NETW-1: Connecting & Networking in the Community

An open virtual gathering for anyone interested in community work, volunteering, or outreach to meet up, network, and talk shop.

NETW-1 is an intensive, interactive virtual session designed to bring together every tier of the community landscape from first-time volunteers to seasoned grassroots organizers and aspiring talent acquisition leads. As community participation patterns shift dramatically toward digital-first interactions, micro-volunteering, and flexible commitments, traditional outreach models are increasingly failing to hold engagement. NETW-1 creates a neutral, collaborative environment to analyze these fundamental shifts and establish actionable solutions together. The workshop opens with a critical examination of modern engagement metrics: why traditional volunteer recruitment channels are losing traction, how changing economic and academic schedules impact community availability, and what modern volunteers actually look for before committing their time. Rather than presenting a rigid, top-down lecture, NETW-1 transitions directly into structured, small-group speed-networking breakout rooms. These moderated rooms pair volunteers, project managers, and prospective recruiters on equal footing to share first-hand experiences, dissect real communication breakdowns, and build direct professional connections across the Greater Toronto Area non-profit ecosystem. Participants will walk away from NETW-1 with an updated understanding of community engagement dynamics, a broader network of local peers and leaders, and the foundational insights required to participate effectively in the hands-on design exercises in NETW-2.