12:00pm to 1:00pm Eastern Time

What is social isolation? How do loneliness, social exclusion, and disconnection from community affect people at different stages in their lives? What forces are pushing people into more insular lives?  And what is being done to connect people back to one another, to healthy food and safe spaces? 

More than ever before, Canadians are living alone, and nearly one quarter describe themselves as lonely. Socially isolated adults face worse health as they age, and are less likely to participate in society. For populations facing marginalization and stigma, the sense of isolation and inability to access resources can be even greater.

In this one hour webinar,  André Picard, The Globe and Mail’s esteemed public health reporter and Wellesley Institute researcher Laura Anderson, will tackle this vital issue. Join the discussion on how to fight social isolation and restore a sense of connectedness to communities — from grassroots interventions, such as those community food security organizations are building on the ground, to broader policy solutions. CFCC’s Chief Operating Officer, Kathryn Scharf, will moderate the conversation.

Register for Setting More Places at the Table

Can't Attend? As with all Community Food Centres Canada's webinars, this one will be posted to The Pod Knowledge Exchange along with a host of downloadable resources a week or so after the event. Visit The Pod to stay in the loop about this webinar and others yet to come.

About the Panelists:

André Picard is a health reporter and columnist at The Globe and Mail, where he has been a staff writer since 1987. He is also the author of three bestselling books. André is an eight-time nominee for the National Newspaper Awards, Canada's top journalism prize. André has also been honoured for his dedication to improving healthcare. He was named Canada's first "Public Health Hero" by the Canadian Public Health Association and as a "Champion of Mental Health" by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health. André lives in Montréal.

Laura Anderson is a Researcher at the Wellesley Institute. She holds an MPH in Public Health Nutrition from Emory University and a PhD in Medical Anthropology and Global Health from the University of Toronto. Prior to joining the Wellesley Institute Laura was a Postdoctoral Fellow in Food Insecurity Policy at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary. Laura’s research focuses on the social determinants of health in Toronto, including the intersections between health and employment, access to and utilization of health care and social services among immigrant populations, and household food insecurity.

12:00pm to 1:00pm Eastern Time

Evaluations “work” when they lead to insight and action. We all know that the process can be resource-intensive, so it is important for us to maximize the probability of getting it right! In this webinar, two leading learning institutes, the Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN) and Tamarack's Vibrant Communities Canada, will unpack real-life stories from Cities Reducing Poverty members to identify cases where evaluation worked really well. Together we will identify how they achieved exceptional success, and top takeaway points for the non-profit sector.

Register for the Evaluations That Work webinar

Speakers

Andrew Taylor is committed to the notion that evaluation is only useful if it answers questions that matter and enables people to act in new ways. He is co-owner of Taylor Newberry Consulting, a Guelph-based firm that specializes in developing research and evaluation solutions for public sector organizations. He is also ONN's Resident Evaluation Expert. He has helped organizations across Canada develop impact strategies and measurement systems that are evidence-based, manageable, and meaningful. 

Ben Liadsky joined the Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN) in 2015 as Evaluation Program Associate. He has more than five years of experience working in the nonprofit sector in a variety of capacities from project management to fundraising to communications. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Studies with specialization in Global Environmental Policy from the University of Northern British Columbia where his research focused on the role of local governments and transnational environmental networks in addressing climate change. When not reading away, he can be found on his bike- if you can catch him that is.

Adam Vasey received a B.A., LL.B., and M.S.W. from the University of Windsor, and an LL.M. from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. He has been the Director of Pathway to Potential, the local anti-poverty strategy, since 2009. In 2013 he was appointed to the provincial Minimum Wage Advisory Panel, and also received the “Distinguished Social Worker of the Year” award through the Ontario Association of Social Workers – Southwestern Branch. In 2014, Adam was awarded the Law Foundation of Ontario’s Community Leadership in Justice Fellowship. In 2015, Adam received the Odyssey Award through the University of Windsor’s Alumni Association. He is currently the President of the Ontario Association of Social Workers – Southwestern Branch and a board member of Unifor’s Windsor Essex Community Chapter.

Melanie Hientz is the lead evaluator with Living SJ – the strategy to end generational poverty in Saint John, New Brunswick. She has been involved in both the development and implementation of this Collective Impact initiative, working with a network of non-profits, businesses, government and educators. Melanie has also engaged with several Saint John non-profit organizations in coaching and evaluation capacities. She has a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management and an MA in Geography and Environmental Studies from Carleton University, in her hometown of Ottawa. Before moving to Saint John in 2013, she worked as a researcher for Carleton University and as lead researcher / special projects manager at Volunteer Canada. 
Melanie volunteers with the Community Foundation in Saint John and the New Brunswick Association for Community Living. In her free time, she enjoys exploring New Brunswick’s many beautiful hiking trails.

Elena DiBattista has had an extensive career in the human services field, primarily in the areas of community development and engagement, and early child development. Over the past thirty years, she has held numerous positions in Toronto and Peel Region with children’s aid societies, school boards and the provincial government and community agencies. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (Psychology) from York University and a Child and Youth Worker diploma from George Brown College. Since joining Our Kids Network in 2010, Elena has been steadily guiding the transition towards a more strategic and structured partnership of organizations to meet the needs of children and youth in Halton. Her leadership in engaging key partners and community agencies to work together has contributed to stronger and more diverse partnerships and greatly increased resources.