GROW – Social Participation

Generating Rural Opportunities and Wellbeing: GROW – Social Participation

Learning, Leading and Growing Together

About the Project

With StFX University serving as a backbone organization, we are working alongside community partners to make Northeastern Nova Scotia a more inclusive place for people aged 55+ who face accessibility barriers. The GROW – Social Participation collective impact initiative uses a networked approach to bring together local organizations, municipalities, and community partners with university‑based educators, researchers, and students. Together, we are strengthening the social participation, health, and well‑being of aging adults with disabilities through coordinated, community‑driven collective action.

The GROW – Social Participation network uses a collective impact approach. This means we work together with many partners toward one shared goal: aging adults (55+) in Northeastern Nova Scotia feel included, connected, and well. 

We do this together by:

• Building strong partnerships so seniors have more chances to join community life.
• Helping organizations improve their tools and policies so they can welcome and support volunteers.
• Creating ways for aging adults to share their knowledge, skills, and life experience.
• Supporting volunteering, mentoring, and leadership for aging adults.
• Helping different ages and cultures learn from each other.
• Making simple tools and resources that anyone can use to help build more welcoming and inclusive communities.

In a collective impact approach, everyone works together, shares what they know, and makes change happen.

Why it Matters

Many aging adults face barriers that make it hard to take part in community life, such as transportation, income, and social isolation. We want to remove those barriers and create more chances for people to connect and feel included. 

Our work focuses on rural communities and age-friendly universities. We start with lived experiences and local knowledge, using place-based approaches to make sure rural voices are heard. Students learn by working alongside community members, helping to share StFX research beyond campus and into rural communities. Together, we build a common agenda and shared language, guided by a participatory governance structure and evaluation framework. This means everyone has a voice in planning and decision-making. We also create accessible research and education opportunities that strengthen rural equity. 

Whether you’re a student, educator, researcher, volunteer, organization, or community member, you can help. By working together, we can build stronger, more inclusive communities where everyone belongs.

Acknowledgement: GROW-SP is made possible by funding from the Government of Canada through the New Horizons for Seniors Program, Pan-Canadian Stream and St. Francis Xavier University.

Contact Us:
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