LGA Partners’ Post

A lot has happened since we first shared the Cornerstones of Collaborative Governance for a Just and Equitable Future in August 2022. In 2023, we developed a Community Assembly model for Washington State, and this year the City of Seattle and State of Washington are actually piloting community assemblies! As defined by the Just Futures Community Leadership Committee, a community assembly is “a participatory democratic process that brings people together to articulate community needs, assess solutions, and mobilize for action, with a focus on those furthest from economic well-being.” Community assemblies represent the kind of deep, deliberative democracy we need to create a Washington that fosters well-being for everyone in every community. 

“Designers who work at the center of the process and interact with many stakeholders should seek to understand the different perspectives involved… and create a safe environment where all voices, needs, and aspirations are heard.” Highly recommend you take the time to read this blog post my be colleagues, Peter Pendergrass, Manan Shah, AIA, LEED BD C, and Tory Hereford!

Resident engagement is essential when assessing senior living communities. Link-age values engagement just as much as you do, so we partner with a variety of resources to ensure that engagement is a top priority in any community.

Welcome to my new venture! Belonging Redefined started with a simple question. What does Belonging look like for you? Pretty simple question with a not so simple answer. We can change ourselves to feel included in any environment, but are our environments equipped to change to include us? Everyone wants to belong. To be invited. To be asked. To be noticed. To be welcomed. To be protected. To be seen. To be heard. Does your environment create space to ask this question? Why would someone NOT feel welcomed? If your community group, Board of Directors, organization or team need help with the question above, please reach out. Belonging Redefined is proud to be a part of Inclusive Communities - a program created by The United Way bringing together community partners from a diverse group of industries and services to better understand what it means to belong. And only one of the great inclusion projects I’m working on. …also a great example of what can happening when we ask a simple question….

In this blog, we answer the questions; why did #FourMillionHomes cancel our involvement at one of their webinars? Why should it cause concern for us all? And how do #GreenSquareAccord's actions undermine the #DepartmentForLevellingUp? https://lnkd.in/dMrW8VMV #HousingSector #CancelCulture #Transparency #Accountability #FreedomOfSpeech

A project that is primarily focused on environmental sustainability, community well-being and social inclusion. The layout is purposefully adaptable for a diverse range of events and the building acts as a catalyst for economic development.✏️ #sustainabledesign #communityarchitecture #socialinclusion #economicdevelopment #nickbrayarchitecture

A third party to provide neutral services and human rights obligation training are necessary, practical, and relative remedies for many City Council & Mayors to undergo. https://lnkd.in/d747XXmZ #Nothingaboutuswithoutus #AccessibleCanadaAct #AccessibleBritishColumbiaAct #BCHumanRightsCode #Ableism #AttitudinalBarriers #lifelonglearning

Here’s something to look at.

⚖ 🏗 Fostering an inclusive construction workforce is a moral and strategic imperative. Tough Leaf, NAWIC Greater New York Chapter 240, and the Queens Chamber of Commerce recently hosted Building Inclusivity 2024, a powerful DEI summit highlighting key insights: Leadership drives real change. Partnerships between subcontractors and general contractors built on trust are crucial. Construction companies' DEI initiatives impact communities through local partnerships, listening, and creative volunteerism. As Janice Haughton of Turner stated, "Diversity is being invited, but inclusion is being asked to dance." Let's keep moving towards an empowered, equitable construction workforce serving all communities. Check out the inspiring Tough Leaf blog post recapping more insights from this impactful event. https://lnkd.in/dDQBpJfs #womeninconstruction, #womencontractors, #womengeneralcontractors, #subcontractordiversity, #generalcontractor, #primecontractors, #MBE, #WBE, #DBE, #MWBE, #XBE, #SDVOB, #DEI, #DIVERSITY, #CONSTRUCTION, #SUBCONTRACTOR, #DIVERSEFIRM, #INCLUSION, #DEIB, #UBE, #XBE

Break barriers and build bridges with First Nations communities! Embracing diversity and fostering meaningful connections is at the heart of what we do. Let's overcome challenges and build bridges that transcend differences, fostering a more inclusive and united society for all. Join us on this transformative journey! To learn more, click the link https://bit.ly/3NYheMb #BridgeTheGap #CulturalDiversity #FirstNationsEngagement #FirstNationsBusinesses #EmpoweringBusinesses