The ways in which we respond to personal, community and global challenges are rapidly changing. Whether it is loss of language; a lack of affordable housing; displacement through war or flood; or fundamental institutional changes, many people from across cultures and sectors are yearning for belonging, connection and safety or a sense of home.

We are certainly in a time of transition and change. Some conceptualize our current situation as being within humanity’s cyclical patterns. For example, Arnold Toynbee argued that, prior to the rise of a new era, violence increases and people tended to respond to stress, conflict, and change with less creativity and more rigidity. In addition, people experienced a pervasive disconnectedness from nature. Toynbee concluded, that as a creative minority re-examined values, they became the catalysts for a new way forward.

The Finding Home metaphor provides an opening for bringing diverse cultures, individuals and sectors together to examine home and the value of cultivating a sense of belonging, connection and community. Through dialogue and collaboration, the Finding Home Initiative supports communities and individuals to explore ways of fostering a sense of belonging; building inclusive communities; and of increasing effectiveness in addressing personal, local and global challenges.

Listen to Senator Dallaire’s thoughts on the Finding Home Initiative: