Residents across four Kootenay communities will come together later this month to develop local solutions to challenges involving transportation, food and child care.
Community Futures East Kootenay (CFEK) will host its first Regional Social Hackathon on Sept. 26, with events taking place simultaneously in Cranbrook, Golden, Grand Forks and Nelson.
The event is part of CFEK’s Innovate for Impact program and is designed to bring residents, organizations, businesses and community leaders together to develop practical responses to local issues.
“When solutions are shaped by the people who see the challenges in their community every day, they’re more likely to reflect local realities and be successful in the long run,” said CFEK community economic development manager Robyn Peel. “People already hold the knowledge, experience, and relationships needed to address their local challenges. This hackathon creates the space for them to come together and turn ideas into practical concepts.”
Each area has selected a challenge based on its priorities.
Golden participants will focus on transportation, while Cranbrook and the Boundary will explore food-related challenges. Nelson participants will focus on child care.
“What makes this different from a workshop or a panel discussion is that participants aren’t simply discussing community challenges. They’re actively developing ideas, testing possibilities, and building practical responses,” Peel said.
Although participants will meet in person and work on their own community’s priorities, the four locations will connect virtually throughout the day to share ideas and progress.
CFEK said the goal is for participants to finish the event with practical concepts that could be developed into further community initiatives.
Residents, students, non-profit representatives, business owners, municipal representatives and others interested in participating can register through the CFEK website.
CFEK is delivering Innovate for Impact in collaboration with Impact Toolbox, with support from the B.C. government through the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program.
