Rivertowne Social Development Coordinator

It read, in part, as follows: "Unlike other revitalization projects, the physical redevelopment of Rivertowne was not accompanied by a community-driven Social Development Plan. As a result, Rivertowne has not experienced the same level of consistent, targeted social support as other revitalization communities. While there have been a number of disconnected interventions offered within the community, a coordinated and resourced approach was lacking. In response, the City and TCHC initiated the Rivertowne Project Management Team (PMT), which includes staff from Social Development, Finance and Administration, Toronto Public Health, Toronto Employment and Social Services, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, Toronto Community Housing, Toronto Police Services (TPS) and Ralph Thornton Community Centre. The PMT is composed of frontline City and agency staff that provide direct program and service support. The purpose of the PMT is to lead, strategize and problem-solve in a coordinated manner that maximizes existing resources and identifies collaborative opportunities." While the PMT made some progress it has become increasingly clear that having a dedicated Community and Social Development Coordinator to provide the leadership and coordination required to deliver on the community needs assessment, to refine a social development plan, to maximize the resources and expertise of the partner organizations currently working in Rivertowne, and to identify potential new partners is urgently required to address the ongoing issues and to strengthen the social inclusion and cohesion. Residents in Rivertowne have once again experienced more instances of gun violence. This has once again underscored the need for robust and responsive support systems and a clear need for a more coordinated approach.