May 2020

Find the full newsletter here: Updates from Albertan Changemakers (May 2020)

Resources

  1. Read, Listen, Tell: Indigenous Stories from Turtle Island 
    "From short fiction to as-told-to narratives, from illustrated stories to personal essays, these stories celebrate the strength of heritage and the liveliness of innovation. Ranging in tone from humorous to defiant to triumphant, the stories explore core concepts in Indigenous literary expression, such as the relations between land, language, and community, the variety of narrative forms, and the continuities between oral and written forms of expression." David Gaertner (one of many editors ]contributing to this book of stories) is a professor of digital storytelling, and has been a great connection for some of the ABSI Community Catalyst Program participants as they work through hosting Indigenized digital spaces. Why are we recommending this book? In the words of Niigaanwewidam Sinclair, "If you want a primer on Indigenous cultural expressions, this is for you. If you want deft, detailed stories in Indigenous written, oral and graphic traditions, these will expand your thinking. Read, Listen, Tell will make you laugh, dream and search for more." 

  2. Convening the Capacity Builders: Reflections on the Field of Systems Change
    In July of 2018, a group of 24 systems leaders gathered in Wasan Island, Ontario to explore effective strategies for building the field of systems change. Participants in our Community Catalyst program have found this report useful, and thought you would, too. Read up about the pathways to action, and more, that emerged from this gathering; many of them are still very relevant today as we face major systems change.

  3. The Business Resilience Service (BRS): support and guidance from strong partners 
    This free of charge service connects you (a small - medium sized business, non-profit, or charity) with an advisor to help you find the type of government relief program that is right for you, and support your organization with making resilient, mission-driven change. This program is in partnership with Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Government of Canada, EY, CPA Canada, and Imagine Canada.

  4. The Ultimate Guide to Surviving and Thriving as a Cultural Organization in the 21st Century
    Targeted to  arts and culture organizations, Cuseum has compiled a guide to  find resources, tips for catering to changing consumer needs, guidance for goal setting and insights for leveraging technology tools effectively and more in this ebook. Many of these tips and resources may suit other person-facing organizations.

  5. Training for Change  
    This organization has some great resources for facilitation and online gathering. We especially like this ebook, especially as one of their key principles of leading groups online is to be explicitly aware of how oppression is compounded by technology.

Opportunities

  1. Online Courses with Acumen Academy: The World's School for Social Change
    Expand your knowledge with one of Acumen Academy's online courses. Ranging from human-centred design to social impact analysis to environmental and sustainable design, there's sure to be a course that pique your interest! 

  2. Healthy Futures Accelerator from LEAP | Pecaut Centre for Social Impact
    Do you have a venture with a game-changing health solution poised to grow? If so check out the Healthy Futures accelerator program aimed at enabling game changing social ventures that are improving health outcomes for people in Canada. Applications are open now through June 19, 2020. 

  3. Smaller Than Small Business Forum: June 1

    A lot has changed for business in the last couple months - especially the smallest. The struggle is real - we get that!  Some very small business are feeling left out, and overwhelmed trying to figure out how to cope and recover, if they even can. For micro businesses, solopreneurs, freelancers and others who don't fit the current definition of "small business," we are hosting an online forum June 1 for smaller than small businesses.

  4. Systemic Design Exchange: Online Workshops

    Systemic Design Exchange, a community of practice out of Edmonton exploring all things systemic design has pivoted during COVID, and now has a series of online workshop offerings open to anyone working or 'playing' in the social innovation space. Follow @SDXCoP on Twitter for registration details! Two upcoming offerings include: 

We acknowledge that in Alberta we are on traditional territories of the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit whose footsteps have marked these lands for centuries.