Muhammad Bilal Raza

Muhammad worked with the Tamarack Institute to support their ongoing “Cities Deepening Community” work, which centres asset–based community development, loneliness, and community resilience.

Community Engagement Initiative 

Muhammad traveled to London ON, to attend Tamaracks “Celebrating Neighbours – Measuring the Impact of ABCD” conference and connect with leaders in the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) sphere to understand how they foster community. He then interviewed 15+ international students and academic experts seeking to hear their community building experiences. Read his report “Asset-Based Community Development as Perceived by Community Members” to learn more.

Report

Making Community Essential: Seven Areas of Impacts for Communities and the Policy Shifts to Get There

This report details the workings of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) from the lens of impact areas such as Community Health, Community Safety, and a sense of belonging. A particular focus is placed on making Community Development equitable through the inclusion of newcomers to Canada in the conversation surrounding ABCD. The report uses language to democratize academia in the effort to make this an accessible community resource. The main findings of the report look at increasing participation of vulnerable communities in the process of social connectedness as well as increasing outreach. The key goal of this report is to analyze best practices for ABCD. This discourse is explored through the lens of lived experiences as well as interviews with experts and other community members. This report also serves as a lens to view community development and social connectedness practices in the Canadian status quo.

Read Muhammad’s blog: Crossroads of Culture: Understanding an Integrated Approach to Building Community with & led by Newcomers to Canada

Bio

Muhammad Bilal Raza (he/him) is a final year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto. He is majoring in Economics and Public Policy with a focus on data analytics. He is passionate about intersectional and representative policy change that is rooted in equity, fairness and sustainability. His interests include South Asian poetry, Sufi music and hiking. In the future he hopes to work in the field of policy change. 

Keywords

Community, Immigrant, Newcomer to Canada, Asset-Based Community Development, Social Connectedness, Belonging, Democratize Academia, Policy, Equity, Inclusion