During our Creating My Community workshop, residents of A New Leaf’s affordable housing community were given the opportunity to reflect on what the word community means to them on a personal level. Many of the residents have experienced domestic violence, substance use, systems impact, and mental health challenges.

We encouraged everyone to think beyond the traditional idea of community and consider the people, relationships, experiences, and forms of support that help them feel connected and valued. Residents were invited to express their understanding of community through creativity.

Using a shared poster, they incorporated pictures, meaningful phrases, words, drawings, and personal symbols that represented what community means to them. Each contribution was unique and reflected the individual experiences, hopes, relationships, and perspectives of our residents.

One resident created a drawing of two hands coming together. She shared that the hands symbolized people holding one another as a community. She explained that, in order to truly connect and support one another, we need to “hold each other” and remind one another that we are not alone. Her artwork provided a powerful visual representation of how community can offer strength, connection, encouragement, and support.

Throughout the workshop, residents were able to see how their individual contributions came together to create something meaningful as a group. Creating My Community reminded us that community is not simply a place or a group of people it can be the support we receive, the relationships we build, the encouragement we offer, and the understanding that we do not have to navigate our experiences alone.