Join a conversation to explore how local organizing principles and approaches can contribute to the creation of more sustainable, fair and inclusive economies.

The Local Organizing for Fair Economies Community of Practice met twice in Fall 2019, exchanging ideas, learning, and experiences. We're looking forward to invigorating conversation and expanding our circle in 2020 with an exciting calendar ahead.

January's conversation will be on "Local Organizing for Responsible Development":

The Toronto Community Benefits Network is a leader in local organizing for equitable economic opportunities and inclusion for all, directly impacting the development process in the City of Toronto. Learn from their tangible examples about how to build grassroots support to enable policy reform and in the process transform local economies.

Kumsa Baker, Campaigns Manager for the Toronto Community Benefits Network, will share knowledge and experiences, followed by facilitated discussion and group conversations. 

Join us from 1:00-2:30pm Eastern Standard Time on January 31, 2020.

Register now and connection details will be emailed to you, as well as a reminder a few days before the session.

PRESENTER

Kumsa Baker - Campaigns Manager, Toronto Community Benefits Network

Since getting involved in the labour movement organizing for a union at his workplace, Rogers Centre a.k.a the Skydome, Kumsa Baker has been an advocate for decent work and equitable employment opportunities for all in Toronto. In 2015, Kumsa joined the Research Department at his Hospitality and Food Service worker union, UNITE HERE, supporting key campaigns across North America. He has also organized with the Toronto 15 & Fairness Campaign who were successful in organizing for and winning major changes and improvements to the outdated Ontario Employment Standards Act. In 2017, Kumsa was recognized for his advocacy being selected for the 2017 Young Workers Award by the Ontario Federation of Labour. Kumsa currently works as Campaigns Manager with the Toronto Community Benefits Network, supporting Toronto neighbourhoods in organizing for fairer economies and equitable, local economic development through Community Benefits Agreements

LOGISTICS

• The Local Organizing for Fair Economies Community of Practice is an online conversation space, held through video conferencing on Zoom.
• This session is in English.
• You will need speakers or a headset on your computer.  To ensure your system will be compatible with our webinar platform, look at the Zoom quick start guide prior to the session. 
• Further login details will be sent along with a registration confirmation.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

The Local Organizing for Fair Economies Community of Practice faciliates conversations with people from across Canada and Indigenous territories to:

• Curate resources (Community Benefits page)
• Facilitate conversations about challenges and solutions
• Track policy updates (municipal, provincial, federal, Indigenous, etc.)
• Help identify resources available

Business doesn’t have to be just about the bottom line. Community leaders know that business can be done differently, and can be a tool for social innovation that unlocks effective solutions to pressing social, cultural and environmental concerns.

The Investment Readiness Program (IRP) aims to support them. Successful applicants will get between $10,000 - $100,000 to invest in their social enterprise and help make an even greater positive change in their community. These funds can be used to research, launch, design, measure and scale up your social enterprise to achieve your sustainability plan to take on investment in the future.

This free webinar is intended for social purpose organizations interested in applying to the IRP.  Find out more about the program and the steps to apply.

Register Now

If your co-operative is looking to grow, introduce new offerings to its members, or expand into new markets, the innovative financing solutions from Canadian Co-operative Investment Fund (CCIF) could be the resource you need. CCIF is also an incredible resource for Opportunity Development Co-operatives to access additional capital to finance larger projects to make a greater impact in your community! Also, if you are a lender or involved in local economic development, this webinar offers a ton of value. This (free) lunch and learn webinar is hosted by CCIF’s Director of Community Lending, Christina Baker. Learn more and register for this FREE event today!

Event Details:
• When: December 11th from noon to 1PM MST
• Where: Online
• What: Learn how the CCIF financing can be used to advance your goals
• How: Register Now

Learn more about the webinar: Click here

The World Social Forum on Transforming Economies continues to unfold and move forward, with challenges more urgent than ever in a world in full reconfiguration. In the framework of the new conditions, the registration of participants, organizations, activities and initiatives has been reopened!

The WSFTE process will take place in two stages in 2020: a Virtual Forum at the end of June (25/06 - 01/07) and a blended Forum in October (23-25) in connection with the Solidarity Economy Fair of Catalonia in Barcelona.

Learn more and register

2:00pm - 3:00pm Eastern Time

Why is understanding power dynamics so important for systems change?  

Join the upcoming webinar discussion Examining Power Dynamics in Systems Change on September 16 with FSG and New Profit as we take a deeper dive into one of the most critical systems change components – Power Dynamics, and the unique role that they play in systems change efforts. During this discussion, we will have an opportunity to hear from three social change leaders who will share how power impacts their work and how they navigate power structures to achieve their goals.

Register for Examining Power Dynamics to Advance Systems Change

Can't make the actual virtual coffee time? Registering also means you'll be notified when the recording is uploaded to the Collective Impact Forum resource library.

Featured Speakers

• Adam Foss, Executive Director, Prosecutor Impact
• Chekemma Fulmore-Townsend, President and CEO, Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN)
• Tulaine Montgomery, Managing Partner, New Profit
• Simran Sidhu, Director, The HIVE at Springpoint

This online event is hosted in partnership with the Collective Impact Forum, FSG, and New Profit

Want to learn how you can benefit from the new Social Finance Fund and millions in grant dollars to ready your organization to access social finance?

If yes, you should register for the Social Finance Investment Readiness Exploration webinar!  Come learn about social finance and explore how your organization can use it to enhance your impact.

Event details:

• When: Wednesday, September 25th, 2019, from 1:00pm - 2:30pm ET.
• Where: Online (Webex)
• Cost: Free
• Register: Sign up here

In this webinar, you will explore:

• How social finance benefits social-purpose organizations
• The repayable Social Finance Fund — a $2 billion funding opportunity
• The $50 million Investment Readiness grant program to access investment-readiness services
• Ideation exercises for how your organization can benefit from social finance
• How Innoweave helps organizations get ready to access social finance

The webinar will be highly interactive and you are encouraged to ask questions to explore the topic further!

If you have any questions, please reach out via email.