Webinar agenda Parks to Farms: Urban Migration and Community - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Webinar agenda

Parks to Farms: Urban Migration and Community Development in Tower Hamlets and Thorncliffe Park

1) Presentation by Sabina Ali, Chair, Thorncliffe Park Women’s Committee (Toronto, Canada) 2) Presentation by Mhairi Weir, Manager, Spitalfields City Farm (London, United Kingdom) 3) Q&A moderated by Kim Turner, Cities of Migration, Global Diversity Exchange (Toronto, Canada) This webinar is a live event in the Arrival City edition of the City Builder Book Club, and co-hosted by Cities of Migration and the Centre for City Ecology.

Webinar recording will be available on the website: www.citiesofmigration.ca

Thorncliffe Park Women’s Committee

Revitalizing Public Green Spaces Sabina Ali January 29, 2015

Thorncliffe Park,Toronto, Canada

 Thorncliffe Park is a remarkable neighbourhood, geographically distinct

and culturally diverse in central east Toronto.



It is the landing mat for immigrants from all over with a high concentration from South Asian countries



It also includes a little percentage of Phillipinos, Latin Americans, Arabs, Africans, Chinese and Hungarians.

 In this 2.2square km community live over 30,000 people, 68% of whom

are immigrants, 20% of whom are recent arrivals, and 37% are low- income families.

 Striking is that 91% of this community are renters,

all apartment dwellers in high and low rise buildings, and 26% of the community are under the age of 14, significantly more than the Toronto average and has increased by 40% in the last decade, resulting in the first kindergarten only elementary school opening this September with over 600 children

Thorncliffe Park Women’s Committee Vision

 To transform the public space into a place that

builds and enriches the community and the neighbourhood

 To engage the newcomers in Canada with their

new community, encourage them to take responsibility for their public spaces and strengthen their commitment to the neighbourhood.

Revitalizing Public Green Space: Community Programming

 Arts in the Park  Community Garden  Friday night bazaars  Ravine walks in the valley

Local Markets, Local Business Incubation

 Tandoor Oven in the Park  Tandoori Bites  Night Eid Bazaars  Seasonal Community Market in Thorncliffe &

Flemingdon

 Flavours of Thorncliffe-Catering services

Success: Vendor Incubator Program

 Opportunities for the vendors outside

Thorncliffe Park in different Farmers Market

Success: RV Burgess Park Developments

 New sod  Installation of the playground equipment from

Leaside park

 Swings  Splash pad renovation  Benches and picnic tables  Garbage and Recycle bins  Bike rack  Lights and the power outlet  Permanent Tandoor oven

Challenges and Successes

 Thorncliffe Park Women’s Committee’s success

is facilitated by strong partnerships: City of Toronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation Dept, Toronto Food Strategy, Jenner Jean-Marie Recreation Centre, Food Share, Evergreen Brickworks, Summerhill Group, Red Tree Artist Collective, Park People, Earth Box , CELOS, Toronto Green Community, TRCA ,Lost Rivers

 We exemplify the power of partnerships to

create and maintain urban parks that build community and make our cities sustainable and vibrant

Learning Takeaways and Lessons

 Feel the sense of belonging to a place where you live  Have a passion to give back to the community  Create a sense of pride to the community  Work with like minded people who has the common

vision

 Start small and lay a strong foundation  Build on the foundation  Documentation of our park market model

will be a resource to the other park users

 Our Park consultants will be available to

provide advocacy around this park model

Thank you!

Contact: Sabina Ali Thorncliffe Park Women's Committee sali@tpwomenscomm.org http://www.tpwomenscomm.org

Coriander Club Spitalfields City Farm

Mhairi Weir, Manager, Spitalfields City Farm (Tower Hamlets, London, United Kingdom) Janaury 29, 2015

Tower Hamlets, London, UK

• Spitalfields City Farm situated in Towe

wer r Hamlets, lets, bor

• roug
• ugh

h in Lond ndon,

• n, United

ed Kingd gdom

• m
• London is a city that has been built on migration and diversity
• Tower Hamlets

– Large ethnic community – history of different settlements – French, Jewish and now Bangladeshi but moving towards “Trendy-Young- Vintage” – highest levels of childhood obesity and child poverty – second highest unemployment rate in London along with long term illness and premature death, – Disparity of wealth in the borough, with one in two children growing up in living in poverty.

Spitalfields City Farm

• The London Health commission have

recently published their aspirations for “Better Health for London”. One of their aims is to “Get London fitter with better food, more exercise and healthier living”

• Spitalfields City Farm is a community

space that inspires and that everyone can enjoy.

• The

Farm shares a wealth

• f

knowledge, skills and experience about growing food locally gained over 38 years of operation in East London. The Farm is a diverse space, providing a range

• f

different micro- environments and opportunities to try

• ut a variety of growing techniques.

Coriander Club

Lutfun Hussain, Coriander Club leader and founder: “Spitalfields City Farm provides an ideal space for creativity and a holistic approach to sustainability. As a London Leader I will work with the Coriander Club in creating a 'Spitalfields Green Quarter', taking the holistic aspirations of the City Farm out to the community. Working with more partners and sharing knowledge I will work to demonstrate and encourage inner city sustainable living."

Coriander Club: Gardening with a Community Focus

• Range of activities and our strength is also in our strong community

focus and encouraging service users initiatives – from Volunteer Feasts to running a Sunday Market

• Coriander Club – by far biggest single success – safe place for

Bengali ladies to come to – enjoy the space and being able to grow and share the produce

• Not without its challenges as within the Bengali community there are

racial issues regarding the caste system – Sylheti and Bengali people

• Lutfun Hussain a great ambassador for encouraging interest and

showcasing Bengali vegetables – hand pollinates the plants

Challenges and Opportunities

• Lack of Green Spaces and density of population
• Poor health- high youth unemployment- highest rate of premature

deaths amongst the Bengali community

• However, with all of this it is also a very vibrant exciting area to live

and work in

• There is a strong sense of community amongst the different groups

and people will come together within the confines of the the Farm

• The use of Space – we are all just custodians of spaces and the

Farm space is one that is shared and enjoyed by many

• Sharing – does this really happen?

Building Sense of Belonging

• Everyone is welcomed, safe and has

the ability to enjoy the space

• Be careful of “Super Reps” – same “old”

faces and those with the loudest voices not always the ones that are truly representative of a community

• Staff team and Volunteers working

together, different groups using the site from vulnerable adults to school groups to families coming for a day trip

• Be accepting of the fact that NOTHING

ever goes to plan

Lessons learned

• Challenges – there are plenty
• Rewards – there are even more
• Be willing and able to adapt and be aware that people can be very

suspicious of change

• Be open and honest – do not promise the moon
• Financial Sustainability, Empowerment, Social Cohesion and all
• ther buzzwords-jargon – be careful when you use this
• Finances and the constant battle to keep going
• Policies,procedures, health and safety – all crucial

Ingredients for Success

Deep Fried Friendliness Give it time to mix Willingness Soup Fresh local context Amend menu daily if it gets stale

Contact us

Visit us soon!

Mhairi Weir, Spitalfields City Farm Buxton Street London E1 5AR , Tel: 020 7247 8762 mhairi@spitalfieldscityfarm.org

Acknowledgments

Parks to Farms: Urban Migration and Community Development in Tower Hamlets and Thorncliffe Park

www.citiesofmigration.ca

• Sabina Ali, Thorncliffe Park Women’s Committee

(Toronto, Canada)

• Mhairi Weir, Spitalfields City Farm (London, United

Kingdom)

• Kim Turner, Cities of Migration, Global Diversity

Exchange (Toronto, Canada)

• Annabel Vaughan, Centre for City Ecology (Toronto,

Canada)