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Let's Make International Women's Day Every Day

Posted by Cameron Norman on March 8, 2017

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. 

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

Posted by Leena Sharma Seth on March 7, 2017

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.

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This Process is Personal

Posted by Liz Weaver on March 6, 2017

Community change is personal.  It is, at its very core, about changing citizens and communities for the better.  However, we often depersonalize this process.  We talk about services, programs, statistics and organizations in a way that removes the face of citizens.  Perhaps this makes the process easier.  It also removes the urgency of the issue.  If we don’t reflect on the daily impact that citizens are facing in our communities, we can spend endless time in conversation about the problem.   

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How Can Data Transform the Sector?

Posted by Liz Weaver on March 2, 2017

Recently, there was a gathering in Toronto focused on how the voluntary or community benefits sector engages with data to advance and even transform community outcomes. This was the second stop on a world tour by the Data on Purpose group from Stanford University.

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Historical Moment for Unanimously Endorsed Neighbourhood Strategy

Posted by Michelle Drake on March 1, 2017

It's official. The City Council of Kitchener, Ontario unanimously endorsed an inspiring new neighbourhood strategy that allows residents to take the lead.

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Sharpening One’s Saw in Rural Communities

Posted by Deb Halliday on February 24, 2017

As interest in collective impact grows, the question of how this work can look in rural communities continues to arise.

Rural communities face unique challenges when considering collective impact. With sparse organizational infrastructure and minimal philanthropic dollars, rural collective impact practitioners are asking: What does a backbone organization – or even a backbone function – look like when there are few local organizations, and even fewer private or public sector funds available to support the work?

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