Building Social Capital Through Bartering, Learning and Relationships

by Jennifer DeCoste

Maureen bustles around her kitchen, boiling water for tea and looking around for the sugar bowl. She has already laid out 20 mugs but decides at the last minute to pull 10 more out of the basement. It still isn’t quite enough but they’ll make do. She has never been formally trained in the practice of community development, but you won’t find a more natural community leader than Maureen.

Young mothers arrive with babies in their arms, older couples arrive together. Farmers are bringing boxes of cheese, soap, and preserves. Three women settle into the living room and pull out their knitting projects, admiring each other’s patterns and progress. Two young men are in the corner talking about homebrew and their recent attempts at making sauerkraut. Maureen greets the people she knows but spends more time with those who are strangers – the brave new faces who are joining in because they are curious about this gathering. She knows that building community requires an act of hosting – creating a sense of welcome and connection that will keep people coming back.

Municipalities, provincial, and federal departments are all looking for ways to authentically engage in community – Maureen is already doing it.