What are the roles of different sectors to reduce poverty and how can they be productively and sustainably engaged?
Underlying poverty, we have determined that complex root causes call for complex responses. Working alone, there is no one sector or organization that can make progress on poverty. To make a difference, communities need to move from an emphasis on specialization to orchestration; from working in silos to working across boundaries.
On this page you’ll find descriptions and links about working across boundaries within:
Aides for Action
Making The Case – Clarifying Ways Businesses Benefit from Poverty Reduction Strategies - This document, written by Mark Cabaj, discusses how business can benefit from poverty reduction strategies and provides a framework for engaging business in poverty reduction strategies. Access the aide here.
Collaborating with Business for Social Transformation - This Tamarack guide, written by Garry Loewen, identifies how collaborating with business can enhance social change outcomes, provides tips on meeting the challenges that such collaboration creates, and supplies practical tools for planning the engagement with the business sector. Access the aide here.
Online seminars
Engaging Business - A four part online seminar series that explores where and how to engage businesses in the work of reducing poverty. The series explores why businesses might wish to be involved, how employers can assist and retain low wage workers, and research and tools to help local networks can engage business in their work. Access the seminar series here.
Engaging Business in Social Change Efforts - An online seminar with Garry Loewen and John Weiser – experienced practitioners - focused on an new resource. The seminar explores motivations and practical tools for planning engagement with the business sector. Access the seminar here.
Communities of Practice
Vibrant Communities also hosts Living Wage and Engaging Business Communities of Practice, where practitioners meet regularly by teleconference and online for learning opportunities. Although our communities of practice are focused on poverty reduction, anyone involved in multisectoral collaborations is welcome to join them. To learn more, visit our page on Communities of Practice.
Back to top.
Background Papers
The Social Role of Local Government - In recent years, local government has emerged as an important institution for addressing complex social issues through its roles as exemplary employer, service provider, investor, leader, champion, convener and partner. The paper describes the challenges municipalities face as they seek to tackle these issues. Access the Caledon paper here.
Aides for Action
Collaboration on Policy: A Manual - Developed by Caledon with partners known as the Community-Government Collaboration on Policy, this manual provides practical lessons for the establishment and operation of effective government-community collaborations on policy. The many examples, tools and references provided in the manual are helpful both to those new to policy work and to groups already engaged in collaborations on policy. Access the manual here.
Online seminars
Government Engagement - A five part online seminar series that explores community-government engagement in four communities participating in Vibrant Communities. The series examines case studies in Saint John, Hamilton, BC’s Capitol Region and Calgary, including the lessons learned. Access the seminar series here.
Community Roles in Poverty Reduction Policy – Communities engage in public policy making as they seek improved access to public programs and services, or help design local spaces and programs that respond to their concerns. This online seminar introduces a manual for effective government-community collaborations on policy and gives an overview of ways communities can participate in shaping government policies related to poverty. Access the seminar here.
Back to top.
Background Papers
The Gender and Poverty Project - An action-research project that involved six communities to examine poverty from a gender perspective and its implications for poverty reduction strategies. The final report also includes three components for a toolkit for gender analysis: tools, research reviews and case studies. Access the report here.
Aides for Action
The Poverty Experience - A workshop designed to assist groups to deepen their understanding of the challenges of community participation while living in poverty. Created by the Quality of Life CHALLENGE in British Columbia , it uses an innovative methodology that provides an opportunity to experience poverty through a variety of simulations. Access the aide here.
Case Studies
Quality of Life CHALLENGE in Victoria Invites Low-income Canadians to Speak for Themselves - Engaging low-income residents in community-based poverty reduction requires careful planning and the provision of ongoing support. Victoria’s Quality of Life CHALLENGE has made this issue a priority and members of a Community Action Team now are serving on a variety of working groups. Access the case study here.
Leading to Enable: Government Engagement in Vibrant Communities Saint John - An in-depth exploration of the roles played by government agencies in the groundbreaking poverty reduction initiative in Saint John involving the private, public and community sectors. Access the case study here.
Online seminars
Learn to Include - A three-part online seminar series that explores ways of utilizing the skills that low-income residents bring to leadership - both in grassroots groups and in more formal roundtables. One seminar focuses on The Poverty Experience, a workshop designed to assist groups to deepen their understanding of the challenges of community participation while living in poverty. Access the seminar series here.
Back to top.
|
