The Latest

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: What Can You Do?

Each year, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty falls on the 17^th of October. Declared by the United Nations in 1992, this date provides a shared moment each year – across the country and around the world – to:

1. Commemorate victims of poverty, violence and hunger
2. Reaffirm that poverty is a violation of human rights
3. Re-commit to coming together to ensure the right to live free from poverty is respected
4. Acknowledge the effort and struggle of people living in poverty
5. Celebrate the willingness of people living in poverty to fight poverty and contribute their expertise to ending it
6. Promote concrete activities around the eradication of poverty
7. Organize activities for the observance of October 17^th.

Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs - Poverty

The Four Phases of Successful Poverty Reduction

As a national network, Cities Reducing Poverty (CRP) now supports more than 70 cities and communities, representing over 250 municipalities, to reduce poverty locally. 

Lessons from PEI's Poverty Reduction Plan

• Developing a Poverty Reduction Act and identifying responsible parties
• Monitoring key indicators such as the number of Islanders experiencing poverty and attachment to employment to measure progress
• Convening a poverty reduction council comprised of community and government leaders
• Large increases to social assistance rates
• A new 211 help line for individuals and practitioners to find available services
• And more

Identifying Everyone’s Stake: Cause & Effect Exercises

Last month, Cities Reducing Poverty members were introduced to facilitating Cause and Effect exercises by Gary Vipond, CEO of United Way Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma District. This blog provides an overview on what we learned as prospective facilitators.

Prince Edward Island's Action Plan on Poverty

After just under a year of research and engaging Islanders in a discussion on challenges and solutions to poverty, Prince Edward Island (PEI) released their Poverty Reduction Action Plan in November 2018.

Authentic Engagement is a Personal Journey

How do we engage authentically?

There’s really no systematic way of doing so. No bullet list will unlock the secret for an organization or collective to engage authentically without each of us being authentic individuals. After all, organizations are simply entities comprised of people – comprised of us.