OEA Community Network

The Community Network was created to provide a virtual space to better connect communities with each other and with government for meaningful, sustained dialogue. It is one part of government’s efforts to engage with and support underrepresented and underserved communities, and was a requirement established in the Dismantling Racism and Hate Act.

As outlined in the Equity and Anti-Racism Strategy released in July 2023, the core functions and intent of the Community Network are outlined below.

1. Creating Connections – The Community Network will help facilitate connections between the community, government departments, and organizations throughout the province to converge on emerging issues, exchange promising practices, showcase and cross-promote initiatives, and coordinate resources, events, and programs.
2. Information & Supports - The Community Network will serve as a platform for members to access information as well as supports to respond to and help address address systemic hate, inequity, and racism. This includes the Community Network Grant program which provides financial support to community-based organizations for projects.
3. Tools & Resources - Network participants will have access to an evolving range of resources, including but not limited to: anti-racism materials, funded capacity building, toolkits, policy support, and training. Network members will also have access to a curated calendar of events and engagement learning opportunities.

The Community Network will employ a strategy that emphasizes serving underserved and underrepresented populations and aims to ensure maximum inclusivity and participation for Nova Scotians. For the purpose of the CN, we are defining underserved and underrepresented groups as follows:

• An underrepresented community refers to a group of people who are not adequately represented or have limited presence or visibility in certain domains or contexts, such as social, political, economic, educational, or cultural spheres. These communities typically experience marginalization, discrimination, or exclusion due to various factors, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or other characteristics.
• The term “underserved” implies that the community is not receiving/has not received an adequate level of support or attention from institutions, organizations, or government agencies. This lack of access can manifest in various areas, including health care, education, employment, housing, transportation, and social services.

If you are interested in becoming a Community Network member that contributes to the platform, please fill out the application to the right of this page, and email it to oeaengagement@novascotia.ca.

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