Local Safety & Inclusion Solidarity Networks - A Model for Addressing Structural Marginalization

This is comprised of multiple areas, including: the types of issues addressed, the project design and the key participants, examples of community-based solidarity initiatives, the key components of the community-cased approach and the challenges to community-based work. [...] The importance of engaging a local coordinator – Rather than the work being managed and organized offsite, the role a coordinator from the local community was seen as important in driving the work,51 because of their shared investment in the needs of the community, knowledge of local issues and rapport with community members. [...] in their examination of the planning process for a local to national project addressing the issue of homelessness for people living with psychosocial disabilities, stated the importance of a shared vision and values which also leads to community ownership of an intervention: “Developing a shared vision, values, and principles is the foundation for planning. [...] Focusing on our strengths, all the things that we have to offer as a group and finding unity within that strength and within that story.” Related to the idea of strength in numbers is that when marginalized communities come together, it helps them to be “seen”, raise the profile of their needs and gives value to their communities: You know at the root to hold the government accountable to looking. [...] Participants in the survey and focus groups supported specific characteristics of the structure of local to national work that goes into supporting LSISNs, including: a local agency to provide institutional support; a local coordinator with strong community networks; and the importance of a national framework to synthesize and share learnings from across the country.