March 12, 2009 7:00pm, Centre Space, Russell Building, University of Manitoba
Faculty of Architecture, Cultural Events Speaker Series

Shortly after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated America's Gulf Coast, leaders of the Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN) asked planners and designers from Cornell University to assist them in developing a comprehensive post-disaster recovery plan for the city's 9th Ward. Working with students and faculty from Cornell, Columbia, and Illinois, these individuals created "The People's Plan for Overcoming the Hurricane Katrina Blues: A Strategy for Promoting a More Vibrant, Equitable, and Sustainable 9th Ward". This plan, along with ACORN's skillful community organizing resulted in a dramatic shift in Federal redevelopment priorities in New Orleans. Ken will discuss the technical, organizational, political, and ethical challenges confronting student and faculty planners and civic leaders who worked on The Peoples' Plan.

 The Thrills, Chills, and Spills of Resident-Led Planning in the US: The Case of East St. Louis

March 12, 2009 7:00am-9:00am, Hotel Fort Garry
MPPI Breakfast Seminar

A once thriving river port city boasting one of the highest employment, wage, and homeownership rates in the American Midwest, referred to as the Pittsburgh of the West, East St. Louis experienced devastating deindustrialization, disinvestment, and suburbanization in the 1970s causing a former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development label it "Beirut by the River". While local, state, and Federal officials gave up on this majority African American city and its people, a small group of committed church women formed a small citizen organization committed to restoring the environmental, economic, and social health and well-being of their community. Using an empowerment approach to economic and community development that integrates the key theories and methods of participatory action research, direct action organizing, and popular education these women, working with architecture, landscape architecture, and planning students have succeeded in rebuilding the city's poorest neighborhood. In the process, they have developed a highly effective bottom-up, bottom-sideways" approach to community planning and development.

For more information contact Meagan Boles, MPPI Events at Meagan.Boles@gov.mb.ca.

Planning in the Shadows: Promoting Equitable Development through Partnerships Involving Anchor Institutions and Community-Based Organizations

March 11, 2009 7:00pm, Ellice Theatre and Café, 587 Ellice Avenue

In many North American cities, poor and working class communities are often found living in the shadows of universities and medical centres. In efforts to improve the quality of life for local residents, community-based organizations often find themselves forging relationships with these powerful local institutions, whose experience with collaborative approaches to planning, design, and development is quite limited. The use of these new partnerships to achieve urban revitalization goals is necessitated by cuts in domestic social spending and the devolution of responsibility for programs, within a framework of global forces that emphasizes economic development.

Presenter Ken Reardon will discuss the experience of a number of community/university development partnerships in the US that have managed, often through significant struggle, to achieve more equitable forms of inner city revitalization through an empowerment approach to community development.

Sponsored by the Spence Neighbourhood Association, West Broadway Development Corporation, WCWRC, Friend of the Sherbrook Pool, Planners Network Manitoba and the University of Manitoba.

Co-op Youth Leadership Seminars offer an exciting opportunity to develop leadership skills, and learn about cross cultural issues and values affecting society, global development and co-ops, all in a beautiful camp setting. You'll meet with youth from across the province and learn more about yourself and others at a Co-op Youth Leadership Seminar.

You can look forward to 3 ½ days of unique group activities, leadership exercises and outdoor fun. You'll be able to socialize and make lasting friendships with others from across the province. The Co-op Youth Leadership seminars are held at the Riding Mountain Conference Centre, Clear Lake. Leadership for the seminar is provided by past participants, elected officials, members and staff of Manitoba co-ops and credit unions.

Co-ops and credit unions throughout the province sponsor youth to attend the seminars. Once the online registration has been completed, participants will be sent more detailed sponsor information and they can then approach local co-ops and credit unions for sponsorship. If the participant has trouble finding a sponsor, the Manitoba Cooperative Association will assist them to find a sponsor. Once a sponsor is confirmed, the sponsor will pay the $275 registration fee on behalf of the participant, and all that the participant is responsible for is making their way up to the conference centre. More details on the sponsorship process will be sent out with the confirmation of the online registration.

Click here to Register online.

Attend this dyamic and comprehensive workshop and put your organization on the path to Mastering Aboriginal Inclusion. Discover proven tactics and tools to recruit, retain and advance Aboriginal talent while building a work culture that flourishes through diversity. Tap into the expertise delivered by Canada's leading innovators in Aboriginal human resource development. This two-day workshop is limited to 20 registrations so don't delay.

The registration fee of $1495 includes refreshments and a complimentary five-volume set of Mastering Aboriginal Inclusion self-study modules (a $560 value).

More about Mastering Aboriginal Inclusion

Register online>>