OUR APPROACHES
Learning, knowledge, and research-based, empowering communities to navigate and achieve the next step of their growth.
ADVANCING EDUCATION
Advance education of and about the barriers facing, the realities being experienced, and the best practices and drivers to support Canada’s vulnerable communities by developing and sharing learnings and knowledge, conducting research, and supporting individuals and groups through training, organizational and community development, and recognition.
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Examples of actions include:
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Undertaking community-wide needs assessments to shed light on the barriers limiting vulnerable communities from accessing services/reaching the same outcomes as the wider Canadian society.
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Developing community-led steering committees to mobilize community knowledge to address societal issues.
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Researching the intersectionality of the lived experiences of vulnerable populations and various societal determinants of health, education, etc.
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Sharing knowledge and learnings through infographics, presentations, reports, policy briefs, and arts.
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Training groups working with vulnerable populations on the realities, approaches, experiences, and best practices to work with, understand, and empower these individuals and groups.
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Recognizing and supporting the education of upcoming community leaders through bursaries and grants.
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ENHANCING
WELL-BEING
Enhance individual and community well-being through efforts targeting mental and physical health, breaking isolation, exploring, connecting with, and embracing one’s identity, learning about, engaging with, and sharing one’s heritage and culture, and empowering individuals, groups, and communities to be who they want to be.
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Examples of actions include:
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Bringing seniors together to share their experiences with ageism and to empower themselves and one another to move beyond age-based stereotypes and be who they want to be.
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Empowering individuals to share their experiences, resiliency, and identity through arts-based expression, to improve their well-being.
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Undertaking a community-wide project where participants across a region/province/Canada are asked to share what it means to be part of their community, building cohesion throughout the target area and bringing individuals closer to their heritage/culture/identity.
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Linking isolated communities through shared programs and activities that can allow them to interact with others and break the isolation they face.
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RELIEVING
POVERTY
Relieve poverty by providing material resources (e.g., clothing, food, furniture, educational material, etc.) and expertise to support and empower people living in poverty to meet their needs, so that they can overcome poverty.
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Examples of actions include:
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Giving clothing to isolated communities across Canada.
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Supporting charitable and non-profit organizations in supporting and empowering individuals living in poverty.
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Providing financial support to individuals living in poverty to help them acquire material resources necessary to stabilize and improve their situation.
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COMMUNITY
SUPPORT
Support community vitality and sustainability through developing and equipping individuals, community-based organizations, and communities with the tools needed to serve vulnerable populations and grow. This is achieved through the development of methods, procedures, and toolkits, created through knowledge-based methods and pilot initiatives, that can be shared across Canada.
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Examples of actions include:
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Piloting innovative projects and programs aimed at supporting community vitality and sustainability, with the aim of learning and refining to make the initiatives accessible across Canada.
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Developing a toolkit (research, best practices, activity guides, material resources, etc.) to equip charitable and non-profit organizations with the knowledge and tools necessary to replicate initiatives that support community vitality and sustainability.
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