Hear to There

Community Conversations for COVID-19 Recovery

2 min read

The Challenge

The pandemic exposed and exacerbated long-standing health inequalities as a result of structural issues for many residents in the most impacted communities. These communities need safe spaces to share their experiences and talk about the supports that would be most helpful in their recovery.

The Why

Stories are powerful and the narratives we tell shape our ideas about what is important to us and what needs to change. Stories from the past, shape our expectations today about “what is fair and for whom”. These collective stories have the ability to limit us or liberate us.

New narratives can set us down a path to healing, better cooperation, and ultimately better health and wellbeing. Reflecting on what people have come through, or what they are still going through - is a critical step to imagining a fair recovery for everyone. As we focus on pandemic recovery - now is the time to listen. Stories can be the foundation for recovery and renewal. The stories people tell will paint a picture of the legacy of the pandemic, helping us to learn from and not repeat our mistakes and they amplify the triumphs of communities rising to meet the challenge.

“It’s a moment in time [that] people are experiencing together. It is a space for compassion and generosity, and recognition that everyone needs and deserves opportunities for healing”

The Approach

‘Hear to There’ is a community recovery initiative co-designed with community ambassadors across the Greater Toronto Area and Emergence Creative. Following this, we have scaled the project with different community partners, refining and improving along the way.

The Outcome

With input from our first round of participants, we have developed a modular handbook to provide a guide on how to host safe, welcoming and judgment-free conversations where people feel comfortable and free to share how they really feel. Each of us has a story to share. ‘Hear to There’ is a story-telling platform that aims to capture these stories, in order to heal, reflect and learn from them.

The Vision

Communities across the province will host their own conversations, reflecting place, community and local priorities

Tools provided will continue to be refined to support self initiated conversations that can happen through formal organizations, or informal gatherings, hosted by volunteers or friends as a place for healing and renewal
New movements that are sparked are shared through the network - as a demonstration of the power of community in determining its own path to recovery
Stories that come forward can be amplified through the network and become a source of information and inspiration

“We wanted to get a better understanding of our community members because our centre opened during the pandemic. We wanted to understand how our centre can support people through their challenges.”

Call to Action

'Hear to There' is flexible and adaptable. The emphasis is on creating a safe and inviting space for people to come and share their experiences and stories. Health Commons can work with you to tailor the 'Hear to There' training to your specific needs and the populations you aim to have community conversations with.

Modules

Tools

Banner credit: Emergence Creative