As the Northeast coordinates to build a regional food system, a central focus is on racial equity. In communities all across the region, groups are working on food justice. In this webinar, we will hear from 2 organizers: Isa Mujahid (CTCORE-Organize Now!, Bridgeport CT) and Heather Foran (community organizer, Portland ME). Through their grassroots efforts in their communities, Heather and Isa both are actively transforming the New England food system and raising and reflecting on struggles, challenges and questions to guide future work. This webinar creates space to share some of the questions and reflections.

Register for the Equity in the food system webinar

Join the New England Grassroots Environment Fund to hear more about their efforts to engage community, their questions and challenges and practical perspectives to support the emergence and continued viability of a New England food system that is a resilient driver of healthy food for all, racial equity, sustainable farming and fishing and thriving communities. As we pull in examples from groups like Cooperation Jackson, this webinar focuses on some of the questions and opportunities local organizers are grappling with, invites participants to share in the conversation and ideally has us all bring back questions to our own efforts about how our collective work integrates concepts of social justice and racial equity.

1:00pm to 2:30pm Eastern Time

This is the first time that the Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation (CWCF) will be offering this new webinar that was recently developed this past winter.

This is a two-part series designed for people who are working in a worker co-op. They are most appropriate for those who have recently become members or who are thinking of applying to join their co-op, although anyone involved in a worker co-op is welcome to participate. They will cover basic definitions, statistics on the movement, the co-op principles as applied to worker co-ops, and governance and management principles in a worker co-op.

The webinars will be led by Hazel Corcoran, CWCF's Executive Director, in two parts: 

1. February 21st, 1:00pm to 2:30pm Eastern Time, and
2. March 14th, 1:00pm to 2:30pm Eastern Time. Please RSVP to Kaye Grant, communications at canadianworker.coop, by 24 hours in advance of each. The sessions are free to CWCF members, and open only to members.

1:00pm to 2:30pm Eastern Time

This is the first time that the Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation (CWCF) will be offering this new webinar that was recently developed this past winter.

This is a two-part series designed for people who are working in a worker co-op. They are most appropriate for those who have recently become members or who are thinking of applying to join their co-op, although anyone involved in a worker co-op is welcome to participate. They will cover basic definitions, statistics on the movement, the co-op principles as applied to worker co-ops, and governance and management principles in a worker co-op.

The webinars will be led by Hazel Corcoran, CWCF's Executive Director, in two parts: 

1. February 21st, 1:00pm to 2:30pm Eastern Time, and
2. March 14th, 1:00pm - 2:30pm Eastern Time. Please RSVP to Kaye Grant, communications at canadianworker.coop, by 24 hours in advance of each. The sessions are free to CWCF members, and open only to members.

2:00pm Eastern Time

This webinar will explore the steps required to build a business that creates value for society and the environment while generating profits. We’ll also look at the many opportunities and challenges social businesses face and discuss a few successful models for inspiration and lessons on best practices.

During this webinar you will learn: 

• What is a social enterprise and how can you solve a social issue by generating profits?
• How to start a social enterprise in Quebec - programs and support
• Opportunities and challenges

Register for The ABCs of Starting a Social Enterprise

About the Speaker

Lis Suarez Visbal-Ensink is a social entrepreneur and ASHOKA Fellow, founder of FEM International & ETHIK EcoDesign Hub

Lis is committed to sustainable development and to women empowerment both locally and internationally. ETHIK’s mission is to promote ethical fashion and sustainable development practices within the textile industry and promote ethical fashion products amongst consumers. ETHIK is the first organization in Canada to work in the circular economy framework within the fashion industry. It was launched in 2009 as the first incubator of ethical fashion, by FEM International and now since 2013 it has become its own organization. Native of Colombia, Lis has more than 15 years of experience in international development and women entrepreneurship, particularly in the textile and fashion industry. Lis has a BA in International Development & Finance from the University Externado of Colombia and a degree in Business Administration and Finance from Harvard University.She has received various awards and recognitions for her commitment to sustainable development, corporate social responsibility and social innovation.

1:30pm - 2:45pm Eastern Time

Building affordable housing that promotes sustainable practices for the built environment is a goal of many towns and cities across Canada – particularly in emphasizing a focus on fostering community, business investment, jobs and smart growth.

But is it realistic, one might ask, to expect local governments and non-profits to attain such goals through the use of local planning practices and partnerships alone? We say, yes it is!

Hear from The Sustainable Communities’ partnership of the Government of New Brunswick and the Harbourside Cohousing seniors project in British Columbia who are each making sustainable, affordable community integrative design work.

Register for Building Sustainable Communities

The Sustainable Communities’ partnership of New Brunswick has developed a truly integrated planning approach called ‘Building Sustainable Communities with Design’ (or SCD Approach).  It provides community leaders with information on how:

• they are performing regarding fiscal impacts and density promoted;
• they can position themselves at the world level to attract investments and knowledge workers, and;
• to build to respond to climate change issues and implement sustainable building practices when developing communities.

Harbourside Cohousing is also showing that building sustainable development is possible today, and has responded to the needs of an aging population in creating their ‘Senior Cohousing’ project in Sooke (BC). The project will showcase how it came to fruition through collaboration with future residents on a shared commitment to a:

• ‘Built Green Canada Gold’ standard of sustainability and energy efficiency by design that promotes healthy aging in place;
• collaboration with the architect and cohousing project manager to create a built form that nurtures an innovative culture with connections to broader society, while enhancing use of green space, and;
•  offers affordable strata-titled housing in a supportive environment for aging residents to thrive.  

Join this interactive webinar to learn more about alternative development models, concepts and principles around the SCD Approach, response to seniors’ cohousing projects, and examples of implementation.

Speakers:

Margaret Critchlow, Director, Canadian Senior Cohousing Society & founding member, Harbourside Cohousing (BC)

Daniel Savard, Planner & Member, Sustainable Communities Partnership, Department of Environment & Local Government, Government of New Brunswick (NB)

SOURCE: Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA)

2pm to 3pm Eastern Time

Presently, 36 million independent workers in the United States work outside the traditional employer-employee model. By 2020 this number is projected to swell to between 50 and 75 million.

This Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR) webinar, The Gig Economy, will explore the following: 

• Map the current and emerging landscape of independent work
• Identify the most promising and troubling elements of independent work
• Generate ideas on what could make independent work more stable and sustainable for workers, especially vulnerable and/or lower skilled workers
• Highlight promising innovations that are already underway and might be ripe for scaling
• Share strategies for supporting independent workers and dig into some of the most promising innovations

Register for The Gig Economy webinar

This webinar is highly relevant for social entrepreneurs, researchers, philanthropists, policy makers, leaders of private and public businesses, and, of course, independent workers themselves. It is inspired by SSIR's article, "The Freedom, Insecurity, and Future of Independent Work" and brought to you in conjunction with The Bridgespan Group. 

Thanks to the generosity of The Rockefeller Foundation, this webinar is complimentary. Registration to this webinar will include access to the live webinar, unlimited access to the webinar as many times as you’d like for twelve months at your convenience, and downloadable slides.