Bravely Connected

I had the pleasure of interviewing Ken Lima-Coelho, CEO of Big Brothers/Big Sisters in Calgary. When someone asked him how to create community, he came up with the Seven Up Strategy—a framework for fostering strong, engaged communities. These seven steps provide a roadmap for meaningful involvement and lasting impact: Here’s the steps if your building community in your neighbourhood, school, workplace, or organization.

1. Be Up—Understand Your Community’s Needs

Successful community building starts with awareness. What are the key challenges in your neighborhood? Where are the gaps in support? By staying informed, you can identify where your efforts will be most valuable.

2. Stay Up—Pay Attention to What Keeps You Up at Night

Passion fuels sustainable engagement. What issues resonate deeply with you? Whether it’s youth mentorship, food security, or mental health, focusing on causes that personally matter ensures long-term commitment.

3. Show Up—Support Existing Efforts

You don’t have to start from scratch. Many organizations already do incredible work. Find ways to contribute—volunteer, donate, or simply spread the word. As Ken emphasizes, we must keep feeding the goat—sustaining momentum requires continuous effort.

4. Screw Up—Learn from Mistakes

Not every initiative will go as planned, and that’s okay. Failure is part of growth. Reflecting on challenges and adapting strategies leads to stronger, more resilient efforts.

5. Measure Up—Track Your Impact

Community work should be intentional and effective. Are your efforts making a difference? Whether through formal data collection or personal testimonials, evaluating impact helps refine strategies and celebrate progress.

6. Re-Up—Check If This Still Fuels You

Regularly reassess your involvement. Does your contribution still align with your passions and priorities? If not, it might be time to shift focus or invite others to step in.

7. Speak Up—Tell Your Story

Sharing experiences inspires others to get involved. Whether through social media, community meetings, or casual conversations, raising awareness about the importance of engagement creates a ripple effect.

Belonging Creates Resilience

Belonging creates resilience has been my 25 year work. In a world filled with challenges, fostering a sense of connection is not just beneficial—it’s essential for our survival as a community and as a species. Humans are inherently social beings, thriving when we work together rather than in isolation.

Many volunteers share a surprising sentiment: they feel like they receive more than they give. That’s the beauty of community engagement—it’s a cycle of giving and receiving that strengthens everyone involved. It demonstrates to young people that investing in others leads to personal growth and a stronger, more resilient society.

Small Actions, Big Impact

Building a strong community doesn’t always require grand gestures. As Ken pointed out, it can be as simple as checking in on a neighbor, offering a kind word, or lending a hand where needed. These small, unseen acts of kindness won’t make headlines, but they can make all the difference in someone’s life.

Everyone has unique gifts to share. Whether it’s time, skills, or simply a listening ear, using those gifts to uplift others creates ripples of positive change. We all have a role to play in strengthening our communities, and it starts with a single step.

Let’s keep building community—together.

Watch the Interview and become the community change maker you were born to be! Watch by clicking here

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I’m on a mission to create bravely connected communities. I am dedicated to this mission because connection heals, community uplifts, and belonging transforms. When we foster real relationships, we break the cycles of addiction, poverty, and isolation—building a world where everyone feels seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.

The opposite of addiction is connection.

The opposite of poverty is community.

The opposite of isolation is belonging.

If you want to join me on this mission for YOUR community or school, let me know! Connie@conniejakab.com