MacEwan University - Allard Hall
11110 104 Avenue Northwest

Are you involved in a meaningful change effort in your community?

Harness new tools in this 6-part workshop series designed for individuals passionate about community that are curious how to apply an economic lens to social issues. Grow your understanding of the connections between the local economy, community development and social change.

The series is designed to be taken as a complete series with a cohort. Individual workshop spots will be opened up if space is available.

Register for Economics of Social Change Workshop Series

This workshop series is bring offered in partnership between the MacEwan University Social Innovation Institute and a group of community economic development changemakers in Edmonton. It was designed in partnership between the Institute for Community Prosperity at Mount Royal University and Thrive.

Topics include:

• The Solutions Economy - January 30, 2019, 2-5 p.m.

Communities around the world are looking to the local economy as a means of addressing growing social and environmental issues. This workshop will explore the history of how the economy has evolved and the growing imperative to build a new economy focused on local solutions to create social change. Facilitated by Jorge Sousa.

• The Changing Nature of Business - February 27, 2019, 2-5 p.m.

There is a growing responsibility worldwide for business to go beyond financial return to shareholders to seek a greater community benefit that prioritizes people and place. As a result, new ways of doing business are emerging. This workshop will explore the changing nature of business and the role of social enterprise and cooperatives to address social issues, for example: energy transition (climate change), housing, food security, local job creation, gender equality and Reconciliation. Facilitated by Leo Wong.

• Strengthening Systems for Community Economies - March 27, 2019, 2-5 p.m.

Building inclusive community economies often requires systems change to enable more community-based economic development. This workshop will explore the current opportunities to affect policy change towards a more just and equitable society for all. Learn how localizing spending and fostering community ownership build inclusive community economies. Facilitated by Brooks Hanewich.

• Reconciliation and an Inclusive Economy - April 24, 2019, 2-5 p.m.

Faced with growing income inequality and stubbornly high levels of poverty in communities across Canada, Reconciliation offers a new perspective on building the local economy. In this workshop, learn how Indigenous worldview intersects with community-based economic development and the opportunities to build a shared understanding that creates jobs and builds communities. Facilitated by Jacquelyn Cardinal.

• Financing Social Change - May 29, 2019, 2-5 p.m.

Social change efforts that fail often lack the financial foresight needed to create the social benefit they are seeking. This workshop will explore what financing tools exist to support social change efforts from grassroots lending circles and local investment to the growing impact investing sector. Learn from fearless pioneers that have succeeded in creating sustainable large-scale community change through different financing solutions. Facilitated by Jordan Reiniger.

• Putting it All Together - June 5, 2019, 2-5 p.m.

Learnings from the entire series will be tied together and participants will discuss how they can put their learnings into their practice, and continue their learning journey.

If you are an individual that has financial and/or travel barriers to attend please email economicsofsocialchangeyeg@gmail.com to explain your interest in the program, how the program will support your community change efforts and discuss financing options.

Please note: Workshop times and locations may change depending on feedback from participants.