Pathways to Resilience III: Beyond Nature vs. Nurture

Resilience in Rural Settings:

Abstract #72
An Asset-based Project to Enhance Community Wellness in a Rural Setting
Presenter: Debbie Brennick Co - Presenters: Claudette Taylor, Willena Nemeth
Abstract:
The “Asset Headquarters” project was an intergenerational community-based initiative in four rural towns in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.  The initiative was grounded on the foundation of developmental assets with a goal to enhance capacity of youth by providing physical and human resources in four local communities. The project was intended to enhance, rather than duplicate, good work already being done in local communities.  Natural asset builders with an interest in capacity building in youth were sought to form intergenerational teams in each of the four communities.  The teams consisted of youth and adults with facilitators familiar with the asset development philosophy.  The teams met weekly and created goals and outcomes they wanted to achieve e.g. community garden, creative art displayed in the community.  Over a period of six months the teams worked toward reaching their goals.  Some teams remain together today and feedback from both adults and youth have been extremely positive.

Abstract #243
Sport For Resilience: Fostering Rural Youth Resilience Through Participation In Non-Therapy Equine-Based Activity
Presenter: Heather Sansom Co - Presenters: Harry Cummings, Leah Levac
Abstract:
Rural communities in Canada are changing. These changes include widening socioeconomic gaps amongst community members, and degraded infrastructure. Normative adversity associated with youth transition to adulthood is magnified in rural areas, where community-level changes are creating ecological conditions that can adversely affect youth. This leads to need for youth programming that is pro-actively inclusive of resilience needs.