The Rural Ontario Institute, in partnership with Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition, is hosting a half day forum to foster the sharing of knowledge of effective models and emerging innovation in rural regional transportation.

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*DRAFT AGENDA*

• Welcome & Agenda Setting
• Norman Ragetlie, Director of Policy and Stakeholder Engagement, Rural Ontario Institute (5 min)
• Opening Remarks Speaker TBC (5-10 min)
• Speed Networking (10 min) 
• Accelerating Rural Transportation Solutions: Case Studies Report (45min)
• Lorna McCue and Lisa Tolentino with Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition report their case studies on effective rural regional transportation approaches in Ontario

• Table Group Discussions (60 min):
• Facilitated, small group discussions where participants will be able to share their observations and experiences regarding rural transportation initiatives with their peers

• Financial Feasibility Assessment for Cost-Shared Models  - 3 Study Regions (45min)
• Dennis Kar, Dillon Consulting Limited, presents an in-depth study of current business models and financing sources for cost-shared rural transportation systems from Ontario 
• Panel Discussion TBD
• Panelists take questions and discuss barriers and opportunities for innovative rural transportation solutions
• Closing Remarks (10min) Norm Ragetlie, Rural Ontario Institute

Thursday, July 10, 2014
12:00-1:00pm ET

Speakers  Trish Hennessy and Adam Vasey

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Trish Hennessy is the founding director of the new Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives' (CCPA) Ontario office. She was the founding director of the CCPA's national project examining income inequality in Canada, which began in 2006, and is an ongoing contributor to the growing gap team. Her blog, www.framedincanada.com examines how we talk about the challenges of our times. Her monthly Hennessy's Index (www.policyalternatives.ca/index) takes a snapshot of key issues and breaks them down by the numbers. Trish is a former newspaper journalist. She has a B.A. Sociology from Queen's University, B.S.W. from Carleton University, and M.A. in Sociology from OISE/University of Toronto.

As Director of Pathway to Potential since 2009, Adam has been responsible for the development of a collaborative, multi-sector strategy for the prevention and reduction of poverty in Windsor-Essex County. This position, which draws on his training in law and social work, has allowed Adam to fulfill his long-time commitment to social justice. Through this work, he sits on numerous local, provincial and national poverty-related committees. Prior to joining Pathway to Potential, Adam worked in the field of children’s mental health. Adam has volunteered for numerous local agencies and organizations, including Citizen Advocacy, the Alzheimer’s Society, and the Ontario Association of Social Workers. Adam received the 2012 “Distinguished Social Worker of the Year” award through the Ontario Association of Social Workers – Southwestern Branch, and in July 2013 the provincial government appointed him to Minimum Wage Advisory Panel.  

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BACKGROUND

Increasingly, community organizations are engaging in collaboration as a means to try and solve some of the most complex issues that they face. But these challenging issues require a new approach, a new framework.

Internationally recognized trainer and community builder Liz Weaver provides an overview of collective impact and how this approach can enhance the impact of community change efforts.

• Learn how collaborative tables can organize for change
• Explore how the application of the three preconditions of collective impact and the five conditions for community change can enhance your local efforts
• Advance your community’s agenda with tools and techniques that move towards impact
• Embrace the power of citizen engagement and collective impact

SPEAKER

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Liz was previously the Director for the Hamilton Roundtable on Poverty Reduction. Liz has also held leadership positions with YWCA Hamilton, Volunteer Hamilton and Volunteer Canada.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Follow Liz's blog
• Regular updates about Collaboration and Collective Impact are posted on Tamarack Learning Communities Sites:    www.tamarackcci.ca; www.vibrantcommunities.ca; www.seekingcommunity.ca
• Stanford Social Innovation Review articles on Collective Impact
• FSG Social Impact Consultants
• Collective Impact Forum
• Making Collective Impact Work
• Collective Impact Summit, October 6-10, 2014
• Nonprofit Management: Collective Impact
• Collective Action for Community Development

Thursday, September 4
1-2 pm ET (noon-1 pm CT)

The Story of the Jacobs Center for Neighbourhood Innovation:

The September Citizen-Led Sustainable Change webinar will feature the story of the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, presented by Roque Barros and Tom Dewar. Join us on Thursday, September 4, 2014, 1-2 pm ET (noon-1 pm CT).

The Jacobs Center is part of a unique partnership involving neighborhood residents and a large network of local and national investors. A local family foundation has spawned a network of engaged residents, community associations, and other investors to convert 60 acres of abandoned industrial land into a thriving (and still expanding) commercial and cultural center known as The Village at Market Creek; and in the process has enabled residents to own 20 percent, and a new neighborhood foundation another 20 percent; while pledging to go out of business and turn over all remaining assets to community in 20 years. This case is an extraordinary example of innovative practice by a philanthropic foundation, and innovative principles of local organizing and financing for local ownership and control. To learn more about this story, click here.

Roque Barros talks about The Village at Market Creek Project, and what led to its success as a unique partnership of local residents and a large network of local and national investors in this video on YouTube.

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What do you do to make people in your community feel welcome? How do you create opportunities for people from all backgrounds to participate fully in building and improving your community?

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June Conference Call:

Featuring: