A new community engagement site for the Kingston-Galloway area was opened on March 23. The site, also known as ‘The Point,’ is located on 4117 Lawrence St. East.
“The Point serves as place for groups to come together and for residents to talk about what the community needs and is looking for,” Councillor Paul Ainslie said, of Ward 43, Scarborough East.
Iain Duncan of Action for Neighbourhood Change explains how residents can benefit from the services offered at The Point.
The Point is to be used as an office, classroom, library and meeting place. Residents, community groups and University of Toronto Scarborough students will have access to the office and its resources. It’s part of the Action for Neighbourhood Change (ANC) initiative that works with residents to improve the conditions of their neighbourhoods.
The Point is a result of the partnership among United Way, Residents Rising and UTSC. The ANC program will give locals an opportunity to voice their concerns and work with organizations on community projects.
Also, the students from UTSC’s city studies program will conduct research on the neighbourhood and volunteer each week with agencies in the area.
“Students will have a placement with a social service agency and then in class they’ll discuss how residents are engaging with the community,” Susannah Bunce said, a city studies professor.
Ainslie said the partnership is an excellent example of residents coming together to change a priority neighbourhood into a vibrant community.