• Some community members residing in gang and crime impacted neighbourhoods feel disconnected from both the police and local government officials, citing that they only have interactions with local government officials when it’s during an election period and with the police when there’s a crime scene.

• This perception, in combination with various personal life events, contributes to general feelings of being devalued, unimportant, and having no voice in the implementation of initiatives and strategies within their own neighbourhood.

• Community members advised that they would be welcoming and open to conversations with local political leaders and police officers of all ranks if they came to their neighbourhood regularly, out of a uniform or business attire, and outside of critical election periods and crime scenes.