portrichmondstrong civicassociation’s Post

Successful peacebuilding requires active participation from local leaders, grassroots organizations, and community members, ensuring that solutions are relevant and effective. Not only does this allow local communities to lead and own the programs that impact them, evidence suggests that peacebuilding programs are more successful when they are local. But what makes local peacebuilding work?

Hello All, Let's get real. This project is another masterpiece of Mr. Steven Levene/COO of Metrolinx. The steel span Through Plate Girder over existing Tracks at Newmarket 4.90 Davenport has many structural concerns. Mr. steven leven/(current COO of Metrolinx/ by then VP of RailCiorridor) decided to create a Risk Assessment Team Meeting (on Friday, June 4, 2021 1:30 PM-3:30 PM, ) and chaired this Team meeting. Created +/-35 pages of check marks, and he concluded that: all are good, the Case Closed! The above case was opened by an engineer (Name DELETED] of RailCorridor to begin with. the steel span was a Through Plate Girder, TPG, +/-100 ft long, double track, and amazingly, Direct Fixation. Why Direct Fixation instead of Ballasted Deck? Everyone knows that Direct Fixation will reduce the life-span of the bridge from +100 years to around 30 years. well Metrolinx has the answer!!! Also, the girders have top and bottom flange splices, as well as web splices exactly at the same location: one series on the North side of the span and one series on the south side. the above splices means that the weakest point of the top flange is aligned with the weakest point of the web and aligned with the weakest point of bottom flange, at two separate locations, one on the North side and one on the south side. you do the math!!! If you want more information, please let me know. Also, on September 18th and 19th, 2024, in Louisville, Kentucky, during the Arema Annual Conference, Metrolinx gave a presentation regarding the elevated bridge at Davenport Diamond, Newmarket sub/MX, and New Toronto Sub/(of a real railway). Ironically, Metrolinx did not talk about this portion (steel double track TOG crossing over the existing tracks of another railway) of the project. the bridge designer was not part of the presenter team. The bridge contractor was not part of the presenter team. I doubt that there was even a representative of the actual designer and the actual contractor team at Arema 2024. The people at the Arema Conf. 2024 were asking why? Well, the answer is: there is a series of serious issues with that steel span bridge over the New Toronto Tracks. Stay tuned for more info. @phil verster /CEO Metrolinx Steven Levene/ COO Metrolinx Metrolinx regards Siamak Khajehpour, P.Eng.

THIS is #ReturnToRural Awesome story about Jordan's return to the area and the great things he is doing. With multiple groups taking different approaches to this same idea, the overarching theme is that there is vast opportunity in rural areas. Go take a look and you just might be surprised. Consider making the move and filling that critical job role, moving a business operation that can bring value and job opportunities to the area, or launch that startup you have always dreamed about. Rural is rich in support, community, and resources! JOIN US and truly make positive impact! #returntorural #RuralIsRad #ReimagineRural ***************** Sterling native Jordan Suter believes being involved in the community is the way to bring about change. Suter left Sterling after high school, playing baseball in college while pursuing his degree in biology, and then spent five and a half years as a forensic scientist. It was family ties that inspired his desire to return to his hometown – Suter is the fourth generation on his mom’s side to live here, and the third on his dad’s side – but he didn’t know what he’d be able to do for a career, given his background in biology. Then he got an job offer from Thrivent, which he was familiar with because his family had worked with the financial planning firm. “I was really thankful to be able to do that, because I had always wanted to be around my family and serve this community, but had never really had the opportunity,” he said. Suter moved back about two and a half years ago and jumped right into getting as involved within the community as possible. His own passion for the community shines through when he talks about how he would encourage others to consider living and working in Sterling. He said he’d encourage those from the Front Range and other urban areas to come visit the community and see what it’s about, because he feels that they might have misconceptions about rural Colorado based on clichés that don’t capture the generous spirit of the people here. And for those who moved away but might be open to returning, like him, his plea is more direct: “We need you out here. This community needs more young people… that care and want to make a difference, and you can only make a difference if you get involved.” He is thankful for the opportunities to have an impact on future generations through coaching as well, saying, “Being able to coach high school kids and show them that it is cool to leave, do your thing and go learn about the world, go experience some stuff – there’s nothing wrong with that. But coming home, there’s nothing wrong with that. You can be a good person and care about your community and just serve; that’s the whole point.” “I just want to leave a mark, and hopefully it’s a positive one,” he said.

The legacy of Thayer County is strength, unity, progressiveness, and one-for-all. Join us here in the good life. Create and leave your legacy. Click here to learn why Thayer County is where you live your lifespan and leave your legacy. https://lnkd.in/e3M3JqgA #letsgetgrowing32 #thriveinthayercounty

Civic engagement through Local journalism is a vital component of economic [as well as democratic] health. Looking forward to speaking at this event alongside a formidable panel Torsten Bell, Kersten England CBE Hannah Slaughter & Tracy Brabin #bradford #regeneration #publicinterestjournalism #transparency #citizenship #economy #localjournalism ⬇️

Our Chair of Trustees Kersten England CBE is sharing a platform with Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, Rozina Breen, Hannah Slaughter and Torsten Bell this evening at the Resolution Foundation’s panel debate, ‘Building a better Britain: how cities like Bradford can help to end economic stagnation’. You can still register to join us tonight: https://lnkd.in/dNN_P2mH Kersten will be sharing our Institute for Community Studies's research on #NetZero policy, which highlights a risk of ‘transition poverty’ that could leave the UK's poorest 40% behind, saying "We can’t meaningfully talk about economic change without looking at the green economy". More: https://bit.ly/4bYTliR Furthermore, she'll be exploring how businesses need support to drive economic growth too. Social outcomes play second fiddle in #ESG strategies, yet ‘communities’ are cited by 76% of FTSE 100s as ‘key stakeholders’. She'll ask: "What difference could it make if our biggest companies truly engaged?" More: https://bit.ly/3LnHfVG #EconomicDevelopment #Inequality #EconomicStrategy

Great detailed overview of LocalCounsel platform by Brights: https://lnkd.in/eaKPMPy6. 

I'm on a panel at this forum next week, to talk about how we deal with the risk of modern slavery in renewable energy supply chains. As the forum will show, this is not a challenge unique to renewable energy, but our industry needs to be part of a solution to this global problem. Looking forward to the discussion.

Can Passive House be used by communities to combat gentrification and displacement? Is there such a things as "Passive House from Below?" Here is a talk I delivered last year about how the Montopolis CDC goes well beyond the facile "affordable housing" discourse to include more comprehensive discussion about high-level affordable housing construction and operation, as well as the political importance of community control. https://lnkd.in/gMK9ZiMk

Hats off to Will Simons of Association Reserves for his article in the Florida Community Association Journal busting some of the most enduring myths about reserve funding. The one we’ve observed most often: 🚫Myth: Funding reserves is for future projects. ➡️Reality: Though the projects may be executed in the future, today’s reserve contributions are offsetting deterioration as it occurs. Another Will mentions: 🚫Myth: Pooled reserves lead to abuse. ➡️Reality: Cases of wasteful spending are rare, and there are ways to ensure that boards understand how to make smart decisions about repairs and upgrades. The article also includes a useful breakdown of new Florida legislation regarding associations’ duties where reserve funding is concerned. Check out the full piece for more: https://okt.to/P1V5Ol #associationmanagement #reservestudies #sagewater