Community Gatherings
CDLI gathers like-Minded Community people together!
Here at CDLI, we bring community together to share, connect and reflect on our collective experiences of community. These gatherings are an opportunity for people to have dialogue on a particular topic, issue or community initiative.
What to expect?
We encourage open conversation, curiosity and care at each and every gathering. A CDLI gathering can take many forms from a community roundtable conversation where a panel of community champions share their experience on a theme or issue. Sometimes a gathering can be a facilitated experience where all participants leave with a new skill, a resource or actionable steps toward a stronger community . The gatherings are often informed by the network, what is of interest, a hot topic or issue that is effecting the ongoing work of community development.
Most CDLI gatherings consist of 15-20 people, we believe that the right people are the right people no matter how many - it’s about presence. We gather on Zoom or in-person.
If you have ideas for Meet Up topics for 2025 and some time to work with us to host them email us!
In addition to frequent gatherings we bring convene community in other ways
Monthly events:
Community Development Practitioner Gathering
Anti-Racism and Decolonization Learning & Action Team
Growing Our ABCD Practice
Annual events:
Big Meet Up and Mini-Summit
Thanks for joining us at the 10th Anniversary Big meet Up in 2023!
Big Meet Up - Big Celebration
Find a recap and reflection of CDLI’s Big Meet Up Big Anniversary celebration here.
Interested to learn about the 2024 Big Meet Up?
happy meet up faces!
“Meet Ups give me a chance to hear from others about creative community initiatives happening in other areas of the city. I appreciate how we share stories, information about resources, and what we have learned. I have met many inspiring people that I would never have met otherwise!”
What is Community Development in Calgary in 2025?
We wish you were there with us to work through this important question.
Take a look at what our network said and walk through an exercise to see what comes next.
Reflections on the CDLI Big Meet Up Big Anniversary event on November 18th and re-imagined Vision and Mission
Join CDLI for our Meet Up on Practicing Sustainability taking place on Thursday, April 27, 2023 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association (1320 5 Avenue NW).
On Tuesday, March 28 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. we’ll be hosting a roundtable showcasing Community Development in Action for our March Meet Up! Find out more about our Roundtable guests here.
This year marks 10 years since the Community Development Learning Initiative came into existence here in Calgary! We're collecting your stories about your experiences with CDLI to help re-ground ourselves in our purpose.
In early December we brought together some of the people who have been a big part of CDLI’s journey. We asked people to share something they are celebrating from their community efforts right now, and here are some of the things we heard.
On Wednesday, August 31, 2022 CDLI hosted a Meet Up around the question of “Exploring the Value of Community-Led Economies”. Access the recording and see some reflections from Amanda in this post.
Check out the harvest from the August ABCD Learning and Action Team gathering! We share some ideas and some reflections on what it means to connect with our communities.
community Development Practitioner Gatherings
CDLI hosts monthly Open Space-style conversations for Community Development Practitioners to come together with their peers and discuss the topics, questions, opportunities, or challenges most top of mind for them at the time.
Topics can be submitted through Eventbrite or by emailing us at cdli@caryacalgary.ca.
Who is a Community Development Practitioner?
Anyone who works in community (paid or unpaid, volunteer with an organization or in a group of neighbours big or small) to welcome people and come together to take collective action for common good.
Can’t attend the next date but want to be reminded when one is upcoming? Send a quick note to be added to CDLI’s CD Practitioner mailing list, send a quick note to cdli@caryacalgary.ca!
Next CD Practitioner Gathering
Date: Wednesday, July 8
Time: 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Where: Zoom
Register today
Save the Dates for 2026
in the bottom of the graphic to the right
What is Community Development in Calgary in 2025?
We wish you were there with us to work through this important question.
Take a look at what our network said and walk through an exercise to see what comes next.
On Wednesday, September 13th we hosted our ninth gathering for community development practitioners of 2023.
“I am so grateful to be included in this group and always take away ideas that I can put into practice”
“I appreciate the chance to build relationships.... online platforms allow for meaningful connections I wouldn’t be able to make otherwise.”
