Our 5-month Build program starts February 25th, and we're offering a taste of the program that has changed participants lives and launched them into becoming entrepreneurs with impact. On Dec 17, Groundswell co-founder Paola Qualizza will take you through a 60 minute session that introduces a critical element of Groundswell’s Build curriculum: Validation. What is validation and why should it matter to you? Hint: It's the difference between a good idea and a great business. Come to get some real tools you can start applying to your idea or early stage business now.

Build is an incubator and accelerator for early and mid stage social businesses.

Register for Discover Build: Validation Workshop

Early Bird Deadline for BUILD: Apply by Dec. 18 to take advantage of a combined $700 bursary and discount! To be eligible for the $350 Bursary you MUST come to this Dec. 17th event - don’t miss out!  

Info Session

After the validation workshop, we’ll give you the 411 on our flagship Explore and Build programs and answer any questions you may have. Bring a notebook and prepare to do some life changing work, just in time for the new year! Seats are limited, RSVP below today!

Groundswell offers a suite of hands on programs and mentorship that help you along a journey towards meaningful self employment and social entrepreneurship.  Are you looking to EXPLORE your opportunities in social entrepreneurship or BUILD your small business?  Maybe you just want to learn more about Groundswell and the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Vancouver. If so, this is the time!

From anywhere you're at, with any questions you have, this casual in-person session will give you all the information you need about our programs and answer any questions you have. You'll meet Groundswell alum and founder of Mojo Emporium, Cass King.

1:00pm to 2:00pm EST

Tamarack Institute is presenting a webinar about the theme Evaluating Systems Change: A Results-Based Framework. This webinar is for almost anyone who is interested in making progress on tough economic, social and environmental issues is committed to changing the system. It will explore an archetypical results framework that can be used to inform the thinking of any effort to ‘change’ systems. This session will be lead by Mark Cabaj.

Who is Mark Cabaj? 

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Mark is President of the consulting company From Here to There and an Associate of Tamarack Institute. Mark’s current focus is on developing practical ways to understand, plan and evaluate efforts to address complex issues (e.g. neighbourhood renewal, poverty and homelessness, community safety, educational achievement and health). He has first-hand knowledge of using evaluation as a policy maker, philanthropist, and activist, and has played a big role in promoting the emerging practice of developmental evaluation in Canada.

Register for Evaluating Systems Change

The webinar is now FULL but you still can register to receive a recording of the presentation, along with any relevant links and resources, on Nov 21, 2018. 

ASPECT expects to welcome 250-275 executive directors, program managers, and frontline workers this year. Because of the recent developments in the labour market and employment services funding, you can expect to see decision-makers of every kind. 

Register for ASPECT Conference

ASPECT looks forward to providing different streams of workshops to provide learning opportunities for: Managers, Boards Members, Frontline Workers. 

The ASPECT Conference will contribute to a strengthened and more knowledgeable community-based training sector by:

• Bringing front-line workers, programs managers and executive directors of community-based employment training agencies from throughout BC together to share knowledge, ideas, best practices and innovations;
• Facilitate business relationship and partnership building as means to maintaining sustainable operations;
• Help to increase awareness about resources that will assist in providing improved service to clients.

Expected goals and outcomes:

• Provide delegates with professional and operational development opportunities to build upon;
• Provide delegates with learning opportunities that increase their entrepreneurial skills, create financial diversity and help maintain long-term sustainability.
• Create opportunities for delegates to network and share best practices with fellow service providers;
• Enhance career development skills and the overall success of jobseekers.

Pre-Recorded Webinar - Released on October 30th

Speakers: Megan Courtney and Liz Weaver

In this webinar, Megan and Liz will reflect on 25 years of collective wisdom in community change from Canada to New Zealand. Based on their experiences, you'll hear about some of the most important shifts in the community change landscape and what that means for your own initiatives. Most importantly, Megan and Liz will provide insight into challenges, themes, and principles that they believe will affect the next decade of community change work.

Register for Global Perspectives on Community Change Webinar

This webinar is a great opportunity to hear from important voices in the community change landscape, and to benefit from different perspectives on the past, present, and future of community change work. This webinar builds on the paper Reflections on Community Change: Two Countries, Two Perspectives, One Vision for Moving Forward. 

Speakers

Megan Courtney

Megan Courtney is a founding member of the Inspiring Communities core team, and (amongst many things!) leads co-ordination of IC Team activities. She’s a firm believer in the power of local people and places to do amazing things and loves working alongside communities to help make locally-led action happen. 

Liz Weaver

Liz Weaver is the Co-CEO of Tamarack Institute where she is leading the Tamarack Learning Centre.Liz is well-known for her thought leadership on Collective Impact and is the author of several popular and academic papers on the topic.

Adopted by the General Assembly in 2007, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is regarded as the most comprehensive international instrument on the rights of Indigenous peoples. In Canada, the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission speaks to UNDRIP as the framework for reconciliation and calls on the federal government of Canada to develop a national action plan and strategies to achieve UNDRIP. 

Register for UNDRIP: A Webinar on the Canadian Context and Implications for Reconciliation and for Protecting Canada’s Environment

This webinar, co-hosted by Sustainability Network and the Canadian Environmental Grantmakers’ Network, is intended to increase our understanding of UNDRIP in the Canadian context, as well as it implications for collective efforts to advance reconciliation and protect Canada’s environment. 

Presenters 

 Danika Littlechild 
Consulting Legal Counsel, International Indian Treaty Council

 Eli Enns
Indigenous Circle of Experts for The Pathway to Canada Target 1 

 Jessica Clogg
Executive Director, West Coast Environmental Law

 Kris Archie Moderator
Circle on Philanthropy and Indigenous Peoples in Canada