The Mondragón Cooperative Corporation (MCC), the largest consortium of worker-owned companies, has developed a different way of doing business-a way that puts workers, not shareholders, first.
Here’s how it played out when one of the Mondragón cooperatives fell on hard times. The worker/owners and the managers met to review their options. After three days of meetings, the worker/owners agreed that 20 percent of the workforce would leave their jobs for a year, during which they would continue to receive 80 percent of their pay and, if they wished, free training for other work. This group would be chosen by lottery, and if the company was still in trouble a year later, the first group would return to work and a second would take a year off.
The result? The solution worked and the company thrives to this day.
This guide identifies important quality of life factors that can help communities improve themselves in areas that really matter. While such things as unemployment rates, income per capita and air quality are all important and available statistics, they do not always give a complete picture of the vitality of community.
Social Enterprise Angels is an exciting event to be featured at the Third Canadian Conference on Social Enterprise,
organized by the Social Enterprise Council of Canada (SECC). The
Conference, which runs from November 18-20, 2009, in Toronto, Ontario,
is expected to draw over 300 social enterprise managers, funders,
supporters and policy-makers from across the country. Social Enterprise
Angels will occur on November 19, 2009, from 5:00-6:30pm. In
partnership with the SECC, the event is co-hosted by Social Venture
Partners Toronto.
Social Enterprise Angels is inspired by the CBC television series, The Dragon’s Den,
where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their business idea to a panel of
investors in hopes of securing funding for their venture. Social
Enterprise Angels uses a similar model to demonstrate and promote the
value of financial investment in social enterprise. The event will
feature three of Canada’s top social entrepreneurs, selected from among
a pool of nation-wide applicants. These selected social entrepreneurs
will have the opportunity to pitch their social enterprise to a panel
of judges, or “Angels” in front of a live audience, in hopes of
securing up to $30,000 for their projects. The Angels include
representatives from the social enterprise sector, the private sector,
and Social Venture Partners Toronto.
Social Enterprise Council of Canada is requesting letters of
intent from social enterprises operating in Canada who are seeking
investment towards the start up and/or growth of their enterprises and
who would like to participate in this event.
Applicant Criteria:
This competition is open to start up and established social enterprises
operating in Canada seeking investment to contribute to the start up
and/or growth of their enterprises. Social enterprise in this context
is broadly defined: “enterprises that are run like businesses,
producing goods and services for the market economy, but they manage
their operations and redirect their surpluses in pursuit of social and
community goals” owned and operated by charities, non-profit
organizations or non-share cooperatives. The goals of the enterprise
could be environmental, employment, arts and culture, or to generate
revenue for the parent organization. To qualify, enterprises must:
Be based in Canada
Have a comprehensive business plan (further details below)
Be committed to attending the Conference at their own expense
Complete the letter of intent available at the end of the letter, and
submit electronically. Letters will be accepted in either English or
French.
Organizations/enterprises with a member of the
Social Enterprise Council of Canada on their payroll or serving as a
member of their board of directors are ineligible.
Application Process:
1) Letter of intent – due September 14, 2009
Complete the Letter of Intent provided at the end of this document and
return electronically to . All Letters of
Intent will assessed by a Selection Committee in light of the following
criteria:
The scope / impact of the social enterprise
The viability of the social enterprise
The alignment of the organization’s mission with the social enterprise
The use of the investment to grow the social enterprise
The Letters are due on Monday, September 14, 2009 at 5:00 pm EST.
From the submitted Letters of Intent, the Social Enterprise Angels
Selection Committee will select thirteen shortlisted applicants, and
invite them to submit a comprehensive business plans for their social
enterprise. All applicants will be informed of their status by October
5, 2009.
2) Business plan – due October 13, 2009
For those selected to submit a business plan, this will be due on: October 13, 2009. The business plan must include:
A feasibility study
A marketing plan
A business operations plan
A financial plan
An executive summary
Business plans should be between 10 – 20 pages in length. They
should be returned electronically and all in one document to .
The Selection Committee will review the business plans and select three
finalists to present their social enterprises to a live audience and a
panel of judges at the Third Canadian Conference on Social Enterprise.
Those selected to participate in the event will be notified by
Wednesday November 4, 2009.
3) Social Enterprise Angels Event – held on November 19, 2009
The three finalists will make their pitch at the Conference and compete for funds from the individual funders.
In order to prepare for the event, applicants will be offered coaching
sessions to hone their presentation skills before “pitching” their
enterprise to the Social Enterprise Angels in 5-7 minutes. The Social
Enterprise Angels will select the winner(s) at the end of the event.
Letter of Intent
Social Enterprise Angels: Social Investing In Action
Name of organization:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Name of enterprise:
Address (if different from organization):
Contact person:
Phone:
Email:
1. Do you have a business plan? (Please underline one)
Yes
No
2. Is your organization: (Please underline all that apply)
Charity
Non-profit
Non-share co-operative
3. What is the purpose and mission of your organization?
4. Please tell us about your social enterprise (concept) in 35 words:
5. What were the gross sales revenue for your enterprise in 2008? If Ø, what is your first year budget?
6. Please describe your product(s) and/or service(s):
7. What is the social/cultural/environmental objective of the enterprise?
8. Please circle the stage of development that best describes your social enterprise:
Planning Start up Growth
9. When did you start your social enterprise if started (or when do you plan to start it)?
10. Number of people employed at your social enterprise (or number of people to be employed):
__________ Part time _________ Full time ________ Volunteers
11. What size of investment do you need to grow your enterprise?
12. How will you use this investment? Please include the time frame.
Since the World Food Summit in 1996 communities around the world have become more concerned about food security. Though in Canada we often consider ourselves fortunate to have a great and varied food supply there are many reasons for us to be concerned. For example, many farmers are struggling to make a living wage, local food production is not enough to supply demand for local food, food-borne illnesses have been making national news, and monoculture is making our farms ever more reliant on pesticides and fertilizers. These are just a few of the reasons for concern.
Through the Canadian Social Economy Research Partnerships (CSERP) researchers and practitioners across Canada are investigating how the Social Economy is addressing food security and how it can be doing more. Now CSERP is engaging with producers, communities and other stakeholders to use the research to identify next steps in creating a sustainable food and agriculture policy and system for Canada. Seeking input on this will be the next stage in our work and we welcome your involvement.
Download the newsletter to learn more about the exciting work being done by across the Social Economy Research Partnerships, click here>>
The Canadian Social Economy Hub (CSEHub) is located at the University of Victoria and is co-directed by Ian MacPherson and Rupert Downing. CSEHub undertakes research in order to understand and promote the Social Economy tradition within Canada and as a subject of academic enquiry within universities.
CSEHub is a Community-University Research Alliance (CURA) between the University of Victoria, represented by its principal investigator, and the Canadian Community Economic Development Network (CCEDNet), represented by the designated co-director. CSEHub is directed by the two organizations and their representatives, with the advice and input of a board of representatives of regional nodes and national partners of the Canadian Social Economy Research Partnerships (CSERP).
Executive Summary
The tax and program spending levers available to the federal government provide a number of opportunities to catalyze entrepreneurial initiatives that contribute to sustainable and inclusive economic development. As part of a whole-of-government approach to supporting community innovation and social entrepreneurship, incentives to leverage private investment as well as direct federal investment are vital measures that can enhance prosperity and contribute to Canada’s efforts towards a sustainable economic, social and environmental future. Compared to other countries, Canada is falling behind in this field. Our recommendations for measures that the 2010 Budget can take to begin catching up are:
Create a Greater Role for Social Enterprise in Economic Revitalization
Provide Sustained Support for Community Economic Development Organizations and Community Capacity Building
Learning Enrichment Foundation – Member Profile
Brodie Metcalfe
History
Beginning in 1978, in response to a pressing need to address social, educational and employment concerns in the city of York in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), a number of community stakeholders gathered together to form the Learning Enrichment Foundation (LEF). Initially, LEF provided multicultural theater for children, but quickly grew in scope to include a number of programs and services, including skills training, youth counseling and childcare. LEF now attracts people from all over the Greater Toronto Area who access their various programs. Over the years, LEF has formed many cooperative relationships with governments, local organizations and networks supporting community economic development (CED). Today, thirty-one years later, the Learning Enrichment Foundation has built a strong network of organizations, programs and services responding to the changing needs of local communities.
Activities
LEF’s activities are expansive and address a variety of expressed needs. Recently, the Bicycle Assembly and Maintenance Program (BAM) program was established which provides skills training in bicycle mechanics to participants. Those participants then go on to do co-op placements and are assisted in finding permanent employment at local bike shops. This program came from a general need to boost employment and a need for skilled bike mechanics for the bicycle user’s community.
Some of LEF’s more established and long running programs include LINC, Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada, which works closely with LEF’s newcomers’ settlement program, to reduce the barriers to education and employment for newly settled immigrants. There are a number of youth services offered including Reconnect Camp, a two-week long camp that reconnects newcomer families who have been separated for extended periods of time; Magic Hands, developing youth leadership skills through magic; and BizCamp, a program designed for youth 14 to 17 who are interested in entrepreneurial skills. Presently, there are 204 youth engaged in these programs and 38 youth trained as volunteers.
Probably the largest initiative LEF takes on is developed in their Neighbourhood Strategy, where integrated programs have been established to address poverty, barriers to education and employment, lack of child-care support, and building community. By locating and addressing the needs of children, youth, adults and seniors, LEF is attempting to break the circle of poverty that afflicts residents of the old city of York. Eighteen child care centres have been set up; skills training programs have been established that evolve with local labour market needs; a skills development loans program is up and running; as well as a number of bridging programs, fully integrated, are available to communities.
Success Factors
Contributing to the success of the LEF is its integrated approach to community economic development. Realizing that there are a number of barriers communities in the GTA face, including language, job skills, and marginalization based on race, class and gender, LEF has developed a number of interwoven programs offering a holistic approach to CED. “There is a concern that when people think CED, they think only of social enterprise,” says LEF Executive Director, Peter Frampton. “LEF is an example of an integrated response to a community in crisis, bringing programs and opportunities in a holistic manner.” With its consideration of many intersections of marginalization and its focus on capacity building and social well-being, as well as economic development, LEF has been successful in reaching a vast number of people expressing need.
Lessons Learned
Many organizations with political motivations become stifled and stagnant when caught up in theories of how to address social, economic and environmental issues. While these theories are important, so too are the voices of community members. LEF is an organization that responds to the expressed needs of communities, sometimes trying programs and services multiple times until they work. For instance, the new Bicycle Assembly and Maintenance Program (BAM) is a flourishing program responding to a need for skilled bike mechanics, offering co-op placements and employment for program participants; however, similar programs were tried in the past with mediocre success. Sometimes it is small changes with time, place and energy that will make all the difference – what Frampton calls “organized serendipity.” LEF is now delivering a solution to an ongoing problem in the bicycle user’s community.
The needs of community members in the GTA are diverse and divergent. LEF has learned that connecting their programs to one another to address a variety of needs through integrated approaches to CED is incredibly valuable and necessary for long-term economic and social stability for individuals. By bringing more than just a lens of economic development, but also a lens of poverty, holistic approaches are more conceivable. LEF realizes that relationships are deeply implicated in the process of development; by connecting programs and focusing on social skills and development LEF can better address the isolation that many marginalized families and individuals face.
CCEDNet Membership
When asked what LEF had to gain by being a member of CCEDNet, Frampton replied, “CCEDNet is the one that feels like home; it recharges batteries; it is the one that challenges us to think about new ideas, introduces us to those new ideas, and does so in a really broad but thorough context.” CCEDNet strives to bring together a diversity of political action and opinion around community economic development so that organizations across Canada can share their stories, learn from one another and grow confident knowing there are a vast amount of people working together towards social change.
Ryan Gibson Research Affiliate, Rural Development Institute, Brandon University
Originally from rural Manitoba, Ryan is a Research Affiliate with the Rural Development Institute of Brandon University. For the past seven years Ryan has been engaged in community development projects and processes focused on rural and northern governance, regional collaboration, cooperatives, community foundations, and rural revitalization. Ryan Gibson is the Chair of the Canadian CED Network’s Membership Committee.
CCEDNet board endorses the new anti-poverty campaign ‘Dignity for All’ being led by Canada Without Poverty (formerly the National Anti-Poverty Organization) and Citizens for Public Justice.
Building the Conversation with Members of Parliament.
In the final month before Parliament rose for the summer, campaign staff and committee members were active in their engagement on Parliament Hill.
Several organizations appeared before the HUMA committee as part of their hearings on the federal contribution to reducing poverty in Canada. Follow these links for more information about presentations by Campaign 2000, Canada Without Poverty and Make Poverty History, the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation, and Citizens for Public Justice.
On June 9, NDP MP Tony Martin hosted a Poverty Roundtable at which participants discussed the NDP’s proposed Canada Poverty Elimination Act. Participants considered several questions related to the prospective law: what visions and principles should be reflected in the preamble? What elements should be included in the legislation? Should there be a Poverty Commissioner? What about measures, targets, timelines, and accountability?
There was significant support for ideas put forward by Canada Without Poverty, namely that the Act be grounded in the human rights framework, that it include official and robust measures of poverty and social exclusion, and that the corresponding poverty elimination plan be developed in consultation and cooperation with those living in poverty. Tony Martin and his colleagues in the NDP will continue to gather input into this process; consultation on a draft bill is anticipated in the fall, following which consideration will be give as to how best to introduce it to the House.
Smaller meetings were also held with a number of MPs. Rob Rainer and Kelly Law (Canada Without Poverty), and Karri Munn-Venn (Citizens for Public Justice) met with NDP MP Megan Leslie on Monday, June 15. It was a wonderful opportunity to explore various aspects of the Dignity for All campaign, and to learn more about the experience that Ms. Leslie brings to the House of Commons. Megan has a long history of social justice engagement in Halifax, including membership in the Community Coalition to End Poverty and the Affordable Energy Coalition. She offered her enthusiastic support for the work of the Dignity for All campaign.
Also on June 15, Karri Munn-Venn (CPJ), Kelly Law and Rob Rainer (CWP) met briefly with Liberal MPs Wayne Easter, David McGuinty, Marcel Proulx, and Bryon Wilfert outside the House of Commons. They introduced the Dignity for All campaign, acknowledged the openness that several Liberal MPs have expressed towards more concrete federal action on poverty, and emphasized the urgency of the situation of poverty in Canada. The MPs welcomed the information and offered assurances that it would be duly considered.
Your Turn: The Summer Barbeque Circuit.
Now that parliament has risen for the summer, we’d like to pass the baton over to you for the next leg of the run. We encourage all Dignity for All supporters to plan to attend your MP’s summer BBQ, to take a minute to talk to them about the Dignity for All campaign, and to persuade them to sign-on.
We are calling for: (1) a federal plan for poverty elimination that complements provincial and territorial plans; (2) a federal anti-poverty Act that ensures enduring federal commitment and accountability for results; and (3) sufficient federal investment in social security for all Canadians.
To find out when and where your MP is hosting their event visit the Parliament of Canada website and click through to their website, or simply google them.
Thank you for your support! Please forward this bulletin to your colleagues, friends, and family so that they too can be a part of Dignity for All!
Through its Executive Director, CCEDNet is represented on the steering committee of Community Based Research Canada, a new cross-sectoral network of universities and civil society organizations that is pushing for greater community – university – government partnerships in research that will impact real needs in Canadian communities.
For more information about Community Based Research Canada, and to access resources designed to support these efforts visit their website: www.communityresearchcanada.ca
A report has been produced that provides the first comprehensive analysis of the state, challenges and opportunities of community university partnerships in contributing to the sustainable development of Canadian communities. Download the paper here.
A related international network, the Global Alliance for Community Engaged Research, has also produced and presented a brief to UNESCO’s World Conference on Higher Education in July. Download the brief here.
A symposium in Ottawa last May brought together practitioners and university representatives to debate the importance of civil society partnerships with universities and colleges, and the need for anti-oppressive research to give power to citizens in influencing policy and learning. To view power point presentations from this symposium, click here.
CCEDNet will continue to participate in advocating for the community voice and agenda in these discussions and welcomes feedback from its members.
POSITION TITLE: COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT, VICTORIA BC (CREATEACTION WORK EXPERIENCE INTERNSHIP)
The Canadian CED Network is inviting applications for a work experience position which will be based out of its office in Victoria, BC. The Communications Assistant position will begin on August 4, 2009 for a period of six (6) months. This internship is part of our CreateAction CED Work Experience Program and, as such, the following criteria apply:
Criteria for candidates include:
• between the ages of 15 and 30 inclusively at the time of selection
• a Canadian citizen, or a permanent resident, or a protected person within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
• legally entitled to work in Canada
• legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial and/or territorial legislation and regulations
• a post-secondary college or university graduate and out of school
• not receiving Employment Insurance benefits
• can demonstrate a lack of labour market attachment to field of study (under-employed or unemployed)
• can demonstrate that working in the field of community economic development is a career goal
• has not previously participated in a Service Canada Career Focus work experience placement
ABOUT THE CANADIAN CED NETWORK:
The Canadian CED Network is a values-based, non-profit organization committed to strengthening the social, economic, and environmental conditions of Canadian communities. We have several hundred members throughout Canada working at the grassroots level in rural, urban, Aboriginal and northern settings. Offering an inclusive, learning environment for staff and members, the Network seeks to create opportunities for young people to develop their skills and leadership in building sustainable communities. For more information on the network please visit our website: www.ccednet-rcdec.ca
DESCRIPTION:
The Communications Assistant will provide support for the development and implementation of CCEDNet’s internal and external communications objectives.
DUTIES INCLUDE:
1. Assisting the Communications Coordinator in executing the organization’s overall communications plan
2. Event coordination and logistics as needed
3. Liaising with government, community and civil society partners
4. Maintaining the organization’s website, including creating and editing copy, managing update requests and analyzing web statistics
5. Assisting with content sourcing and writing for CCEDNet’s Annual Report
6. Assisting with writing, editing and formatting of National newsletter
7. Design and layout of publications, brochures and promotional material
8. Updating and maintaining national and regional media lists
9. Content writing for publications, reports, articles and promotional materials
10. Marketing of publications and resources
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
The Communications Assistant will report to the Communications Coordinator and work in collaboration with several other colleagues at CCEDNet’s regional office located in Victoria, BC. This position also works with other members of CCEDNet staff located across Canada.
QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE:
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Post-secondary college or university graduate in related field
• Some experience in Public Relations, Communications and/or campaign development
• Experience with document design software (ie: Adobe InDesign CS 3) and design principals
• Proficient in all Microsoft office programs, internet and email
• Creative
• Detail-oriented
• Experience, training or expressed interest in community economic development (CED) and the non-profit sector
• Willing to travel
*Preference will be given to bilingual candidates (English and French).
Term of Employment: 24 weeks. Start Date August 4th, 2009
Wages and benefits: $14.50/hour at 30 hours/week plus statutory benefits
All applicants must submit their resume, cover letter and one (1) writing sample (news release, backgrounder, article, etc.) of fewer than 1000 words via e-mail or fax no later than Friday, July 24th 2009 to:
Erin Brocklebank
Communications Coordinator
The Canadian CED Network
Tel: 250-386-9980 (110)
Fax: 250-386-9984
What is the CED Work Experience Program? The Canadian CED Network (CCEDNet) is pleased to announce the Call for Proposals for the 7th intake of its CED Work Experience Program, CreateAction. This program is funded by Service Canada. Its purpose is to give out-of-school post-graduate youth who have a career focus in CED a relevant six-month work experience placement. We are recruiting up to 20 community-based CED organisations to host work experience participants from August 4 – January 15th, 2010 inclusively.
How does it work? Organizations apply to CCEDNet to host a participant. CCEDNet selects the host organizations. The host organizations in turn hire the participants according to job-specific placements.
Eligible work experience placements may include project management, participatory research, communications, social entrepreneurship, business planning, social marketing, CED financing and asset mapping, to name a few.
CCEDNet requires host organizations to be members of CCEDNet or become members once its application for hosting work experience participants is approved. (For information about being a CCEDNet member, click here.)
CCEDNet will select the host organizations according to the following criteria:
relevance of proposed work experience to community economic development (For CCEDNet’s definition of CED, click here)
organisational capacity to assist participants with their daily work, mentoring and career development
provincial/territorial and urban/rural diversity
track record in hosting work experience placements, students or interns
ability to recruit participants from diverse backgrounds
For this intake, CCEDNet will give preference to organizations that can successfully recruit Aboriginal participants as well as persons with disabilities.
CCEDNet will:
manage the CED Work Experience Program;
contribute $14.50 an hour for a total of 30 hours a week to the work experience participant’s wages;
contribute the participant Mandatory Employment Related Costs or statutory benefits;
offer major travel and accommodation for provincially diverse participants to attend the national intern gathering in late October 2009; and
provide peer learning and mentoring opportunities to the participants.
Host organizations will:
supervise the work experience participant;
contribute to the work experience participant’s learning opportunities; and
allow the work experience participant to spend approximately one day per week in our National Youth CED Engagement project.
Allow the work experience participant to spend a minimum of two days at the national intern gathering in late October 2009.
How to apply? Deadline for host organizations to submit an application is July 20th, 2009, 12:00 pm Pacific Standard Time.
Download CED Work Experience Host Organization Application Form (PDF | Word)
Youth interested in the program may submit an application to CCEDNet or may apply directly to the host organizations.
Download CED Work Experience Program Application Form here (PDF | Word)
The successful host organizations will be announced on this website: www.ccednet-rcdec.ca.
For more information or to submit an application, please contact Kezia Cowtan at or phone toll free at 1-877-202-2268, ext. 105,Fax: 250-386-9984
Emerging Leaders in the Social Economy Research Scholarship Program
The Canadian Social Economy Hub (CSEHub) is inviting proposals for research scholarships from practitioners and students under 30-years old(1) who are working in the Social Economy. This scholarship program is intended to promote original research by “emerging leaders” in the Social Economy that will advance knowledge for the sector, and enhance the capacity of successful candidates to further strengthen the Social Economy in academic and practitioner sectors in Canada.
The Program will provide scholarships of up to $3,000 per recipient towards salary replacement, national/international travel, or other actual costs of conducting research and producing a research report for publication by CSEHub. A review panel will assess proposals and make recommendations to the CSEHub Co-Directors who will select the scholarship recipients. The panel will be made up of representatives of the CSEHub board (including at least one academic), the Social Economy Student Network, and the Emerging Leaders Committee of the Canadian CED Network. These organizations will also act as a peer review panel for the scholarship recipients’ research papers.
Awarding of scholarships is conditional upon the following:
The subject is relevant to the national policy research priorities of CSEHub
The research will benefit Canadians
The winners agree to submit a paper for publication by CSEHub within a timeline agreed upon by the CSEHub (no later than 4 months prior to August 2010).
CV listing all publications, previous research experience, and two references
Letter of application outlining interest in continued work in strengthening the Social Economy, the rationale for the research proposal, its relevance to the policy priorities of CSEHub, the arrangements that have been or can be made to ensure sufficient time for the research and writing process, a proposed budget (including costs to be covered by the award), and a description of how the report and research data/findings will be put to use by practitioners/actors in the Social Economy
Two letters of support for the proposal
Deadline for proposals is September 15, 2009. For more information, or to submit a proposal, please email , or visit the website: www.socialeconomyhub.ca. Proposals can also be faxed to (250) 853-3930 or mailed to CSEHub, TEF Building, University of Victoria, Room 214, 2300 McKenzie Ave., Victoria, BC, V8W 3R4
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1 Subject to variance by the review panel based on cultural or other rationale.
