The Latest

Social Procurement: A Potential Lever in Poverty-Reduction?

In Alberta, a Social RFQ (request for quotes) issued last fall, was intentionally designed to provide work opportunities to previously homeless, recently housed individuals, who were workforce ready, but faced barriers to employment. This IS social procurement: an approach to better leverage taxpayer funded supply chains to move beyond ‘do no harm’ and start working proactively to ‘do some good.’ Social procurement works on the premise that taxpayer funded contracts should also enhance social value in our communities.

Read More

Tamarack 2016: A Year of Progress & Impact

At Tamarack, our aim has always been to provide leaders with the knowledge and inspiration they need to achieve success in their community change efforts.  By documenting, generating and disseminating knowledge, both in person and via a variety of channels, we strive to provide community change leaders with the resources and inspiration they need to make their work easier and more effective. 

Read More

Reflections on a Funder's Role as a Strategic Investor in Community Change

As a representative of the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), I worked with Headwaters Communities in Action (HCIA) -- a diverse citizen-led group that champions community well-being in Dufferin County and the Town of Caledon -- and supported its leaders in the creation of an initial Headwaters Community Well-Being Report for their region.  This required the Foundation to move beyond the role of “traditional funder” in favour of "relational funder", where the agency could position itself as a strategic investor in the community.  As a relational funder, OTF could actively participate in system-wide initiatives and gain an understanding the nuances of community work. 

Read More

Cities Reducing Poverty: Bringing All Voices to the Table

Poverty is a complex issue. It’s an issue that cannot be approached in isolation or solved by a select few – it effects everyone, is experienced by people in different ways, and involves a significant number of interrelated elements and stakeholders. We know this. We know that when working on complex problems, such as poverty, finding comprehensive solutions requires communities to come together to leverage and better understand their assets – knowledge, experience, skills and resources – to truly see and act on the issue from all angles.

Read More

Let's Make International Women's Day Every Day

Today is International Women's Day when the attention of one half of the world's population is brought to the entire world, suggesting that maybe this day is best honoured the other 364 days as well. Time to consider how this might look. 

Read More

Cities Reducing Poverty Summit: A Catalyst for Community-level Change

The 2017 Cities Reducing Poverty Summit: When Business is Engaged event, hosted by the City of Hamilton, is fast approaching and I can barely contain my excitement that this event is literally happening in our backyard.  We’ve got a significant contingent going this year and I look forward to sharing this inspiring learning opportunity with my members and volunteers.

Read More