BACKGROUND

Do you want a socially inclusive, redistributive, prosperous economy?

The Canadian CED Network has been following with interest developments that have been going on across the Atlantic. Perhaps most exciting for us has been the work of Localise West Midlands. Although focused primarily on the West Midlands region of the UK, their work also seeks "to catalyse ideas across the UK and to make links with and support organisations all over the world working on a similar agenda."

In recent years they have engaged in a thorough analysis of the evidence base for economic localisation and community economic development (CED), assessing the prospects for truly 'mainstreaming CED.'

With "Localising Prosperity," a new resource from Localise West Midlands, they are clearly and simply outlining the CED approach, sources of inspiration, and guidance for implementation for diverse audiences: public institutions, communities, businesses - anyone interested in making places better and sharing prosperity.

This webinar with Karen Leach explores the work that Localise West Midlands has done to change people's views of 'community economic development,' how to effectively evaluate CED activities and demonstrate impact, and to understand what strategies are working in the UK to increase the uptake of the CED approach and address prevalent social and economic challenges.

SPEAKER

Karen Leach, Coordinator at Localise West Midlands

Karen Leach has been Coordinator of Localise West Midlands (LWM) since its inception in 2002, responsible for the organisation’s strategy and delivery in conjunction with its board. Her professional interests are in economic efficiency in terms of sustainability outcomes and in economic awareness and empowerment amongst the general public. She is also on the Management Committee of Birmingham Friends of the Earth which runs environmental community centre The Warehouse, and was formerly campaigns support officer at Birmingham Friends of the Earth. LWM is a small non-profit think-tank, campaign group and consultancy with one member of staff and involving around 15 people as members and associates. It is located in Digbeth and has a West Midlands region-wide remit. LWM’s aim is to promote a more localised approach to supply chains, money flow and decision-making in order to form a more just and sustainable economy.

RESPONDENT

stewart_perry.jpg

Honorary lifetime member of CCEDNet, Stewart is one of the pioneers of CED in the US and Canada, as both a policy adviser and a designer and manager of CED institutions. As head of the (U.S.) Center for Community Economic Development, he helped create the first finance institution for CED, the Massachusetts Community Development Finance Authority. He helped start Canada's first community development corporation, New Dawn Enterprises, and headed the Community Economic Development Center in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. A consultant, researcher, and author, Stewart currently specializes in community and development finance as an associate with the Canadian Centre for Community Renewal.

Additional Resources

• Localising Prosperity: By Mainstreaming Community Economic Development provides introduction and guidance for Localise West Midlands' Mainstreaming Community Economic Development (MCED) project
• Stewart Perry's blog post commenting on the 2013 Mainstreaming CED report
• The 2013 Mainstreaming Community Economic Development report

17:00 to 18:00 GMT (London Time)

WEST VANCOUVER MEMORIAL LIBRARY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
Director Jenny Benedict will outline how the Library became the first in Canada to be awarded LEED Silver Certification for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance (EB: O&M). She will be joined by Green Team member Julie Backer who will speak to the grassroots staff-led effort that conceived of ways to save energy, reduce waste, conserve water and restrict hazardous chemical use. The Library’s work was featured in the award-winning 2013 book, Greening Libraries.

DENVER ZOO, COLORADO, USA
Jennifer Hale, Director of Safety and Sustainability, will outline the Zoo’s work at the forefront of environmentalism - specifically: converting the zoo’s animal waste and human trash into usable energy and heat; cutting material inputs; and reusing water. In 2009 the Zoo was the first U.S. zoo to receive ISO 14001 international certification for its environmental management efforts and, in 2011, the first recipient of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Green Award.

About The New Barn-Raising

The New Barn-Raising is an initiative to encourage the exchange of international best practice around sustaining community and civic assets such as parks, recreation centers, libraries, neighborhood stores, senior centers, museums and theaters. These are places and spaces characterized by a high degree of accessibility, popularity and sense of belonging to 'the people'.

The term New Barn-Raising refers to how different groups (business, citizens, foundations, non-profits groups, politicians, social entrepreneurs, social investors, taxpayers and unions) can all pull together to support assets.

Read more and register for the Going Green to Save Money webinar

18:45 to 20:00 GMT (London Time)

GREEN PRESCRIPTIONS, NEW ZEALAND MINISTRY OF HEALTH
Diana O'Neill, Senior Advisor in Primary Health Care Implementation at the Ministry, will outline the Green Prescription - a health professional’s written advice to a patient to be physically active as part of their health management. Some 40,000 New Zealanders a year receive such prescriptions along with support to increase their physical activity and well-being. Diana will talk about the origins and administration of the scheme, its success and its implications for parks, recreation and leisure assets.

BOOK PRESCRIPTION WALES, PUBLIC HEALTH WALES
Scheme founder Professor Neil Frude will outline the origins and early development whilst Sue Thomas of the Health Promotion Library at Public Health Wales will discuss its current success. The highly successful scheme involves a GP or other health professional prescribing a therapy book which is available to borrow from any branch library across Wales. The national program was rolled out after a successful scheme in Cardiff. 30,000 self-help books are borrowed every year and three of the 10 most borrowed books in the country are self-help. Much evidence shows that such prescription works.

About The New Barn-Raising

The New Barn-Raising is an initiative to encourage the exchange of international best practice around sustaining community and civic assets such as parks, recreation centers, libraries, neighborhood stores, senior centers, museums and theaters. These are places and spaces characterized by a high degree of accessibility, popularity and sense of belonging to 'the people'.

The term New Barn-Raising refers to how different groups (business, citizens, foundations, non-profits groups, politicians, social entrepreneurs, social investors, taxpayers and unions) can all pull together to support assets.

Read more and regsiter for Assets on Prescription

"Manitoba social enterprises, such as BUILD and ImagineAbility, have a proven track record of helping people – who may have never held a job – enter  the workforce. This year we will work with social enterprises to create a comprehensive strategy to grow the sector and create more first jobs."

~ 2014 Manitoba Budget Speech

BACKGROUND

In February 2015, the Manitoba government launched the Manitoba Social Enterprise Strategy. Co-created by the Canadian Community Economic Development Network, the Strategy aims to create jobs in the province through the development of social enterprises.

Based on six pillars, the Manitoba Social Enterprise Strategy is a bold statement by the province about the importance of social enterprises in job creation and the role that government can play to support the growth of this burgeoning component of the economy.

This webinar recording:

• Examines the Canadian and international landscape of social enterprise strategies and supports and compare Manitoba's new strategy
• Describes how CCEDNet and the provincial government led an inclusive process to 'co-construct' the Manitoba Social Enterprise Strategy
• Provides highlights of the strategy: strengths and weaknesses or particularities
• Shares lessons and advice for other jurisdictions

SPEAKERS

Zachary Saltis, Project Manager, Priorities and Planning Committee of Cabinet

Zac has been a Project Manager in the Priorities and Planning Committee of the Manitoba Cabinet since 2013. The Committee was formed in 2012 and is responsible for prioritizing and setting direction for social policies and overseeing the implementation of these policies. Zac is interested in strategies for addressing issues around economic development, employment, and income distribution. He has an M.A. in Economics from the University of Manitoba.

Darcy Penner, Social Enterprise Policy & Program Co-ordinator

Darcy has been working in community economic development since graduating from the University of Winnipeg with a BA (Honours) degree in Politics. Starting at CCEDNet in 2013, his role has seen him work with member-organizations to pursue a broad policy agenda through workshops, presentations, budget submissions, policy papers and community-organizing, while specializing in supportive social enterprise policy and research – including coordinating the Manitoba Social Enterprise Sector Survey and the Manitoba Social Enterprise Strategy being co-created with the Province of Manitoba.

MODERATOR

David LePage, Accelerating Social Impact CCC

David is a member (and past Chair) of CCEDNet's Policy Council.  He is a Principal with Accelerating Social Impact CCC, Ltd. (ASI), one of Canada’s first incorporated social purpose hybrid corporations. Through ASI David provides direct support and strategic advice to blended value businesses, social enterprises and social finance developments. He is involved in multiple public policy initiatives and research projects to support the social enterprise ecosystem across Canada. ASI is a partner in launching and building the Buy Social Canada campaign.  He is the former Team Manager of Enterprising Non-Profits, where he led the effort to expand the enp social enterprise development and training model across Canada. He initiated Canada’s first Social Purchasing Portal in 2003.

Additional Resources

• The Manitoba Social Enterprise Strategy
• A blog post about the launch by Darcy Penner, CCEDNet Manitoba Social Enterprise Policy & Program Co-ordinator
• Canada Case Study: Co-Construction of Public Policy for the Social Economy
• Strengthening Communities Through Government and Social Economy Partnerships
• 2015 Canadian Conference on Social Enterprise

9am to 10am Eastern Time

The term “Local First” was coined at BALLE’s first annual conference in 2003 and today represents a sophisticated cultural narrative that has shifted the purchasing, investment, and policy choices of hundreds of communities. Local First means increasing demand for locally owned, made, and grown businesses, goods, and services. And it means telling a new story — one where we support local, cooperative, and community-owned businesses and each other. We call this new story Localism.

In this webinar, join local business owner and Localism champion Kimber Lanning for an introduction to the fundamentals of Localism and the metrics and stories that make the case for it as a powerful economic development strategy. Moving beyond Buy Local campaigns, you’ll gain insight into an interconnected web of strategies that work to build a strong connection to place: community investment models, innovative support systems for entrepreneurs, adaptive re-use of buildings and infrastructure in city planning, and more.

Learn more and register for Beyond Buy Local