can even join me later as I host an online conversation on January 18th aimed at those interested in sharing ideas about how to positively affect the quality of life in their communities. I’d be interested to hear about what positive change you plan to make in the lives of those around you.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Aboriginal Arts, Culture, and Heritage Grants
Just recently, my colleague Brenda Herchmer, Director of ACE Communities, and myself facilitated a session on the “The Power and the Promise of Recreation in Aboriginal Communities" at the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association’s 2011 Conference in October. As I was typing up the notes recently for the session, I started making a list of arts, culture, and heritage-based resources that I could share with the group of participants.
As I sat plunking away on my keyboard, it occurred to me that it might be useful to also post these resources in my blog as a way of getting the word out there about these aboriginal-related grants. Many of these programs aren’t utilized to their fullest so I figured… let’s charge into the New Year and tap into these great resources! Or, at least, spread the word to those who might be interested in applying.
Take note: most of these aren’t due right now with the exception of the ASRPWF '2012-2013 Healthy Living Fund' which is due December 23rd.
So spread the word and let’s start funneling these resources into our Aboriginal communities!
---
The Alberta Foundation for the Arts
The Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) has a commitment to supporting the growth and development of Aboriginal arts in Alberta. There are two grant streams and one program that specifically benefit Alberta First Nations, Métis and Inuit populations.
Aboriginal Traditional Arts Individual Project Grant Stream
Aboriginal Arts Organizations Project Grant Stream
Click here for more info on these grants or contact the AFA at 780-427-9968.
---
Alberta’s Future Leaders Program - Arts Camps
The Arts Camps program partners the Alberta Foundation for the Arts with the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks, and Wildlife Foundation (ASRPWF) in providing an arts component to the Alberta’s Future Leaders (AFL) Program.
This program is based on the development of partnerships between communities, private enterprise, non-profit organizations and government agencies. These partnerships share the belief that sport and recreation can be used as prevention and intervention initiatives to address the needs of Alberta's indigenous youth.
Arts mentors are hired to form an arts team to plan and develop a range of arts activities. Each arts team member is then placed in a designated community for the summer, working alongside other AFL summer youth workers. The program runs from May 1 to August 31 each year. The number of participating communities varies, but there are usually a dozen communities involved in the AFL program each year.
The arts component provides opportunities for young people to experience and develop their creative abilities. The arts youth workers act as mentors, helping the participants to express themselves through a variety of performing and visual arts activities. Young people are encouraged to get in touch with their individual creative energies and abilities, and thereby learn new skills, develop strength, build self-esteem and self-confidence that can be used throughout their lives.
Arts activities include performing arts such as mime, acting, storytelling, dance and music as well as mask and puppet making. Visual arts workshops include painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, collage, clay, photography and crafts.
---
Elder/Youth Legacy Program: Support for Aboriginal Artistic Practices
Since the Canada Council created the Aboriginal Peoples Collaborative Exchange program, more people have been asking how to obtain funds for two underserved segments of the Aboriginal arts community: the Elders (senior artists) and the youth (ages 15-25).
The Canada Council has realized that Aboriginal Elders and youth—the two segments of the community involved in passing on art practices—have not been regularly applying for arts funding. Many of the Elders (senior artists) found the paperwork cumbersome, and the youth of the communities were ineligible because of their age.
The Elder/Youth Legacy program solves this by offering program funding to Aboriginal organizations that wish to work with these two groups on a project basis. This program is not limited to traditional art forms—it encompasses all forms of the arts.
First, the organization will choose the Elder who will work with their youth. That Elder will then help to decide the number of young people he or she will work with, and will help to select them.
Due: 15 May and 15 November
Further Information
Noël Habel,
As I sat plunking away on my keyboard, it occurred to me that it might be useful to also post these resources in my blog as a way of getting the word out there about these aboriginal-related grants. Many of these programs aren’t utilized to their fullest so I figured… let’s charge into the New Year and tap into these great resources! Or, at least, spread the word to those who might be interested in applying.
Take note: most of these aren’t due right now with the exception of the ASRPWF '2012-2013 Healthy Living Fund' which is due December 23rd.
So spread the word and let’s start funneling these resources into our Aboriginal communities!
---
The Alberta Foundation for the Arts
The Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) has a commitment to supporting the growth and development of Aboriginal arts in Alberta. There are two grant streams and one program that specifically benefit Alberta First Nations, Métis and Inuit populations.
Aboriginal Traditional Arts Individual Project Grant Stream
Aboriginal Arts Organizations Project Grant Stream
Click here for more info on these grants or contact the AFA at 780-427-9968.
---
Alberta’s Future Leaders Program - Arts Camps
The Arts Camps program partners the Alberta Foundation for the Arts with the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks, and Wildlife Foundation (ASRPWF) in providing an arts component to the Alberta’s Future Leaders (AFL) Program.
This program is based on the development of partnerships between communities, private enterprise, non-profit organizations and government agencies. These partnerships share the belief that sport and recreation can be used as prevention and intervention initiatives to address the needs of Alberta's indigenous youth.
Arts mentors are hired to form an arts team to plan and develop a range of arts activities. Each arts team member is then placed in a designated community for the summer, working alongside other AFL summer youth workers. The program runs from May 1 to August 31 each year. The number of participating communities varies, but there are usually a dozen communities involved in the AFL program each year.
The arts component provides opportunities for young people to experience and develop their creative abilities. The arts youth workers act as mentors, helping the participants to express themselves through a variety of performing and visual arts activities. Young people are encouraged to get in touch with their individual creative energies and abilities, and thereby learn new skills, develop strength, build self-esteem and self-confidence that can be used throughout their lives.
Arts activities include performing arts such as mime, acting, storytelling, dance and music as well as mask and puppet making. Visual arts workshops include painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, collage, clay, photography and crafts.
---
Elder/Youth Legacy Program: Support for Aboriginal Artistic Practices
Since the Canada Council created the Aboriginal Peoples Collaborative Exchange program, more people have been asking how to obtain funds for two underserved segments of the Aboriginal arts community: the Elders (senior artists) and the youth (ages 15-25).
The Canada Council has realized that Aboriginal Elders and youth—the two segments of the community involved in passing on art practices—have not been regularly applying for arts funding. Many of the Elders (senior artists) found the paperwork cumbersome, and the youth of the communities were ineligible because of their age.
The Elder/Youth Legacy program solves this by offering program funding to Aboriginal organizations that wish to work with these two groups on a project basis. This program is not limited to traditional art forms—it encompasses all forms of the arts.
First, the organization will choose the Elder who will work with their youth. That Elder will then help to decide the number of young people he or she will work with, and will help to select them.
Due: 15 May and 15 November
Further Information
Noël Habel,
Program Officer
Aboriginal Arts Office
Canada Council for the Arts
t: 1-800-263-5588 (toll-free) or 613-566-4414, ext. 4178 or 4222
---
ASRPWF 2012-2013 Healthy Living Fund - Active Living
In 2012-13 the ASRPWF will support projects that address conditions/ factors that support physical activity, as well as contribute to achieving targets aimed at increasing the proportion of Albertans who are physically active. Currently there is an emphasis on projects that address physical activity targets for children and youth.
Priority areas for project funding consideration include:
-Integrated approaches and collaboration
-Awareness and education
-Innovative demonstration projects with a physical activity focus
-Research that informs practice
-Improved access and reduced barriers to physical activity opportunities
-Active transportation
-After school time period
-Children and Nature Activities
Eligible applicants (Provincial not-for-profit groups, First Nations, Metis Settlements, and Municipalities), are invited to submit ONE application for consideration, noting that funding is available for projects lasting approximately one year in duration, April 1, 2012 - March 31, 2013.
Complete applications must be postmarked on or before December 23, 2011 and sent to the address on the application. Respondents will be notified by March 5, 2012 with final approval pending approval of the Foundation budget.
For more information contact:
Chris Szabo
Recreation Consultant
t:780-415-0276 (toll-free in Alberta at 310-0000)
e:chris.szabo@gov.ab.ca
t: 1-800-263-5588 (toll-free) or 613-566-4414, ext. 4178 or 4222
---
ASRPWF 2012-2013 Healthy Living Fund - Active Living
In 2012-13 the ASRPWF will support projects that address conditions/ factors that support physical activity, as well as contribute to achieving targets aimed at increasing the proportion of Albertans who are physically active. Currently there is an emphasis on projects that address physical activity targets for children and youth.
Priority areas for project funding consideration include:
-Integrated approaches and collaboration
-Awareness and education
-Innovative demonstration projects with a physical activity focus
-Research that informs practice
-Improved access and reduced barriers to physical activity opportunities
-Active transportation
-After school time period
-Children and Nature Activities
Eligible applicants (Provincial not-for-profit groups, First Nations, Metis Settlements, and Municipalities), are invited to submit ONE application for consideration, noting that funding is available for projects lasting approximately one year in duration, April 1, 2012 - March 31, 2013.
Complete applications must be postmarked on or before December 23, 2011 and sent to the address on the application. Respondents will be notified by March 5, 2012 with final approval pending approval of the Foundation budget.
For more information contact:
Chris Szabo
Recreation Consultant
t:780-415-0276 (toll-free in Alberta at 310-0000)
e:chris.szabo@gov.ab.ca
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
