Community Development at TNO
Our Community Development approach is grounded in equity, sustainability, community leadership, and collective care. We work alongside residents, grassroots groups, and partners to strengthen neighbourhoods, respond to community-identified needs, and create long-term systems change.
Rather than operating in silos, our work is organized across interconnected domains. Each of our current programs contributes to multiple domains, reflecting the reality that community wellbeing is social, environmental, economic, and political all at once.
Across all our programs, we are guided by the following principles:
Community-led : Residents are leaders, decision-makers, and co-creators
Equity-centered : We address systemic barriers and prioritize those most impacted
Place-based : Our work is rooted in neighbourhoods and community hubs
Collaborative : We work across sectors, organizations, and systems
Sustainable : We invest in long-term capacity, skills, and infrastructure
Sustainability & Climate Justice
How this shows up in our work:
Community Reduce & Reuse Programs
Community gardens and urban food growing
Skills-sharing, repair, and circular economy initiatives
Green ambassadors and environmental leadership
Bike Hub
Community bike repair, skills-building, and active transportation
Sewing Hub
Textile reuse, sewing education, and repair
Repair & Connect
Repair cafés and DIY workshops that reduce waste
Community Garden
Local food growing that supports food security and connection
Green Ambassadors
Community leaders advancing climate action and awareness
Community Food Security & Food Sovereignty
We work to ensure communities have dignified access to food while strengthening local food systems and community care.
How this shows up in our work:
TNO Food Collaborative
A community-based food security program supporting households through partnerships, donations, and coordinated distribution
Community Garden
Food grown locally and shared through the Food Collaborative
Green Café
Community-led meals that support volunteers, connection, and local economic activity
Community Capacity Building & Grassroots Support
Asset‑based community development shifts the focus from problems to possibilities, recognizing residents as leaders and communities as places of strength.
Guided by this approach, we strengthen grassroots groups and resident‑led initiatives by building on existing skills, relationships, and local knowledge rather than starting from deficits.
When we invest in community assets—people, relationships, and local knowledge—change becomes sustainable and community‑owned. Our work focuses on creating the conditions for long‑term leadership, shared governance, and organizational resilience within communities.
How this shows up in our work
Trusteeship for Grassroots Groups
Capacity‑building, governance, and financial stewardship
Community Leadership & Mentorship Initiatives
Supporting emerging and established community leaders
Community Engagement & Organizing
A connected community is one where people are linked by relationships, led by residents, grounded in local assets, supported by shared spaces, amplified by participation, and strengthened through collective action
We engage residents through outreach, relationship-building, and collective action, ensuring community voices shape decisions that affect their lives.
How this shows up in our work
Community Engagement
Outreach & Engagement – Schools, neighbourhoods, and hub-based outreach
Community Ambassador Program
Ambassadors supporting connection and access to services
Health & Community Wellbeing
We take a holistic approach to health that recognizes the social, economic, and environmental conditions that shape wellbeing.
How this shows up in our work
Health Ambassadors
Community members supporting access to health information, services, primary care attachment, chronic disease management and and prevention
Community Ambassador Program
Integrating health, outreach, and social support Community Engagement, HINCs, Health Promoters at Health Access Thorncliffe Park
Participatory Democracy & Systems Change
We support residents to participate in decision-making, advocacy, and planning processes that improve living conditions and advance social change.
How this shows up in our work
Programs & Initiatives:
How Our Programs Connect
Our programs are intentionally designed to work across domains. For example:
Green Initiatives support sustainability, food security, economic justice, and community leadership
The Food Collaborative connects food security, health, social connection, and economic development
Trusteeship and capacity-building strengthen grassroots leadership, civic participation, and long-term sustainability
Community Ambassadors bridge engagement, health, climate action, and local employment
This integrated approach allows us to respond to complex community needs while building long-term, community-owned solutions.
Our Commitment
We are committed to growing alongside the communities we serve—learning, adapting, and deepening our impact through trust, collaboration, and shared leadership.
Community development is not a service we deliver; it is a process we build together.
Interested in learning more? Explore our programs, read community stories, or get involved. Reach out to us at klhamo@tno-toronto.org