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Belonging requires repair, not just inclusion
“It is about taking responsibility: listening more deeply, acting more intentionally, and rebuilding trust in meaningful and sustained ways.”
Editor’s Note: News informs us in the moment. Stories endure because they help us understand our journey. While this article reflects an earlier point in time, its themes continue to resonate and contribute to the broader story of our community.
It was a reflective and energizing evening on March 23rd at the Mississauga Valley Community Centre, where the Citizens for the Advancement of Community Development (CACD) hosted Beyond Division: Building Belonging and Repair in Our Communities.
Community leaders, educators, faith representatives, and residents gathered to explore a question that feels both urgent and deeply personal: what does it truly mean to belong?
The event built on CACD’s 30th Black History Month celebration, Echoes of Greatness, held February 27th, 2026. That earlier gathering sparked a Wall of the Future, where participants shared visions of an equitable, inclusive society grounded in dignity, unity, and opportunity. This follow-up conversation carried those aspirations forward, shifting from vision to responsibility.
A fireside discussion featuring Felicia Murrell, alongside co-moderators Michael Lafleur and Dr. Camille Logan, anchored the evening. Together, they guided participants through a series of pressing questions: What does it mean to be valued, not just included? What prevents belonging? How do communities begin the work of repair?
The purpose was clear: to examine barriers to connection, introduce repair as a pathway to rebuilding trust, and bridge perspectives across faith, education, and community leadership. Just as importantly, it aimed to move dialogue into action.
CACD Executive Director Ron Cunningham opened the evening by grounding the discussion in lived experience. Reflecting on the Black History Month event, he noted that participants revealed unmet needs, “People were not only expressing ideas. They were expressing a need. A need to feel seen. A need to feel heard. A need to feel that they matter.”
That need, Cunningham emphasized, raises a critical follow-up: if belonging is what people seek, what stands in the way? The answer, in part, lies in repair, an intentional process of rebuilding trust where it has been fractured. “It is about taking responsibility: listening more deeply, acting more intentionally, and rebuilding trust in meaningful and sustained ways,” he said.
Throughout the evening, participants engaged in candid and, at times, difficult conversations. Themes ranged from burnout in education to systemic barriers facing youth, and the challenges of reintegration for individuals impacted by the justice system. These discussions were marked by openness, vulnerability, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths.
Murrell pushed the conversation further by reframing belonging as something deeper than inclusion. It is not enough to be present; people must feel valued, respected, and connected. As she put it, “Belonging is about knowing you matter.”
She also highlighted the difference between hearing and listening, arguing that genuine listening is essential to building authentic relationships. Without it, connection remains superficial.
Another key insight was the need to move beyond binary, either-or thinking toward a more inclusive both-and mindset, one that allows for complexity, diversity, and shared humanity to coexist. This shift, participants agreed, is critical for navigating today’s social and cultural divides.
Dr. Camille Logan reinforced the role of education in fostering belonging, reminding attendees that schools must be safe, inclusive spaces where every child feels recognized and supported. Her message underscored a broader theme: belonging must be built intentionally, across all community institutions.
The impact of the dialogue was evident. Participants reported renewed hope, a deeper understanding of community challenges, and a commitment to continued engagement. The event also strengthened connections across sectors and reinforced CACD’s role as a convener of meaningful civic dialogue.
As the evening closed, one message resonated: building belonging is not the work of a single event or organization. It is an ongoing, collective commitment.
CACD continues to engage community stakeholders around pressing social, political, racial, and educational issues affecting BIPOC communities, ensuring that the conversation does not end, but evolves into sustained action.