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Social Innovation: Lessons for Communities

“Disturbers are never popular – nobody ever really loved the alarm clock in action – no matter how grateful they may have been afterwards for its kind service.” - Nellie McClung

Those of us working in communities recognize the need for greater innovation and experimentation if we want to accelerate our ability to advance positive change in neighbourhoods, municipalities and regions.  Whether the focus of our work is: citizen engagement, belonging, community safety, poverty-reduction, housing, or community economic development, there is a growing recognition that wiser and bolder approaches are needed to effectively meet the complex challenges before us.  So, where do we begin?  The robust field of social innovation offers important insights, lessons, patterns and practices to consider.

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Tamarack 2015: A Year in Review

Tamarack Institute was founded in 2002 and for the past 14 years we have had one simple goal. Our community of volunteers, learners and staff are dedicated to making the work of community change easier and more effective. We believe in systems change and our work assumes that we can change whole systems, for the better. We look for evidence of change in our communities – like improvements to individual or family outcomes, increased capacity within communities to address social issues, or new policies and programs to improve peoples’ lives.

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ABCD in Canada

“Ain’t it how it seems to go.  You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone” - Joni Mitchell

 

There is nothing extraordinary about Asset Based Community Development (ABCD). It’s as ordinary as looking out for your family, your neighbours, your environment. Or extending a hand to people who are down on their luck, struggling or vulnerable. Or banding together with others to fix a common challenge.

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Change is Here: Our Online Learning Has Evolved

When Tamarack was founded back in 2002, the use of technology in the non-profit sector was very different. Online communication was far less interactive and responsive, and navigating the world wide web was done almost exclusively at our desks, not on-the-go from our smartphones. Fast forward 14 years, and now Tamarack is an Institute in its adolescence – a little more mature, a little less inexperienced, still fascinated with the possibilities that technology brings to the work we do.  What have we been doing all of this time?

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Evaluations that Work: Your Questions Answered

On June 22nd, Vibrant Communities Canada and the Ontario Nonprofit Network hosted a webinar ' Evaluations That Work: What the Non-Profit Sector Can Learn from the Ontario Nonprofit Network and Vibrant Communities'. The webinar unpacked real-life stories from three Vibrant Communities panelists, who showcased times where evaluation worked really well for them, and highlighted factors which contributed to their success. A successful evaluation was defined as one that led to insight and action.
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New Affordable Housing Initiative in Edmonton

Vulnerable and at-risk families in Edmonton will now have a chance at a safe place to call home. The City of Edmonton will be starting construction soon on a 70-unit apartment building, with mixed income units.

The project is expected to provide homes for approximately 230 people.

"We are pleased to see this kind of key investment in our community as everyone deserves a place to call home. Affordable housing is one of the critical components to ending poverty in Edmonton and we will continue to work with the Government of Alberta, housing providers and community support service providers to ensure these kinds of investments are made."
-Don Iveson, Mayor of Edmonton

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