We measure the “heartbeats” to take on the challenges facing our communities

Monterrey, N.L., Monday, February 28, 2022. With the participation of Fundación Internacional de la Comunidad, A.C., Fundación Punta de Mita, A.C., and Fundación Comunidad, A.C., the pilot phase of the Signos Vitales project came to a close. This initiative aimed to identify the strengths and needs of their communities in order to promote actions and strategies that foster the common good.

Under the coordination of Comunalia, as part of the Comunalia HUB program, and with support from the Inter-American Foundation and the C.S. Mott Foundation, the three regional foundations organized discussions and collected qualitative and quantitative data in communities in Tijuana, Baja California; Punta de Mita, Nayarit; and the state of Morelos.

Vital Signs is an initiative launched in 2001 under the leadership of the Toronto Foundation and now coordinated by Community Foundations of Canada. Its goal is to gather and organize the wealth of knowledge and social information scattered among various community members, enabling community foundations to connect and bring together stakeholders, as well as to prioritize their strategies.

During this pilot phase, the Punta de Mita Foundation, based in Nayarit, conducted the “Signos Vitales” assessment in the towns of Emiliano Zapata, Corral del Risco, and Higuera Blanca, focusing on health, community development, and the environment. The assessment found that population growth has increased exponentially in recent years.

For its part, Fundación Comunidad in Morelos explored the issues of food sovereignty, climate justice, development, and children’s participation, with a focus on the Sustainable Development Goals, noting that 79.2% of the population wants to learn how to grow their own food.

The International Community Foundation in Tijuana analyzed the issue of migration among the following population groups: mothers; children and adolescents; and social organizations and community groups. It identified their circumstances and needs and collected testimonies from those experiencing this situation in the city.

At the closing event for the pilot phase of Signos Vitales, the individuals who led the initiative in their communities believe that the information generated is of great value because it charts the course for their strategic planning, which in turn helps position the foundations themselves in their local communities as coordinators and conveners.

“The idea of working together has been very valuable. And the fact that each of the groups wants to network—to join forces with people who don’t think the same way—I think has been even more valuable among grassroots groups, organizations, and people working on issues that are relevant to us; we’ve been able to have diverse and interesting conversations. This is just the beginning,” said Isabel Hernandez.

The participation model used in Signos Vitales fostered peer-learning opportunities so that those involved in the project’s leadership and coordination could share their knowledge and challenges, as part of Comunalia’s support.

At the conclusion of the closing event, Comunalia launched the call for applications for the 2022 Signos Vitales program, aimed at the alliance’s community foundations. For this edition, two partner foundations will be selected; the deadline for submitting applications is March 22.

Main image courtesy of Fundación Comunidad A.C.