The CommuniTEA Infusion project is a not for profit initiative aimed at offering Edmontonians a welcoming gathering place right outside their door, where neighbors can meet, engage conversation and strengthen a sense of being a well connected community.

CommuniTea Infusion has no religious or political affiliations and is run by neighbors who are inspired by the possibility that conversations could sow the seeds of building stronger, creative, safer, more connected communities.

“If community exists, both freedom and security exist as well. The community then takes on a life of its own, as people become free enough to share and secure enough to get along. The sense of connectedness and formation of social networks comprise what has become known as social capital.” (Putnam, D Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of the American Community, p. 19)

In a nutshell the CommuniTea Infusion Van is like a mobile town square that creates the gathering place for neighbors to connect and build social capital.

The initiative itself, was born out of the work of the Edmonton Learning Community, a non-profit collective committed to enhancing the capacity of Edmonton to include people with disabilities in community life. The idea was, in part, inspired by Jim Diers when he told us about the T-Horse project in Portland, OR., an initiative connected with CityRepair.org. It is our strong belief that people working in the disability sector need to understand more deeply the work of community developers. We think that our project is the perfect way for us to ally ourselves with some experts in the area, to learn by participating, and to offer our help in neighborhood development work.

The nature of this initiative is such that it requires the contributions of community members to make it work. The essence of a CommuniTEA Infusion event is to give, connect and contribute. Organizers and neighbors help set up the event upon arrival, like a barn raising, which engenders the feeling that everyone has cooperated to put the event on. The CommuniTea Infusion event is not just entertainment but a community collaboration. In this way the event is an inspiration and model opportunity for all of us to take responsibility for making the places we live socially, economically and environmentally sustainable. Artists and musicians will be invited to bring their talents to the gatherings.

We have partnered with the City of Edmonton Neighborhood Revitalization initiative. We will be working with the McCauley, McDougal and Queen Mary Park Revitalization initiatives and coordinate our events with theirs for the majority of the first year. CommuniTea Infusion will also be available for all neighborhoods in the Edmonton area.

-The Edmonton Learning Community Society -The City Of Edmonton -City of Edmonton Neighborhood Revitalization Project -Steeps Tea house (124St) -The Volkswagen club of Edmonton -The Autosource (offered a discount for conversion) -And Many volunteers and artists

The Transformation of a VW van into CommuniTEA Infusion