One in six Americans now lives in poverty — the highest level in half a century. Poverty has spread beyond cities to suburbs and rural communities and is being transferred from one generation to the next. At the same time, we know more about what it takes to build vibrant communities and to help people lead healthy, productive lives. We also know that expanding access to affordable housing, good schools, transportation, jobs, and even supermarkets and parks, can mean better health and life outcomes for people and revitalize whole communities.
Investing in What Works for America’s Communities is a new book that calls on leaders from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to build on what we know is working to move the needle on poverty. The book’s impressive list of authors represents a broad range of sectors including federal agencies, philanthropy, housing academia, health, and the private sector. This collection of essays provides dozens of innovative ideas that can bring new opportunities to America’s struggling communities. It calls on leaders, from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to recognize that they can work smarter and achieve more by working together.
Accelerating Impact, a report prepared by E.T. Jackson and Associates and commissioned by The Rockefeller Foundation as part of a third-party evaluation of our Impact Investing initiative, provides one of the most recent and comprehensive scans of the global impact investing industry to date. The research is informed in part by insights from interviews with more than 100 impact investing leaders from 11 countries.
The report examines the evolution of the field over the past four years as well as its current status, reflecting that the field has moved decisively from a phase of “uncoordinated innovation” to one of sustained “marketplace-building.” The report concludes by offering recommendations to industry leaders regarding the challenges and opportunities that may lie ahead.
The Canadian Homelessness Research Network has developed a definition and typology of homelessness intended to improve understanding, measurement and responses to homelessness in Canada. According to the definition, “The problem of homelessness and housing exclusion refers to the failure of society to ensure that adequate systems, funding and support are in place so that all people, even in crisis situations, have access to housing.”
Canada’s co-operative movement has called on the federal government to implement the recommendations of the Special Committee on Co-operatives, which tabled its report in the House of Commons on Monday.
Canada’s two national co-operative associations said they were generally pleased with the report’s recommendations and the committee’s recognition of the important role co-operatives play in the Canadian economy.
In the committee’s news release announcing the report, committee chair Blake Richards (CPC-Wild Rose) said:
“The sheer number and size of Canadian co-operatives make their impact on the economy indisputable. Co-operatives have proven remarkably resilient, and they are a key contributor to Canada’s economic recovery.”
The committee heard presentations from more than 60 witnesses during its hearings in July, as well as written submissions from co-operative organizations across the country.
“It is clear that the committee was listening carefully to our presentations, and we would like to thank them for all their hard work on this report. We are very pleased with the recommendations,” said Denyse Guy, executive director of the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA). “We still have concerns about the need to find new ways to help with the development of new and emerging co-operatives, and look forward to working with the government on these issues.”
“We are very happy that the parliamentarians heard our call for a renewed dialogue between the government and co-operative enterprises,” said Brigitte Gagné, executive director of the Conseil canadien de la coopération et de la mutualité (CCCM). “We hope the committee’s recommendations will be implemented quickly, particularly during these uncertain economic times.”
CCA and CCCM are particularly happy with a recommendation that the government consider consolidating federal responsibility for co-operatives under a suitable department, such as Industry Canada. Responsibility for non-financial co-operatives currently lies with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the co-operative movement has argued that Industry would be a better fit.
Other recommendations of the report included that the government explore the feasibility of allowing Canadians to invest RRSP funds in co-operatives; that Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation continue to provide support for housing co-operatives; and that the government educate its employees and the public about the nature and benefits of the co-operative business model.
The Special Committee was created in recognition of the 2012 International Year of Co-operatives, which was proclaimed by the United Nations to recognize the contribution co-operatives make to the social and economic development of communities around the world.
Donna Balkan, Communications Manager Canadian Co-operative Association 613-238-6711, ext. 206 www.coopscanada.coop
Michaël Béland Directeur des communications et des programmes Conseil canadien de la coopération et de la mutualité Tél.: 613-789-5492 ext. 24 www.cccm.coop
Connections 2012: Community Investment Solutions for a Better Ontario
The 2012 Canadian CED Network Ontario Conference recently attracted over 100 participants to the Learning Enrichment Foundation in Toronto. Connections 2012 explored the systemic shift happening within Ontario’s economy that is felt acutely by the communities we live in. Discussions, workshops, and presentations shared some of the knowledge and skills we need to utilize the strengths of communities to create solutions. Check out some of the presentations and resources fromConnections 2012 .
The conference also hosted the Toronto book launch of The Resilience Imperative by CCEDNet founding member Mike Lewis. The Resilience Imperative argues that key factors such as climate change and rising energy costs compel individuals and communities to rethink and reinvent economic life on a more localized level. Is this possible? We think so! How is it possible? Check out The Resilience Imperativeto discover some of the innovative strategies Lewis outlines that are already in motion across the globe.
Thanks again to our funders and presenters, the more than 30 organizations that worked to plan the event and all who came out to be a part of Connections 2012!
The Canadian CED Network and the Social Purpose Enterprise Network are gearing up for round two of social enterprise tours in Toronto…
On June 6, 2012 the Canadian CED Network teamed up with the Social Purpose Enterprise Network (SPEN) to take over thirty participants on a social purpose enterprise tour around the Greater Toronto Area. Visiting these diverse enterprises across the city truly illustrated that business can be done differently! The tour included visits to five social purpose enterprises including Delightfully Yours Catering Services, Options Mississauga, Windfall Brides, Parkdale Green Thumb Enterprises, and Free Geek Toronto. Feedback from participants has been great and we have found that there is high demand for making these events happen on a more regular basis.
So what’s up next? In early November the Canadian CED Network and SPEN are teaming up once again to host the Fall 2012 Youth-Led Social Enterprise Tour in Toronto. We will be visiting four incredible youth led social enterprises across the city, which are making huge social and environmental impacts in their local communities. If you’re interested in finding out more information about the upcoming tour and would like to be kept in the loop please contact Jo or Kate at .
Update on the LIAISOn project
LIAISOn is a three-year collaborative project, to bring together information and resources for social enterprise (SE) development in Ontario in an attempt to making it more readily available. LIAISOn is funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation and is being led by CCEDNet Ontario. One of the major goals of this initiative is to create a profile of the Social Enterprise sector in Ontario. As the first step CCEDNet is currently in the process of conducting the 2012 Social Enterprise Survey for Ontario. If your nonprofit organization owns or operates a social enterprise head over to the CCEDNet Ontario webpage to find out more information, view a preview of the survey, and most importantly sign up to participate in the study!
LIAISOn is collaborating with other organizations in Ontario and nationally on innovative and exciting ways to streamline online resources for organizations engaged in social enterprise activities. LIAISOn is also partnered with the
Rural Social Enterprise Constellation project hosted by the Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN), to improve investment infrastructure in four rural regions of Ontario.
Another way that CCEDNet-Ontario can support you and you can support CCEDNet-Ontario!
Contract CCEDNet staff for projects that you might normally look to independent contractors to complete. The Ontario team has expertise in areas of work including research, policy development, event planning, meeting facilitation, member/client relations, communications, writing, editing and much more! Please contact Paul Chamberlain at for more information.
Requesting a delay of proclamation for the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA)…it is time to stand up and be heard
The Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN) is urging all nonprofit organizations and their Boards of Directors to speak up and have their voices heard in regards to upcoming proclamation of the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, which is currently scheduled for January 1, 2013. In a recent letter to Margaret Best, Minister of Consumer Services, the ONN requested that the proclamation of the ONCA be delayed. The ONN has expressed clear concern particularly around membership provisions within the act. Amongst other key recommendations, the ONN has stated that provisions must be changed to (1) Make non-voting members non-voting on key corporate issues and to (2) Disallow members to pass binding resolutions on Boards of Directors. Check out the full brief, Amending the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act to enable and support the work of organizations providing public benefit in Ontario here. The ONN is urging all relevant stakeholders that have concern over the legislation to speak up and contact the Ministry. Here’s a link to a simple letter template you may consider using.
New social enterprise website launched en français!
Interested in French social enterprise resources? Ethel Côté, has recently launched the website entreprisesociale.ca. Ethel describes the website as a space to converge all resources in French about social enterprise. It features a regularly updated blog, definitions, information about finance, training, mapping, public policies, networks, networks, and resources related to social enterprise. Check out the calendar to keep informed on upcoming activities such as French webinars and PopUp Labs available throughout Canada.
Greener, fairer, cleaner! In honour of International Year of the Coops we would like to bring your attention to CCEDNet member organization Maintenance 1a+ Workers Cooperative
1a+ Workers Cooperative was founded in 2007 by five Columbian immigrant workers in the cleaning sector and has been operating in the Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec regions ever since. Largely developed in response to poor working conditions facing new comers, 1a+ strives to create a safe and positive working environment based on principles of fair work and respect for ecological values. Maintenance 1a+ Workers Cooperative provides commercial cleaning services for offices, schools, community centres, daycares, and many other organizations and minimizes its environmental impact by utilizing only certified green cleaning products. Recently, the co-op received funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to hire Business Development Manager Lainie Towell. Towell has jumped right into her new role and states that she is “motivated to be part of such a determined organization that puts people and the planet first, and profit second. Maintenance 1a+ is a win-win solution for all stakeholders including the businesses we serve, co-op members, and our local community”. For more information on the great work that Maintenance 1a+ is doing click here.
Applications for the First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Coop Development program!
The Canadian Co-operative association is accepting applications for the First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Coop Development program, which has been created to help Aboriginal communities explore co-operatives as a potential option to meet their needs. This is part of a five-year pilot project that has been developed in collaboration with national Aboriginal organizations. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $10, 000 are available. September 15, 2012 is the application deadline for current or short-term projects and December 15, 2012 is the deadline for projects scheduled to begin April 1, 2012. More information and application forms can be found here.
Food for Thought – Local food at its finest!
Last week, the London Training Centre hosted its third annual Food for Thought fundraiser at a farm located Northwest of the city. The London Training Centre’s food initiatives include: the local food skills program & catering, food skills training & certifications, London’s food charter, ecological farming, sustainable food systems research, and food safety. The event highlighted the incredible talent of participants in the training centre’s Local Food Skills program as well as local food artisans and producers. Making the night even more memorable was the fact that the farm site, owned by Werner and Janet Reindorf, is also home to the plot of land that students have been using to grow and harvest much of the produce that is needed for the program. Guests were able to explore the farm grounds and actually see, touch, smell, and taste the organically grown produce being used to create the tapas style menu that was presented. Hats off to the London Training Centre for a wonderful night and for continuing to draw attention to the importance of local food in building strong and sustainable communities. For more information on the program click here.
Mark those calendars! Conferences, events, and webinars coming this fall…
09/14/2012 Introduction to Social Enterprise Webinars: What and Why of Social Enterprise Presented by: Enterprising Non-Profits, Social Enterprise Council of Canada, and Imagine Canada Online (register here)
09/24/2012 Co-ops: the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of Community Economies Presented by the Canadian CED Network Online (register here) -Free to all!
09/27-28/2012 Policy to Practice – ONN Conference 2012 Toronto, Ontario (register here)
09/28/2012 Introduction to Social Enterprise Webinars: Legal Issues Presented by: Enterprising Non-Profits, Social Enterprise Council of Canada, and Imagine Canada Online (register here)
10/03/2012 The Ontario Not-for-Profit Act: What you need to know for your nonprofit or charity Presented by: The Ontario Nonprofit Network Toronto, Ontario (no registration required, for more info contact Keita Demming) & live webcast (click here for detailed instructions)
10/12/2012 Introduction to Social Enterprise Webinars: Supportive Environment for Social Enterprise Presented by: Enterprising Non-Profits, Social Enterprise Council of Canada, and Imagine Canada Online (register here)
10/16/2012 The Resiliance Imperative: Remaking the CED Agenda? Presented by: The Canadian CED Network Online (register here). Bonus for CCEDNet members? Registration is FREE!
10/26/2012 Introduction to Social Enterprise Webinars: Social Enterprise Development Path and Resources Presented by: Enterprising Non-Profits, Social Enterprise Council of Canada, and Imagine Canada Online (register here)
10/31/2012-11/02/2012 Forum Pancanadien sur le Developpement Economique en Francophonie Canadienne Ottawa, Ontario (register here)
11/08-09/2012 2012 Social Finance Forum: Measuring Up Toronto, Ontario (register here)
In the summer of 2012, the Government of Alberta launched a public consultation on the creation of a new social policy framework for the province.
Thrive, Calgary’s CED Network, prepared a submission recommending that a provincial Social Policy Framework adopt a CED lens, utilizing the economy and marketplace in innovative ways to improve social conditions.
Summary
Community Economic Development (CED) utilizes the economy and marketplace in innovative ways to improve social conditions. It assists businesses to grow and residents to improve their income . CED appeals to Alberta’s entrepreneurial spirit and builds the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of communities.
CED is about people. Take Mark for example, he says that he was not expected to graduate high school, let alone start his own business. Born with Cerebral Palsy, Mark has been in a wheelchair since he was a child. However, Mark enrolled in the ABCs of Small Business program at the CED organization Momentum, where he says he was given the tools he needed to draft, execute and expand his small business. Mark’s company, Handi Enterprises, supplies speech-recognition technology to businesses. He has since hired two employees.
CED strategies for social development have been adopted by communities, municipalities, as well as provincial and federal governments across Canada. Thrive recommends that a provincial Social Policy Framework adopt a CED lens.
Join us to hear about how co-ops are catalyzing economic development where all else fails — building local economies and stronger communities in Canada and around the world.
Speakers
Gretchen Hernandez, Simon Fraser University
Jason Frittaion, Canadian Co-operative Association
Sherry Hennessey, Arctic Co-operatives Limited
A question and answer period will follow. Participants who register early will be able to send questions in advance of the session.
In July 2012, Kirsten Bernas (CCEDNet’s Policy Advisor) attended a consultation, representing the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives – MB, hosted by the federal government regarding its new long-term infrastructure plan. As a follow up, CCEDNet submitted a series recommendations for investment in social infrastructure, including: childcare, housing, and the use of community benefit clauses to ensure infrastructure projects bring long-term benefits into communities.
September 27 – 1pm to 4pm – United Way Learning Centre, 580 Main St
Back by popular demand! An effective grant proposal presents a compelling case for your organization and your project or program. It convinces your potential funder that your goals are aligned with theirs and makes them want to support your work by awarding you a grant. This workshop will provide practical tips on:
Writing in a positive, audience-focused style
Providing the information that funders want to know
Presenting your organization and project in the best possible light
Presenting maximum information in minimum words
Developing long-term relationships with your funders
Facilitator: Nan Colledge Nan Colledge has over 25 years experience in non-profit management, and has raised funds and written numerous grant proposals for a variety of charitable organizations. She was the General Manager of the West End Cultural Centre for seven years during which time she completed a major capital project. She currently works as the Community Program Manager at Assiniboine Credit Union.
October 11 – 1pm to 4pm – United Way Learning Centre, 580 Main St
Do you want to help your employees or volunteers turn things around quickly and efficiently? Does poor performance or lack of skills cause interpersonal conflict and stress in your workplace? Coaching is considered one of the top leadership skill sets in many organizations today. This successful approach for supervisors yields fast results in a short period of time with employee learning and development. This workshop will emphasize both the need to do one’s work well and will provide people in supervisory roles with coaching language and tips they can employ to encourage change and learning, reducing workplace stress and interpersonal friction.
Facilitator: Joyce Odidison, MA, PCC Conflict Analyst, Strategist and Coach Joyce is President and CEO of Interpersonal Wellness Services Inc., an Organizational Development and consulting firm that provides executive coaching, respect at work, wellness, and coach training for leaders and employees. Joyce Odidison offers a wellness concept from the heart that inspires her clients to be respectful, vibrant, productive, and well. She has proven results working with even the most resistant and hard-to-reach clients and employees. Joyce is the world’s leading Interpersonal Wellness expert and creator of the innovative Interpersonal Wellness System model®, the Interpersonal Wellness Quotient® Personal Assessment Instrument, and the 8 Levels of Wellness for Business and Life Workshops, Retreats and Coaching packages.
November 1 – 9am to 4pm – United Way Learning Centre, 580 Main St (*lunch will be provided)
This session will focus on creating evaluations that are internally useful for organizations but also get the information funders need. Strong organizations want to be good self-evaluators, ensuring that programs are accomplishing goals and maintaining organizational mission, not just fulfilling deliverables. The morning will focus on the ‘what and why’ of evaluation, as well as looking at some examples of useful evaluation models. After the catered lunch break, the focus will shift to small groups, working through your specific evaluation questions. This will be an important learning event for directors, program coordinators, or anyone wanting to gain better evaluation tools.
Facilitator: Javier Mignone, University of Manitoba, Department of Family Social Sciences Javier is an associate professor in the Department of Family Social Sciences, University of Manitoba with Masters Degrees in Psychology and Health Services administration, and a Ph.D. in Community Health Sciences. He has worked in the areas of health information, program performance and program evaluation for the Capital Health Authority in Edmonton and for Alberta Health. He teaches program evaluation at the University of Manitoba and is one of the lead organizers of an annual Summer Institute on Program Evaluation. He conducts research and development projects on intercultural health, health information, and program evaluation with indigenous partners in Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, Dominica and Canada as well as doing research on HIV/AIDS prevention and social development in India and Canada.
November 29 – 1pm to 4pm – United Way Learning Centre, 580 Main St
Are you feeling pressed for time? We dare you to make time for time management! In this workshop, participants will learn how to make the most of their time by organizing their workflow, learning how to plan effectively, setting achievable goals, and delegating work to other people if available. Specific learning objectives include:
Better organize yourself and your workspace for peak efficiency.
Understand the importance of, and the most useful techniques for, setting and achieving goals.
Identify the right things to be doing and develop plans for doing them.
Learn what to delegate and how to delegate well.
Take control of things that can derail productivity.
Facilitator: Lisa Lewis As the owner of Beyond Excellence, Lisa has put her extensive business and management experience to work for her clients for more than fourteen years. Lisa helps her clients achieve their goals by implementing proven technologies and solid management programs. With these skills and her outstanding abilities as a presenter she has motivated and delivered value to small, medium and large businesses and is in demand as a consultant on a variety of projects.
The Fall 2012 Strengthening Non-Profits Workshop Series is hosted by the Spark Service of the Canadian CED Network with support from United Way Winnipeg
During Québec’s provincial election campaign, the Chantier de l’économie sociale has asked political parties to confirm their commitments and positions on the social economy. Specifically, the Chantier has asked them to respond to eleven proposals, taken from the document Pour un changement de logique économique. Their answers will be shared with all the Chantier’s members and social economy partners in all regions of Québec during the election campaign.
The proposals contained in the document « Onze propositions pour une économie sociale et solidaire » represent a synthesis of documents assembled by the Chantier from several sources. They reflect the concerns of social economy practitioners who are active in all regions of Québec and in numerous economic sectors. They build on a news-monitoring service carried out by the Chantier to identify projects underway in local communities throughout Québec and opportunities for the creation or expansion of collective enterprises. Finally, these proposals also draw upon the experiences of other countries, especially those learned from the international monitoring carried out by RELIESS and those presented at the International Forum on the Social and Solidarity Economy (FIESS) which brought together social and solidarity economy and government representatives from 62 countries last October in Montréal.
The 11 proposals address seven areas:
Ensure full recognition of the social economy in government strategies and institutions
Reinforce the contirbution of the social economy to local development and a better quality of life in our communities
Trust workers to protect employment and respond to the needs of the next generation of entrepreneurs
Increase communities’ role in the use and stewardship of natural resources
Contribute to the creation of decent jobs and poverty reduction
Increase public and private investment for sustainable social and economic development
Fully recognize the diversity of Québec’s economy as a lever for sustainable development and social justice
The Chantier is convinced that Québec needs the strength of collective entrepreneurship and that it is essential for these issues to be discussed during the election campaign.
Download Onze propositions pour une économie sociale et solidaire (French only)
The Social Enterprise Council of Canada (SECC) has added their voice to the international efforts to stop Salesforce.com’s attempt to trademark the term “social enterprise” in the US, EU and Jamaica.
This move was sparked by Social Enterprise UK’sNot in Our Name campaign, which seeks to protect the social enterprise term on behalf of the global social enterprise sector.
The SECC’s press release states, “The idea of trademarking the term social enterprise is no different than trying to trademark other terms that are part of our every day language, such as non profit or economic development.”
Brendan Reimer, CCEDNet’s regional coordinator, adds that, “Social enterprises have existed as a community economic development tool for more than a century in Canada… Social enterprise is not a term that the private sector, or any company, can just claim the rights over.”
BC Ideas is a collaborative online competition, where social entrepreneurs enter their ideas and programs to gain funding and support. This competition seeks innovative solutions to health, social and environmental challenges facing BC communities today, and in the future.
Over $250,000 in investments will be distributed to support creative solutions to health, social, and environmental challenges in communities across BC. Funding will be determined through an online competition.
One in six Americans now lives in poverty — the highest level in half a century. Poverty has spread beyond cities to suburbs and rural communities and is being transferred from one generation to the next. At the same time, we know more about what it takes to build vibrant communities and to help people lead healthy, productive lives. We also know that expanding access to affordable housing, good schools, transportation, jobs, and even supermarkets and parks, can mean better health and life outcomes for people and revitalize whole communities.
Accelerating Impact, a report prepared by E.T. Jackson and Associates and commissioned by The Rockefeller Foundation as part of a third-party evaluation of our Impact Investing initiative, provides one of the most recent and comprehensive scans of the global impact investing industry to date. The research is informed in part by insights from interviews with more than 100 impact investing leaders from 11 countries.
The Canadian Homelessness Research Network has developed a definition and typology of homelessness intended to improve understanding, measurement and responses to homelessness in Canada. According to the definition, “The problem of homelessness and housing exclusion refers to the failure of society to ensure that adequate systems, funding and support are in place so that all people, even in crisis situations, have access to housing.”
On June 6, 2012 the Canadian CED Network teamed up with the Social Purpose Enterprise Network (SPEN) to take over thirty participants on a social purpose enterprise tour around the Greater Toronto Area. Visiting these diverse enterprises across the city truly illustrated that business can be done differently! The tour included visits to five social purpose enterprises including 
