Creating a compassionate city: a conversation with City of Kingston's Ruth Noordegraaf

"I think we're really trying to create and strengthen the nervous system of our community through programming and access and services, balancing bigger systems change work with more smaller scale pilot projects in neighbourhoods or with certain community groups. And ultimately those two things at the same time  will really help to make our community more connected and more resilient." Ruth Noordegraaf is the Director of Community Development Wellbeing and IIDEA with the City of Kingston. Her portfolio includes areas such as food security, aging, community safety, neighbourhood activation, equity, diversity, and Indigenous initiatives. Ruth's work focuses primarily on the system-wide social issues that communities in Canada are facing and the preventative actions municipalities can take in building and fostering the social infrastructure. She is passionate about building communities where everyone belongs and feels safe, healthy, and connected.