The Burning Issues
A Sessions: Friday, November 7 – 10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
A1 Philanthropy and Human Rights
Christopher Harris, The Ford Foundation
Avila Kilmurray, Community Foundation of Northern Ireland
Akwasi Aidoo, Trust Africa
Around the world foundations are beginning to think about their role in tackling pressing and seemingly intractable issues and problems. Indeed, some are moving forward in putting resources - financial and non-financial - into the urgent issue of human rights and social justice. It’s challenging and sometimes lonely work, but many argue it is where foundations need to go. In this session a brief presentation on philanthropy and social justice will be followed by real-life examples of foundation activities from different parts of the world. Successes and difficulties will be shared for participants to respond and add to.
A9 Leadership for Social Justice
Barry Smith, The Synergos Institute, Southern Africa
Marissa Camacho-Reyes, Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support (WINGS) Philippines
Sibongile Mkhabela, Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, South Africa
All too often, the economic growth and globalization of recent years, has been accompanied by a growing gap between rich and poor. In the current, context with many societies facing economic crisis and recession, those left behind by growth and globalization sense even more intensely that they are part of a ‘zero sum game’ in which there are clear winners and losers. Working for the common good in our communities, we are confronted by the increasingly stark realities of poverty and social exclusion, and many feel the need to reclaim a vision and practice of social justice to guide our work. But in a world of social complexity, in which the energies of all sectors are required to shift deep-seated social divides, what does it mean to exercise leadership for social justice? Join us in an exploration of the notion of leadership for social justice - an interactive dialogue about what leaders for social justice need to ‘be, know and do’.
A10 Collaborative Approaches for Wicked Problems
Al Hatton, United Way of Canada
Giles Ruck, Scottish Community Foundation
Tracey Robertson, Ontario Trillium Foundation
Hulene Montgomery, Lyle S. Hallman Foundation
Wicked problems are complex, messy and deep rooted. They aren’t solved by any one player or any one answer. Wicked problems of poverty, illiteracy, and exclusion affect nations, communities, neighbourhoods and families. They exist in large urban cities and isolated rural villages. Come learn about some of the collaborative approaches to social problems happening in communities across Canada, in rural and isolated Scottish communities and also hear about an initiative to strengthen the capacity of voluntary organizations addressing these wicked problems. And bring your own examples to share!
B Sessions: Saturday, November 8 – 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
B10 Locating The Community In Community Foundation: Experiences From Around The World
Jenny Hodgson, Global Fund for Community Foundations
Avila Kilmurray, Community Foundation of Northern Ireland
Janet Mawiyoo, Kenya Community Development Foundation
Janice Wing, Red Deer Community Foundation
In today's "global village" communities are changing, expanding across countries and regions, and congregating around interests or identity, often virtually. At the same time, at the local level, communities are becoming more diverse than ever before, and changing economic and political contexts can threaten community cohesion and ignite tensions or conflict. Hear about how community foundations from around the world have responded to this changing reality.
C Sessions: Saturday, November 8 – 2:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
C2 The Environics Institute’s Urban Aboriginal Peoples Study
Michael Adams and Ginger Gosnell-Myers, Environics Research Group
The Environics Institute’s Urban Aboriginal Peoples Study seeks to offer Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians insight into the lives and aspirations of Aboriginal people living in Canada’s major cities.
C9 - Thinking Big: Foundations and Complex Environmental Challenges
Chet Tchozewski, Global Greengrants Fund, Colorado
Vicki Burns, Community Foundations of Canada
James Byrne, University of Lethbridge, Alberta
How can foundations use systems thinking and an understanding of complex systems to effectively address environmental issues? This session will explore complex environmental systems and how funders can engage in those to make a difference through their environmental grantmaking. Work currently underway by foundations in the Lake Winnipeg Watershed, including an emerging public education campaign, will be featured.
C10 From Boardroom to Kitchen Table: Community Foundations Addressing Complex Community Issues
Mark Chamberlain and Liz Weaver, Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction
Sheree Meredith and Sandra Stephenson, Hamilton Community Foundation
Community Foundations have a unique role and mix of resources to bring to bear in addressing complex issues such as poverty. Each Foundation’s community and internal contexts will influence their focus, approach and partners. This session will draw on Hamilton Community Foundation’s experience with a multi-year, multi-level poverty reduction that includes convening at the broad community level, strategic grant-making and a grassroots neighbourhood program. There will be an opportunity to discuss learnings from multiple perspectives – from the “boardroom to the kitchen table”.
D Sessions: Sunday, November 9 – 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
D1 Making Sense of the Economic Turmoil Around Us
Paul Taylor, Chief Investment Officer, BMO Harris Private Banking
Join your colleagues to hear from a leading expert on the economic upheaval that dominates our daily news. Paul has delivered many presentations on the impact of the turmoil swirling around us. In this session Paul will describe how we got to the place we find ourselves in now, where this might lead and what it might mean for our work in philanthropy.
D6 Aboriginal Youth: Promising Practices and Potential Roles for Community Foundations
Sheree Meredith and Sharon Charters, Hamilton Community Foundation
Josh Dockstator, NYAWEH, Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School, Hamilton
Community Foundations across the country are working with their communities to address issues and create a better future for aboriginal youth. NYAEH (Native Youth Advancement with Education Hamilton) is one example of a multi-year initiative having a significant positive outcome. This interactive session will provide an opportunity to discuss this and other promising practices, recent research and potential roles and opportunities for community foundations both individually and collectively related to aboriginal youth.
D10 Pathways to Progress: Moving Your Philanthropy Closer to Issues of Social Justice
Steven E. Mayer, Effective Communities, LLC, Minneapolis
Social justice is both complex and a bit scary for those in positions of community prominence, yet community philanthropy is a choice arena to help good things happen. This presentation by Dr. Mayer will draw on his recent work (see www.JustPhilanthropy.org) illuminating six discovered Pathways to Progress useful for guiding a community foundation's work in ways that can “move the needle” and “bend the trend lines.” Implications for a community foundation's role and practices will be explored, as well as its connection to CFC's work with Vital Signs, Poverty, and Social Justice.