Nurturing Inclusive Urban Futures: Valuing the Contributions of Community Organizations in Ontario Cities
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Authors
Nelson, Elizabeth E.
Date
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
community organizations , community development , critical praxis-oriented research , care , knowledge mobilization , qualitative methods
Alternative Title
Abstract
This dissertation investigates the experiences of community organizations in three Ontario cities— Cornwall, Kingston, and Ottawa—as they grapple with building municipal relationships and navigating community development processes in their cities. Community organizations, informal collectives formed around shared identity or goals, play a vital role in contributing to the liveliness and wellbeing of urban communities. Regardless of their varied socio-spatial contexts and mandates, which include community support, activism, inclusion, arts, and heritage activities, these organizations often extend their efforts to fulfill essential care work for their communities and address service deficiencies for underserved populations. Yet, they are frequently underrecognized and unsupported by municipalities, who do not understand or value their contributions. Community organizations encounter significant logistical, spatial, financial, and operational challenges that place their communities and those they support in positions of precarity. These issues stem from structural oppression embedded within neoliberal paradigms and urban power systems. These systems of oppression limit municipalities’ purported attempts to engage in equitable, diverse, and inclusive community development practices. The findings of this dissertation are grounded in a range of voices, centering the geographical imaginations and experiences of participants through various research communication strategies. In line with the principles of critical praxis-oriented research, this study engages in responsive knowledge mobilization through the creation of alternative research communication formats including zine work and report creation, being attentive to the audiences that research might benefit. This approach ensures that the research not only contributes to academic discourse but has practical implications for the communities it studies. It considers the potential value of these findings for municipalities striving to create more inclusive communities and brings forward the importance of recognizing and addressing the challenges faced by community organizations in their efforts to engage in care work and create a sense of place and belonging in their cities.