As our neighbourhood continues to become gentrified, a few of us decided to organize a small neighbourhood meeting. We planned it around a kitchen table, booked the basement of a local church, made simple flyers, and took turns knocking on doors. Outreach was the hardest part. Some people were skeptical or exhausted, but listening to their stories helped shape the meeting itself. We were committed to bringing our neighbours together to identify the root cause of the issues in our community.
When the day came, more people showed up than we expected. They spoke honestly about rent increases and uncertainty, and many stayed to exchange numbers and plan next steps. It wasn’t dramatic, but it felt solid. I learned that building community is slow work that depends on trust and consistency. We still have a long way to go, but our neighbourhood meetings are growing, one conversation at a time.
