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Respect and connect, a virtual conversation

Organizations launch anti-stigma series entitled Respect and Connect: A better community for us all
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Ryan Dowd

A Community’s Guide to Homelessness will be presented virtually on Dec. 10.

Amid a growing housing crisis, West Kootenay communities are faced with an increasing number of people who are without homes and may also struggle with mental illness, substance use, or other issues.

To help people address concerns that may arise, a group of local organizations is launching an educational series, as part of a broader anti-stigma effort entitled Respect and Connect: A better community for us all.

“Stigma – negative attitudes or beliefs about people because of who they are, what they do, or their circumstances in life – can be extremely dangerous,” said Diana Daghofer, member of the Trail Community Action Team. “It prevents people from accessing vital services like work, housing, health care and even shopping for essentials.”

On Dec. 10, the public is invited to participate in A Community’s Guide to Homelessness, created by Ryan Dowd, the executive director of a large homeless shelter in Chicago and author of the book The Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness: An Empathy-Driven approach to Solving Problems, Preventing Conflict and Serving Everyone.

Samantha Murphy, director of the Trail and District Public Library, brought the idea to a number of community partners after participating in Dowd’s workshop herself a year ago.

“Ryan’s advice is so practical and helpful, it has helped us significantly reduce conflict at the library,” said Murphy. “I highly recommend it for anyone working with the public.”

In this first offering of the educational series, Dowd explains how empathy enhances our ability to resolve or avoid conflict and gives people the tools to confidently and compassionately solve problem behavior for everyone’s benefit.

He delves into the psychology of social interactions like reciprocity and building relationships and demonstrates their use through common scenarios. This captivating workshop will offer insight into the lives of people living without a home and provide specific tools to improve community interactions.

“Our communities are full of caring people, but some may be feeling stressed or anxious by how our communities are changing,” said Nadine Tremblay, executive director of the Trail Arts Council. “A better community for us all will provide people with the insight and tools to better communicate with unhoused people.”

A Community’s Guide to Homelessness will be presented virtually from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 10.

The presentation is FREE of charge and will be available on-line from any location.

To register, go to https://selkirk.ca/respect-and-connect.

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