By Daranne Harris
I’m curious by nature. I appreciate hearing about the experiences and perspectives of others. Such opportunities are like fuel for my mind and help affirm, refine, or rethink my own points of view and how I move in the world. It’s why I like autobiographies and really miss sharing in-person coffee and conversation at a local café.
As we engage in the work of Calgary on Purpose, seeking a renewed civic narrative in which all citizens can see hope and opportunity for an inclusive and prosperous city, we too are interested in the experiences and perspectives. We want to hear from Calgarians, and we also know that there are people in other places whom we might learn from as well.
Recently, some of us shared a conversation about culture as a mechanism for social change and civic engagement with Bob Palmer, former Director of Culture and Cultural and Natural Heritage at Council of Europe. From this scope of practice and his experiences leading the European Capital of Culture projects in Brussels and Glasgow, he shared three key takeaways that might inform our endeavours:
1) A city needs to genuinely embrace difference if it is to go forward. Co-creating with voices that are different from yours takes humility, sensitivity, truthfulness, and honesty. There needs to be room for and inclusion of dissenting voices.
This resonates with me because I witness the polarity that exists in our city and I wonder about the possibilities if we could bring this energy together. I’m curious how we foster a commitment to the humility, sensitivity, truthfulness, and honesty that would make this possible.
2) Hold multiple stories together. Discover what is common and what holds groups together. Furthermore, it is important how stories are told and the voices in which they are told.
This has helped me refine some early ideas I had about story. Initially, I had in mind a single, unifying story, one that was big enough to capture the diversity of Calgary’s people and our hopes and dreams. Now, I gravitate toward the imagery suggested by another team member of a braid that wraps together the individual strands of our distinct stories into something more. I’m curious how we will facilitate inclusion and diversity in this crafting of stories.
3) Engage in purposeful action. Too often, we talk and talk about ideas without translating that into action that affects change.
This action piece is where I get excited. I am the kind of person who wants to do something. I see this as two-fold in our current work. The action of catalyzing more courageous conversations will help us to advance the co-creating across difference and holding together multiple stories. The capacity to have courageous conversations and the ideas uncovered and developed through those will also inform further action and policy work. I’m curious how we motivate action among individuals and communities as well as within the broader community and the world that supports the future Calgarians desire.
Finally, my curiosity does not end here. I’m curious; our whole team is curious about your perspectives too. We want to hear from as many people as we can, the people who make up this city. Share your story here.