Building Bridges in the Community

by Lee

LiveinStrathcona is a community portal that has just recently gone live.

Today I spent a number of hours walking through Chinatown and Strathcona visiting various associations, businesses, and other organizations that serve the community. My goal was to promote the site and demonstrate how they can utilize the community portal to promote, educate, inform, and so on. This is the purpose of community portals; it is for everyone in the community.

It is intriguing that some are so resistant and others are so excited. "Why the extreme differences in people's responses?" I wondered.

Based on what I experience as I speak with many people, I sense that some know how to take advantage of things that are offered. Others however, have a social conscience or perspective that rebels against business ethics and mores. I find this puzzling however.

As I walked through the region it became glaringly apparent that many businesses and successful business people have built the community, created associations and societies that benefit and serve the community, donated spaces, and a whole host of anonymous donations. And ironically, listening to a stance against business, I observe an individual enjoying a sandwich and coffee sitting outside a business establishment.

It just goes to show, that in spite of our obstinacy for certain things - me included - that we still partake in what society and business offers us. Things that put clothes on our back, food in our bellies, and roofs over our heads. What I'm trying to say is that even when business may stand to gain by what they give, those who receive can use what is given to their benefit and could gain even more.

Then there is the other seemingly inexplicable side, the business that stands to gain by using the community portal. Visiting one such place today, a business association, there seemed to be a cynical attitude that didn't really want to hear, let alone participate, in what was being offered.

"This is free and costs you nothing. You can use it to promote the association to local area businesses and residents. It is about sharing information and building bridges into the community," is what I was saying.

I know how valuable I would find such a site. I remember the first time I moved into a neighborhood and found it difficult to learn what was going on and where things were. I find it even funnier when I come up to my favorite coffee shop and discover something major is happening in the neighborhood and I scratch my head puzzled that I never heard about it in advance.

Building bridges, all aspects of society and life are presented. Use the community portal to create your own, add a coat of paint, or take a walk on a bridge created by another.

The good news, setting my curious observations aside, is that the majority of people I have spoken to are excited about what is available. Keep watching and get involved.