In June 2020, Tamarack pivoted from our in-person workshop offerings to moving workshops into the virtual space. We knew it was going to be a challenge. As our team reflected on this opportunity, we noted that we wanted to create a virtual learning experience which was unique.
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As a long-time volunteer with my local Optimist Club, I have been trying to find out how we can shift the way we include more voices in deciding our programing. On Dec 3rd 2020, I attended a workshop that was hosted by the Cities Deepening Community team at Tamarack Institute called A Professional’s Guide to Working with Young People in Citizen Space. This workshop was facilitated by Cormac Russell and used Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) as a way to put youth at the centre of our work. I went to this workshop with the perspective of an elected President of our local Optimist Club. We work closely with youth in our community and try to build events and donate to existing sports/service clubs that are for the youth in Baden.
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When I was invited to co-host a workshop called A Professional’s Guide to Working with Young People in Citizen Space in December, I felt very nervous. I do not have much experience with any kind of business meeting, and I was afraid I would slip up. When the call began, everything changed. It felt less like a meeting or workshop and more like a classroom. This was an environment I was already comfortable in, so I felt a lot more relaxed. I realized that everyone was not expecting me to have professional experience and knowing that allowed me to feel more comfortable. There were many lovely people in the workshop that built off the knowledge I shared, and I felt like I had a real role.
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On December 2nd, Cormac Russell returned to Tamarack to lead an interactive online learning experience that explored how professionals and organizations can work in citizen space. A familiar voice around Tamarack, Cormac is Managing Director of Nurture Development, a faculty member of the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Institute and an internationally-renowned thought leader, trainer and speaker. The Asset-Based Community Development Virtual Workshop led participants through a journey to reflect upon and discover ways we can shift to citizen-centred community development approaches from top-down institution-centered ones.
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If there is one group that tends to go unnoticed in poverty and policy, it is the single working-age person. How can it be acceptable for an individual to want to work, be part of the working population, actively contributing to society, the economy, and still not be able to meet basic needs? Working age singles are more likely to be living in deep poverty, so why are they so overlooked in poverty reduction plans?
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At the best of times, good local population-level data is difficult to find to inform poverty reduction efforts. With the added pressures of COVID-19, it is critical now more than ever to understand the changing face of poverty – who is in need, to what extent, what supports are available, and whether people are able to and accessing those supports. However, common data challenges roundtables face include:
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