Building Leadership in Rural Quebec Project Toolkit
- A practical resource for groups, organizations, and communities implementing projects in isolated minority language communities -
Welcome! This toolkit was created following an inspiring pilot project in which twenty-five young women - across three different rural English-speaking communities in Quebec - made a difference in their communities. At the same time, they developed their leadership skills, revitalized relationships, learned how to effect change and mobilize others, enhanced their networks, and developed confidence in themselves and each other. This toolkit contains our stories, successes, and lessons learned. It also contains samples and copies of reports, funding applications, press releases, and other tools that we hope will be useful to you in your community and leadership development efforts.
Of course, the pilot project this toolkit was based upon, and the toolkit itself, would not have been possible without dynamic and enthusiastic collaboration of the QCGN's multiple partners. We would like to extend our gratitude and recognition to Peter MacGibbon and the Carleton Centre for Community Innovation (3ci), Paule Langevin and the Community Learning Centres (CLC) Network, consultants Lise Palmer and Brenda Rooney, Heather Stronach of the Regional Association of West Quebercers (RAWQ), Michelle Gagnon of the CLC St-John's, Maria Chatterton and Cathy Brown of the Committee for Anglophone Social Action (CASA), and Ana Osborne, Melody Strickland, and Marie Anderson of the CLC Netagamiou. The QCGN is also extending its appreciation to Status of Women Canada for providing the funding that made this project possible. (See pictures of regional partners at the bottom of this page.)
The Toolkit
Workshop 1: Writing a proposal and budgeting basics
This workshop introduces proposal writing, including how to create a basic budget, pla out a project, and write it in a cohesive and clear document that one can present to funders and partners. It also shows why a good proposal is a fundamental part of your project, and how these skills are transferable. More details are available in the appendix.
Workshop 2: Presenting to a board
Following on the last, this workshop shows you how to present your proposal to a board of directors, potential funder, community partner, or other audience. It includes the process of creating speaking notes for your presentation and using Powerpoint effectively.
Workshop 3: Community Engagement
Focusing on methods for small, rural communities, this workshop provides concrete tools and strategies for getting community support, engagement, obtaining resources and in-kind contributions, and explores what ''community outreach'' really means.
3.1 Press Release Sample
3.2 Community Flyer Sample
3.3 Agenda Sample
Workshop 4: Publicity
Participants learn how to create a publicity plan with a timeline, and gain skills for creating publicity tools including press releases, advertisements, posters, and using radion and online methods.
4.1 PowerPoint Presentation
Workshop 5: Progress Reports
This workshop explores ways assess the strengths and challenges or your approach, and how to improve it. This information is then synthesized into a progress report that can be submitted to the person or organization overseeing your work.
5.1 Powerpoint Presentation
5.2 Progress Report Sample
Workshop 6: Running effective meetings and troubleshooting in groups
With an introduction to group dynamics, this workshop helps those working with others to improve their effectiveness as a group. It includes effective meetings basics, dealing with conflict as as normal and healthy part of working in groups, identifying strengths and challenges, and implementing positive changes.
6.1 Powerpoint Presentation
Workshop 7: Exploring Leadership
This workshop provides some different ideas about the concept of leadership, how leadership can be shared, and the impact of different dicision-making styles. An exploratory space is provided for participants to share and reflect with each other.
7.1 Powerpoint Presentation
Workshop 8: Event Planning
The challenges of event planning are reviewed, and participants are provided with strategies for overcoming them. This workshop shows how to create an event plan, including a schedule with individual responsibilities for clarity when planning as a group. In the context of planning a community celebration, some methods of promoting what you have done are discussed.
8.1 Concert event planning plan Sample
8.2 MayDay Event Plan Sample
8.3 Drawing Project Key Messages
8.4 Drawing a Worksheet Plan
8.5 Drawing a Crew Job Sheet
Workshop 9: Project Evaluation and Wrap-up
How do you assess your project and disseminate the results of your work? This project looks at aspects of wrapping up projects, including final reports, assessment, sustainability, dissemination... and celebration!
9.1 Powerpoint Presentation: Developing an Evaluation Plan
9.2 Evalutation Tables Sample
9.3 Tools and Checklists
Appendix
This document is the appendix to the document Building Leadership in Rural Quebec Toolkit, providing concrete samples to assist those working in community development. For more information about this initiative, or for contact information, please see the Toolkit document.
Pictures
Thanks to all participants from Gaspe, Outaouais and the Lower North Shore region who have worked in a collaborative and creative way to make this project possible in their linguistic minority communities and other rural communities who will learn from this experience.
(Above) Participants from the Gaspé region.
(Above) Participants from the Outaouais/Pontiac region.
|