ABLE 2015 is a national biannual conference for all stakeholders interested in fostering financial empowerment for people who live on low incomes. Join us for an action packed two days to hear from leading experts from the financial empowerment field, and to engage in interactive workshops, learning sessions, panel discussions and networking opportunities. This year’s conference is shaping up to be our largest yet with more than 300 participants from across the country expected to attend from non-profit organizations, the business sector, government and academia.
ABLE 2015 is hosted by Prosper Canada.
Why should you attend?
ABLE is a forum where:
Non-profit organizations, researchers, the private sector and government can gather, learn together and share best practices on financial empowerment solutions
New research and policy developments can be showcased and explored
A national community of practice can be strengthened, expanded and formalized.
Read more and register for the ABLE 2015 Conference
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.
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.
The Equity Investment Fund (EIF) Project Manager reports to the PELA CFDC EIF Committee and will actively participate in all aspects of the investment process, including:
"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.
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.
What is ABLE 2015?
17:00 to 18:00 GMT (London Time)
Zachary Saltis, 
David LePage
