Impact Conversations
Impact Conversations is a show about change makers getting things done. Sally Fazal and Lynn Fergusson of Social Impact Advisors talk to NGO leaders, philanthropists, social entrepreneurs and environmental innovators about their goals and how they're reaching them.
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Building a Business and Portfolio with Purpose, with Tim Nash, Good Investing Founder
04/15/2021
Building a Business and Portfolio with Purpose, with Tim Nash, Good Investing Founder
Tim shares insights into Socially Responsible Investing – about people looking to do less evil and perhaps more good with their investments. Even more importantly, we look beyond that, to his business model aimed at helping one million Canadians invest intentionally, because of the difference he sees that will make in the world. He’s creating a movement and shares how he’ll accomplish this,based on his Theory of Change or Change Theory. This approach has Tim acting as a coach, helping empower people to invest in line with their values. We see how, by having a big goal of helping one million people, it’s driven his activity, including realizing that a move to making his offerings virtual, is a powerful path to get there. Resources Good Investing: Tapestry Social Capital (Community Bonds): Social Innovation and Social Finance Fund: Tim’s Blog: Good Investing You Tube Channel: . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors:
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A Founder and Funder Creating Beautiful Music Together, with Astrid Hepner, CEO/Founder, Hamilton Music Collective and Board member and Funder, Carl Joosse
04/01/2021
A Founder and Funder Creating Beautiful Music Together, with Astrid Hepner, CEO/Founder, Hamilton Music Collective and Board member and Funder, Carl Joosse
This podcast is two-fold. We have the pleasure of hearing from Astrid Hepner about the great work of the Hamilton Music Collective, where, modeled after a proven program in Germany, 6000 under-served Hamilton school children are exposed to playing musical instruments, and all the related skills, pride and self-esteem that brings. We also hear from Carl Joose, representing the next generation of the John & Ellie Voortman Charitable Foundation, and also a board member on the Hamilton Music Collective, about how the two organizations were able to work together to not only support these children in being exposed to music, but to create a beautifully renovated historic space for the children, their families, other nonprofits, and the community, to uplift all who walk through its doors and be a catalyst for change in the downtown Hamilton area. Resources Hamilton Music Collective: An Instrument for Every Child: Astrid Hepner: The Gasworks: Bill Strickland – Environments Change Behaviour: Palaces for the People book: Lincoln Alexander: Hamilton Community Foundation: The Hamilton Spectator’s Code Red Project: City of Hamilton Recreation Programs: McMaster Institute for Music and the Mind – Laurel Trainor: El Sistema, Venezuela on 60 minutes: . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors:
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Business with Purpose – Creating Indigenous Software Testers, with Denis Carignan, Plato Testing President
03/18/2021
Business with Purpose – Creating Indigenous Software Testers, with Denis Carignan, Plato Testing President
As a social enterprise, we’ll hear how and why Plato Testing was created and the impact it was looking to have, intentionally setting a bold target for the number of Indigenous software testers they would create and leverage in Canada. We hear now, five years later, how the planned impact is becoming a reality. We’ll hear about the partners they are working with, in post-secondary institutions and Indigenous training centres, and corporate partners who share in their mission and look to embed social responsibility principles in how they operate. We’ll learn of the successes they’re having, and most importantly, the impact it is having on the Indigenous employees working with Plato in various locations in Canada. Resources Plato Testing: Denis Carignan: Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference: Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report: Imagine Canada: Raven Indigenous Capital Partners: CCNB/NBCC – New Brunswick Community College: . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors:
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Supporting the Black Social Services Sector with Agapi Gessesse, ED CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals
03/04/2021
Supporting the Black Social Services Sector with Agapi Gessesse, ED CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals
The Black Social Services Sector, as Agapi describes it, isn’t getting the attention it needs. The CEE (Careers, Education, Empowerment) Centre for Young Black Professionals is taking that on. Hear how they are supporting 3B organizations – that’s Black-focused, Black-led (including Board representation), and Black-serving organizations, including many that are not registered charities. In addition to supporting the sector, CEE provides direct programming, targeting particular industriesand creating demand-led workforce development solutions, with high retention rates. These programs provide not just training, but person-centred wrap-around supports, considering a trauma-informed approach to Anti-Black Racism and an approach culturally- relevant to Black Canadians. These programs are also being made available to other organizations to deliver in their local communities. Finally, CEE is tackling policy change, at all levels of government, recognizing that change at the individual level is not enough. This podcast will shed some light on how you or your organization could be supporting (or ignoring) the Black Community. Resources CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals: Kitchen Masters and other CEE Programs : DESTA: Network for the Advancement of Black Communities (NABC): Black to the Future: Unfunded: Black Communities Overlooked by Canadian Philanthropy: Agapi Gessesse: . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors:
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Eating Disorders are Prevalent but Solvable, with Sonia Kumar, co-founder of Body Brave and the Body Peace Collaborative
02/18/2021
Eating Disorders are Prevalent but Solvable, with Sonia Kumar, co-founder of Body Brave and the Body Peace Collaborative
As someone with lived experience, and as a person of mixed colour, Sonia brings a unique perspective to addressing eating disorders as a mental health issue, raising up the voices of people with lived experience and seeking more equitable access and support. Sonia explains the issues and challenges facing people living with eating disorders , particularly through a pandemic that creates additional stress. She also shares some of the solutions developed by the national Body Peace Collaborative, including developing an award-winning e-platform for those experiencing eating disorders and their families, as well as to educate and support health care professionals to be better equipped to offer support. Finally, Sonia shares some of her learning on the process. Solving these bigger societal issues often can’t be accomplished by one organization and means coming together as a collaborative for collective impact. This approach has its benefits and challenges, and Sonia shares both, concluding that it’s worth the effort. Resources Body Peace Collaborative/ Award-winning e-platform to access training, education and support: Body Brave website: Sonia Kumar: Priority Health Innovation Challenge: World Eating Disorders Action Day: June 2 Innoweave’s Collective Impact stream: . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors:
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Rallying for a Human Connection Movement with Pete Bombaci, GenWell Project Founder
02/04/2021
Rallying for a Human Connection Movement with Pete Bombaci, GenWell Project Founder
The GenWell Project is a Canadian organization dedicated to making the world a healthier and happier place by educating people about the importance of proactive face to face social connection and inspiring them to take action. We're going to hear a lot more about that from Founder, Pete Bombaci. After a successful career in the beverage industry, and then leading Movember Canada, Pete is now focusing on the rollout of this passion project. You're going to hear about human connection and the importance of it, something we may be taking for granted. It seems it’s not just about more interaction, but perhaps about building a support network that is key to our health. Pete points to research showing the importance of these human connections. We'll also hear about Pete's unique approach to this work as a marketing initiative, leveraging his background in the beverage industry, and how that may have helped or hurt the work that they are taking on. Overall, there’s a focus on human connection as a movement and the need to embed this in our society to really make an impact. Lots to take in here. Have a listen. Resources GenWell Project website: GenWell on Facebook: Pete Bombaci: Meet Geoff and hear his story: Massachusetts General Hospital - Social connection is the strongest protective factor for depression: . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: .
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Intentionally Designed for Meaningful Giving, with Kate Masson, Meaningful Work Foundation at Ian Martin Group
01/21/2021
Intentionally Designed for Meaningful Giving, with Kate Masson, Meaningful Work Foundation at Ian Martin Group
As the co-owner and Community Manager for the Ian Martin Group, Kate Masson works to establish a community of belonging and shared accountability for staff through a self-managed operating system and a genuine spirit of care for those in the organization. You're going to get a sense of that in this conversation. We're focused here not on the staffing organization, the work of Ian Martin Group as a B Corp, but on their foundation. They have been intentional in creating a foundation. The structure reflects the impact they intend, which includes looking at the effect they don’t want to have. They are addressing a very relevant need that they understand because of their work in hiring people. They understand the barriers to work, the challenges that exist. So, the Meaningful Work Foundation is meant to address those barriers. They are avoiding the power imbalance that can often exist between a funder and those that it's looking to fund. They're aware that they are granting small amounts and that the organizations they tend to support are small organizations, so they avoid making onerous demands in terms of application and reporting. They are engaging employees in meaningful ways, leveraging their expertise. In granting, and within the individual team members, they are addressing personal biases that might exist, getting that upfront so that they can have conversations that are really meaningful in deciding where the grants should be given. They are a small foundation, a young foundation. But I think there are some big lessons that all funders can learn, whether your lens is that of a foundation or a corporate team making donations, perhaps even from a personal giving standpoint. Have a listen. Resources Meaningful Work Foundation : Ian Martin Group: Kate Masson: Ian Martin Meaningful Work Foundation Grant Recipients 2020: Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business: Home Suite Hope: Plan Canada: Windmill Microlending: Yonge Street Mission: Benevity: Mark Peterson’s book, Love Giving Well: . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: .
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Making Data Accessible to Address Inequities, through the Toronto Child & Family Network’s Raising the Village initiative
01/07/2021
Making Data Accessible to Address Inequities, through the Toronto Child & Family Network’s Raising the Village initiative
In this episode, Social Impact Advisors Partner Lynn Fergusson interviews representatives of the Toronto Child & Family Network. Kelley Baldwin provides backbone support to the Toronto Child and Family Network, a network of about 100 organizations. Tamara Augsten, who’s had a lead role in developing the Network’s Raising the Village initiative shares the value of this database. This initiative has pulled together data from various partners’ sources, such as EQAO standardized testing, Toronto District School Board, and the census, and made 120 indicators easily accessible to anyone, in a way that allows for insights into the current state of Toronto and enables people and organizations to move to action. We hear how this easily enables a snapshot or comparison of a neighbourhood, and also enables an easy way to apply an equity lens to a community by disaggregating the data. Tamara shares how we often hear averages for Toronto. Great insights can be gained by segmenting the data by race, income or geography to identify and then move to address inequities. COVID has highlighted many inequities in our community. Here’s a tool to get a handle on them and mobilize action. This is particularly great information for organizations in Toronto serving children and families – principals, teachers, nonprofits, social workers, municipal councillors, parents and more - as you’ll hear how to easily access insights about your community. Outside of Toronto, we hope listeners take note of this model and begin to rally the partners and resources to ensure that insightful data is easily accessible in your community, as a first step to uncovering inequities and taking action. Resources Raising the Village: Toronto Child and Family Network: Tamara Augsten: Kelley Baldwin: . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal.
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Hope for the Homeless – with Proof, with Foundations for Social Change CEO Claire Elizabeth Williams
12/24/2020
Hope for the Homeless – with Proof, with Foundations for Social Change CEO Claire Elizabeth Williams
As co-founder and CEO of Foundations for Social Change, Claire Elizabeth Williams is getting global acclaim for North America's first direct giving project with people experiencing homelessness. Direct giving project, as in giving a lump sum of cash directly to people experiencing homelessness. We hear about their innovative project, the New Leaf Project, and its key success factors, including: the ability to be innovative forming partnerships conducting the research - the proof of the impact they're making and how they're going about doing that, and doing it through the gold standard of a Randomized Control Trial in partnership with an academic institution the magic of giving $7500 to people experiencing homelessness upfront in a lump sum, and not a more traditional monthly amount, though the same total amount We talk about how this is a model for other communities, and many are eager to get at this approach. We also explore whether this could be a model for other funders to loosen the strings that are attached to giving, to being able to leverage cash transfers as a solution in their toolkit. There are some obstacles to get over to make that possible, but it does seem possible in this time where the sector and society are ready for change. We're excited to share Claire’s ground-breaking work with you in this conversation. Have a listen! Resources Foundations for Social Change: New Leaf Project: Claire Elizabeth Williams: Believe in Someone Campaign: Believe in Someone Song:
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Storytelling, impact investing and reshaping philanthropy, with Sadia Zaman, Inspirit Foundation CEO
12/10/2020
Storytelling, impact investing and reshaping philanthropy, with Sadia Zaman, Inspirit Foundation CEO
Sadia and her small but mighty team at Inspirit Foundation are focused on shifting Canada to having more inclusive and equitable media and arts, impact investing, and philanthropy sectors. With a background in journalism, it should be no surprise that Sadia shares the power of storytelling to make change, and Inspirit follows through, providing platforms for voices to be heard, including through the Narrative Change Lab, particularly raising Muslim and Indigenous voices. We also hear about the bold objective set by the Foundation’s Board 5 years ago and just achieved, for Inspirit to be 100% in impact investing. They are proving it’s possible. From the philanthropic perspective, we discuss some of the challenges of addressing issues of systemic inequities, including the challenges of reaching new, grassroots organizations, and then funding them if they aren’t registered charities. This highlights the historic rules still governing the sector, and that it’s time for change. All this and more in the podcast. Enjoy! Resources: Inspirit Foundation: Fully Committed, Our Roadmap Towards a 100% Impact Portfolio: Jory Cohen’s Personal impact Investing Journey: Narrative Change Lab: Sadia Zaman: . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal.
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Capturing your Secret Sauce in a powerful Theory of Change, with Melissa Sariffodeen, CEO of Canada Learning Code
11/26/2020
Capturing your Secret Sauce in a powerful Theory of Change, with Melissa Sariffodeen, CEO of Canada Learning Code
It’s evident in this conversation that Melissa is a strong proponent of a non-profit having a Theory of Change – having a clear objective and a road map to get there. She shares with us Canada Learning Code’s significant but achievable goal, and their journey of developing and living into a Theory of Change to deliver on that goal. It has continued to be their guide through a re-branding and the unprecedented times presented by COVID-19. You’ll hear how the Theory of Change has rigourously captured the organization’s secret sauce, to ensure that they stay focused on what has been proven to work, even if they need to adapt their delivery. You won’t be surprised to learn that Melissa was building her own websites at age 11 and you’ll hear her bring that same curiosity and passion to her work leading Canada Learning Code. Resources Canada Learning Code: Melissa Sariffodeen: Canada Learning Code Theory of Change: . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal.
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Challenge 2025, with Jim Vanderveken of Mohawk College: Building community and opportunity through workforce development
11/12/2020
Challenge 2025, with Jim Vanderveken of Mohawk College: Building community and opportunity through workforce development
Today we are very pleased to welcome Jim Vanderveken to the podcast. As the Dean of the Centre for Community Partnership and Experiential Learning, Jim leads Mohawk College’s strategic commitment to postsecondary access, partnership development at the community level, and experiential learning. In our conversation today, Jim and I talk about the work of City School and the Challenge 2025 initiative in Hamilton: how it started, some of the early achievements, challenges and hopes for the future. Challenge 2025 is an ambitious initiative to bring all of Hamilton together to develop and strengthen the demand-led workforce: connecting employers, educational institutions at every level, government at every level, social and human services organizations, and most importantly learners and people who want to find and retain meaningful work, to build the pathways that will make Hamilton a leader in workforce development and poverty reduction. Success for Challenge 2025 will mean strong connections and clear pathways across the whole ecosystem and more opportunities for meaningful, good jobs for the people of the region. We hope to check in with Jim and his team several times as the Challenge 2025 initiative builds, and this is the first of those conversations. Resources: The Hamilton Spectator article: Mohawk unveils big plans for its unique approach to education - CBC article: Mohawk College aims to get 3,000 people jobs and 1,000 people into school by 2025 - . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal
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Philanthropy’s Transformational Change with Jean-Marc Mangin, CEO & President of Philanthropic Foundations Canada (PFC)
10/29/2020
Philanthropy’s Transformational Change with Jean-Marc Mangin, CEO & President of Philanthropic Foundations Canada (PFC)
In this episode, Social Impact Advisors Partner Lynn Fergusson interviews Jean-Marc Mangin, CEO & President of Philanthropic Foundations Canada (PFC) about the state of the philanthropic sector, particularly in light of the challenges of COVID. We hear how many nonprofits are in a dire situation as our society faces both the healthcare and economic effects of COVID. The pandemic has highlighted the important work done by the charitable sector, the need for collaboration across sectors to address societal issues, and the transformational opportunity it presents. COVID is the “great revealer”, according to Jean-Marc, as it has highlighted the inequities in our society – based on race, income, geography and more - and caused the philanthropic sector to reassess its history, role, and approach in looking to address those inequities. We hear about funders collaborating in these challenging times, applying an equity lens to their granting, and engaging in trust-based philanthropy. These challenging times present an opportunity to modernize and transform the sector. Resources PFC: PFC Virtual Conference Nov 17-19 2020: Jean-Marc Mangin : Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN) COVID-19 impact survey:
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Reinventing a purpose-driven organization and brand – the journey, with Joanna Kerr, CEO, MakeWay
10/15/2020
Reinventing a purpose-driven organization and brand – the journey, with Joanna Kerr, CEO, MakeWay
Joanna joins our podcast as CEO of the newly named MakeWay organization. You might know it as Tides Canada. We hear about the journey and thinking behind rebranding. It's about getting clear about the purpose of the organization and as a result, determining some fitting branding to go with it. We hear examples of projects MakeWay supports and a snapshot of an organizational design and leadership pilot the organization is undertaking. Through this, we’ll see just how fitting “MakeWay” is for this organization. Along the way, we also hear a bit more about Joanna's background. She came to MakeWay in the last year. Prior to that, she led Greenpeace Canada. She had more international experience before that, particularly focused on women and tackling inequality. Along that line, we're also going to hear about her role as Board Chair of the newly formed Equality Fund. This is going to be a significant organization. It just received $300 million in funding from the federal government. We'll hear about the history and direction of the Fund. Finally, we hear about how all of these things fit together, that the issues we're facing in the world, affecting society and the environment, are not separate and distinct, but all overlapping. Joanna brings great perspective to the intersectionality of those issues and how we need to solve for all of these things together. There's a lot to take away from this. Have a listen. Resources MakeWay: Joanna Kerr: Teal/Reinventing Organizations: Digital Justice Lab: Northern Manitoba Food, Culture and Community Collaborative: Equality Fund: Jessica Houssian/Women Moving Millions: Sophie Gupta: . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors:
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Seizing the Moment for an Equity Movement, with Michael Bach, Founder & CEO, Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion
10/01/2020
Seizing the Moment for an Equity Movement, with Michael Bach, Founder & CEO, Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion
Addressing equity is a hot topic right now as the COVID pandemic has highlighted undeniable inequities in our society, from who is contracting COVID, to who is most affected by job losses or slow returns, to evidence of anti-racism and police brutality. As Founder and CEO of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, having been the National Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at KPMG, Michael approaches solutions from an employer’s perspective. He reports seeing a sustained spike in demand from organizations across all sectors, to learn more and move towards action. The emotional moment is becoming an equity movement, with an objective of embedding diversity and inclusion into more organizational cultures. Michael shares that CCDI works with organizations from where they are and encourages starting with a business case for diversity, to be clear on the problem diversity and inclusion are meant to solve. This often involves looking at both an organization’s employees and clients and requires an understanding of the employee and client makeup – something that hasn’t always been popular to track. A hospital, for example, can better serve its clients if it reflects the community, be that in ethnicity, language or sexual orientation. There's a lot to take in here. We all have a journey to better understand and address systemic inequities. Let's get going and keep going on this journey. Have a listen. Resources Canadian Centre for Diversity and inclusion: Michael Bach: Michael's book, Birds of All Feathers: Doing Diversity and Inclusion Right: . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: .
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Seniors: Isolation, inclusion and system change with Glenys Currie
09/17/2020
Seniors: Isolation, inclusion and system change with Glenys Currie
In this episode, Sally speaks with Glenys Currie, Director of Quality and Risk Management at Banyan Community Services about her work with the Hamilton Seniors Social Isolation Plan (HSSIP) and its legacy. While the funded program, which ran for three years, ended in 2019, it has fostered relationships and positive impact that continue through the current COVID emergency. With over 25 years of experience leading community Glenys is an authority on the issues faced by marginalized and vulnerable persons, including an excellent knowledge and understanding of exclusion, isolation and loneliness. The Hamilton HSSIP project was started by organizations answering a call from , through the New Horizons Fund, to build community wide population-level impact plans to combat seniors’ isolation. Hamilton was one of 9 communities across Canada to receive funding from that original call. The Hamilton project was focused on connecting older adults in various ways: hospital connectors ensured safe discharge to community, community connectors sought out isolated seniors, peer connectors worked with fellow seniors to support their social connection to community. Five agencies and institutions participated in this network of connector services. As well, the Gilbrea Centre for studies in Aging at McMaster University worked to educate the community on the causes of seniors’ isolation, and the Hamilton Council on Aging connected all of these organizations to track progress and uncover opportunities. As Glenys explains, HSSIP underestimated the complexity of what seniors were facing: mental health challenges, substance abuse, food insecurity, precarious housing were all factors contributing to isolation that couldn’t be solved through relatively short-term services to seniors. Even with those challenges, HSSIP achieved its goal of connecting 20% of isolated seniors, and on a systems level, the project has produced lasting benefits. The community learned more about the causes of isolation and supports for combatting it, some of the connector roles developed in HSSIP continued and have become part of regular service at hospitals in Hamilton. As Glenys explains change at the systems level takes longer than three years, so the community is continuing to build on this work and foster their new relationships. The Seniors-At-Risk in the Community Collaborative (SARC) is one legacy of this collective work, and it connects 34 agencies and institutions together to share information, uncover opportunities and drive toward policy change. Glenys explains that government and other funders investing in community impact projects should invest long term. When crises like COVID happen, funding should be directed to experts in community who can ramp up their work quickly. Working collectively in the long term, as SARC intends, can reduce the fragmentation in community and make responding to crises and navigating to expertise more effective. Glenys credits staff at all of the agencies in Hamilton who have responded to the COVID crisis. Many people delivering services to seniors are seniors themselves, and they continued grocery delivery and social connection for their most vulnerable neighbours in a challenging time. Glenys suggests that collective community impact projects like these should work more intentionally at a systems level on inclusion, rather than focusing only on lifting individuals from isolation. There is a world of difference: don’t create programmatic dependency, work on preventing the need for short-term programs. Organizations working directly with seniors know what changes are needed at the system level around adequate income and food security, transportation and health care, and including these voices at tables of power, where decisions are made, will make our communities stronger. Resources: . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: .
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Guided by Purpose, with Allison Gibson, Director of Impact & Operations, Paintbox Catering and Bistro, a Toronto employment social enterprise B Corp
09/03/2020
Guided by Purpose, with Allison Gibson, Director of Impact & Operations, Paintbox Catering and Bistro, a Toronto employment social enterprise B Corp
As you might imagine, Paintbox Catering and Bistro in Toronto’s Regent Park has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Without gatherings, there have been no big corporate events to cater, to generate revenue for their social enterprise, which intentionally hires people from the local community who face barriers to employment. But Allison Gibson, Director of Impact & Operations, has ensured that they’ve made use of their space and model of doing good while making a profit. Alongside running the catering and bistro, Paintbox has been incubating local business start-ups, and Allison shares how, in light of the changing COVID-19 world, they have pivoted (or perhaps completely changed), to support one of their incubation businesses, taking on the operations of Nibbly, an online grocery service offering same day delivery. They’ve incorporated their B Corp ethos, and are hiring from the community. They offer special pop-up sales to the local Regent Park community at a discount and are providing places for neighbours to leave what they can and take what they need. Clients with compromised health have benefitted from the same day deliveries since the early days of COVID when traditional grocery stores’ delivery schedules were booked a month out. You’ll hear how purpose and contagious passion have driven Allison to take on this challenge, dedicating long days to learn a new industry and figure it all out, to help people in Regent Park gain food security in a difficult time. Thank you, Allison! Resources Paintbox Catering and Bistro: Nibbly: Allison Gibson: B Corp Canada: Additional B Corp Impact Conversations Podcasts: . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal .
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Rethinking a Foundation’s Impact, with Miin Alikhan, VP Impact & Accountability, Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation
08/20/2020
Rethinking a Foundation’s Impact, with Miin Alikhan, VP Impact & Accountability, Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation
Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation raises funds for the work of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, the centre addressing some 200 types of cancer for people in the GTA. With 1 in 2 Canadians touched by cancer in their lifetimes, you likely know someone who has used PMCC or has raised funds, through one of the PMCF’s signature events, such as the Home Lottery or the Ride to Conquer Cancer. Currently, the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation faces not only the challenges of raising funds without in-person events, but is making another shift within the organization, bringing in a focus on impact and accountability, with its newly formed department. Hear in this episode the thinking behind PMCF’s renewed impact focus, and the plans Miin Alikhan is developing to implement such a change, four months into her role as VP Impact & Accountability. We hear about the importance of co-designing and partnering in determining what measures will add value to their work and are realistic to implement. We also hear that this is as much about a change initiative within the organization, as it is about identifying the “right” impacts to focus on, as PMCF looks to shift from output measures, such as number of patients served and number of research projects, to the difference this work is making. As we often find, story telling becomes an important component to sharing the impact. As Miin says, it’s a marathon not a sprint, and we’ll hope to catch up with her again down the road to check in on the progress they’re making, as they move from the current planning stages to implementation. Resources Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation: Miin Alikhan: Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors:
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Hurdles, Opportunities and Systemic Change in These Times, with Neil Hetherington, CEO, Daily Bread Food Bank
08/06/2020
Hurdles, Opportunities and Systemic Change in These Times, with Neil Hetherington, CEO, Daily Bread Food Bank
Hear in this episode how COVID-19 has put hurdles in the path of front-line operations like Daily Bread Food Bank, and how they’ve knocked them down, one by one, becoming a stronger organization as a result. Neil Hetherington, CEO of Daily Bread Food Bank, shares with us their unyielding focus on continuing to meet their food delivery commitments despite the operational challenges and spike in demand due to the pandemic. We also hear about the improvements this means go forward for Daily Bread as they look to leverage what they’ve achieved during the pandemic. They’ve discovered operational improvements and partnerships, enabling them to serve many more people and with more food, to an extent not previously thought possible. It’s also clarified for them the need to pursue systemic change through their advocacy work, embracing a moment when so many Torontonians have now been touched by food insecurity and are supportive of change. Unfortunately, Daily Bread’s own research indicates a bigger risk ahead for those living in poverty and with food insecurity – an eviction tsunami as people are unable to pay their rent is on the horizon. This too will require advocacy and Daily Bread see themselves with an important role. This is clearly a case of a leader and an organization rising to the challenge, with lessons for all of us. Resources Daily Bread Food Bank: Neil Hetherington: Who’s Hungry 2019? Daily Bread Food Bank’s Nov 2019 Report, including Race Data: Hunger Lives Here: Risks and Challenges Faced by Food Bank Clients During COVID-19 – July 2020: . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: .
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Successfully bringing Indigenous ways to a traditionally science-based culture at Sierra Club BC, with Executive Director, Hannah Askew
07/23/2020
Successfully bringing Indigenous ways to a traditionally science-based culture at Sierra Club BC, with Executive Director, Hannah Askew
Hannah Askew started as Executive Director at Sierra Club BC in late 2018 with a mandate to bring an Indigenous lens to the work of Sierra Club BC, alongside the traditional scientific lens. As a lawyer, prior to this role, Hannah practiced public interest environmental law and was deeply involved in learning from Indigenous communities about their systems of law and governance. You’ll hear that Hannah is a big proponent of the McConnell Foundation’s Innoweave program “Impact and Strategic Clarity”, which they completed in 2019. It’s how they developed a Theory of Change (see the podcast resources), building clarity around what the organization aimed to achieve and how they would do it. While it was a difficult process, coming in as a new Executive Director and with this big change mandate, they've come through the other side and landed in a strong position to face the challenges of COVID-19. They’re able to leverage their clarity of purpose, shared values, and bonds as a team as they work remotely. They have greater direct participation from Indigenous peoples in the work. This clarity has also led to a stronger funding position. Sierra Club BC’s experience highlights the need to check our biases and identify things we may take for granted. It also shows how challenging it can be to question our values, and change, but it also highlights the great value in doing so. Resources Sierra Club BC: Sierra Club BC’s Theory of Change: (see below) Hannah Askew: 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report: . . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: .
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On the COVID and Poverty Front Line- meeting the emergency and adapting to the new world with Shawn Bayes of Elizabeth Fry
07/09/2020
On the COVID and Poverty Front Line- meeting the emergency and adapting to the new world with Shawn Bayes of Elizabeth Fry
In some of our recent episodes we have been speaking with leaders in the nonprofit and social benefit sectors about the changes and opportunities they anticipate at a system level as we adapt to the new COVID situation in Canada. Today, we are talking about the front line: what the Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver did when the emergency started, how reaffirming their values and principles helped them make decisions, and what they have learned about the scope, influence and interdependence of their work with other nonprofits and the broader society. Elizabeth Fry supports some of our society’s most vulnerable populations – women, girls and children at risk, involved in or affected by the justice system. Their more than two dozen programs work to break the cycle of poverty, addiction, mental illness, homelessness and crime. Our guest is Shawn Bayes, the Executive Director of EFry, who has been on the podcast before, talking about strategy for impact. During her 35-year career with EFry, Shawn has led the creation of numerous initiatives and successfully pursued policy changes to help address deep poverty and homelessness, key risk factors tied to criminalization. She was appointed in 2019 to Canada’s National Advisory Council on Poverty. We were glad she agreed to come back to talk about what’s changed, and what hasn’t, and how EFry is thinking about adapting to the future. As you will hear in this conversation, COVID has pushed more people on the margin further from safety. Violence, hunger and homelessness are greater risks in the COVID emergency than before, and the possibility of a second wave could compound these risks further. Shawn describes how EFry is preparing for a larger role. For more about the principles that are the foundation of EFry’s work: Shawn Bayes on LinkedIn: National Advisory Committee on Poverty: EFry on Twitter: . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: .
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Bold new leadership supporting the National Housing Strategy, with Julia Deans, Habitat for Humanity Canada President & CEO
06/25/2020
Bold new leadership supporting the National Housing Strategy, with Julia Deans, Habitat for Humanity Canada President & CEO
Julia shares her insights three months into her role as President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada. She shares her thoughts about priorities for the organization and how they make a bigger impact particularly given COVID-19 and the impact it has had on them, as a retail organization, construction organization, community developer, while counting on volunteer engagement, corporate and government support - all facets that are affected by the crisis. Yet she thinks it's time to be collaborating and making a bold contribution towards the National Housing Strategy; and not just addressing housing issues but also issues such as climate change, in how they build those homes and create an example from Canada for the rest of the Habitat world, and perhaps others, to learn from. Hear what it means to be a leader through crisis, listening for new ideas from anywhere. Resources Habitat for Humanity Canada: Julia Deans: Canada’s National Housing Strategy: . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: .
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Creating a Resilient Recovery, with Julia Langer, CEO, The Atmospheric Fund
06/11/2020
Creating a Resilient Recovery, with Julia Langer, CEO, The Atmospheric Fund
In this episode, Julia Langer, CEO of The Atmospheric Fund (TAF), shares how COVID-19 has impacted TAF and its grantees. With TAF’s mandate to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the greater Toronto and Hamilton areas, Julia underscores that there is still a climate crisis, amidst the COVID crisis, needing urgent action. We need programs and policies in place. Julia also talks about the opportunity COVID has highlighted, of “multi-solving” – addressing issues of health, the environment, the economy, equity and more as we look to create a Resilient Recovery. She encourages organizations to start developing these solutions to be ready to act when the stimulus funding flows – not just with the typical shovel-ready projects, but shovel-worthy projects that meet multiple needs. Resources TAF: Resilient Recovery: Build Back Better: Just Transition: Sign the Resilient Recovery Campaign: . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: .
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The Canadian Charitable Sector in COVID-19 and beyond
05/28/2020
The Canadian Charitable Sector in COVID-19 and beyond
In this podcast, we connect with the Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector, through its charitable sector co-chairs, Bruce MacDonald, President & CEO of Imagine Canada, and Hilary Pearson, former President of Philanthropic Foundations of Canada. We hear about what they are seeing in the charitable sector – both what COVID-19 has caused (including significant increases and decreases in demand, depending on the sub-sector), and what the virus has brought to light about cracks in the charitable sector. We get an inside look at what might need to change as we turn to recovery and transformation of the sector and Canadian society. Hilary and Bruce also share guidance for foundations, charities and their boards, and highlight why this all matters. Resources: Imagine Canada: Bruce MacDonald: Hilary Pearson: Sector Monitor - Charities and the COVID-19 Pandemic: The PhiLanthropic Year – COVID-19 Special Edition – May 2020: Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: .
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The future of work in the recovery: relationships and networks in East Scarborough Works with Ajeev Bhatia and Gillian Mason
05/14/2020
The future of work in the recovery: relationships and networks in East Scarborough Works with Ajeev Bhatia and Gillian Mason
Thanks to , Manager of Policy / Community Connections at Centre for Connected Communities and , a consultant and urban planner working with Connected Communities, for talking to us about the amazing work underway at East Scarborough Works. In this conversation, Ajeev and Gillian describe the unique opportunity we have now to build on what we know from poverty reduction and community development to strengthen neighbourhoods and draw on the assets of our communities in the recovery. In the project large institutions like the University of Toronto and the Toronto Transit Commission, trade unions like LIUNA, employment services, skills development programs are all connected with a clear line of sight to connect job seekers with job needs and support new workers with wayfinding and drawing on neighbourhood assets. Ajeev and Gillian explain the community development approach the project has taken and the critical role of an intermediary in a community ecosystem. Connected Communities calls this the community backbone organization, which understands all of the different groups in a community from grassroots organizations to large institutions and their motivations and challenges, and works to develop a system level pathway. An intermediary like operates at both an individual and macro level to connect and support all of the players in a community ecosystem. This work has also helped grow empathy among the players in the system. ‘Weavers’ such as the people at East Scarborough works who are nurturing relationships and understanding will be important in the new economy. We hope this critical connective tissue in communities can attract investment and support from government and philanthropy in the new recovery. Resources: Ajeev Bhatia: Gillian Mason: Learn more about the Learn about the Access . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: .
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Building Better Communities: The B Corp Model with Craig Ryan, BDC
04/30/2020
Building Better Communities: The B Corp Model with Craig Ryan, BDC
Are you proud of how your successful organization makes your community a better place to live? Do you want to be? Craig Ryan, Director, Purpose Entrepreneurship, leads BDC’s team to help grow Canada’s national movement of certified Beneficial corporations (B Corps). He shares with us how this thinking fits with B Corp leaders, what he sees as the resilience of B Corps and the importance of this as a model for more organizations as we come out the other side of COVID-19, with people more connected to people and place, and the impact they can make on their community. While B Corp certification is for businesses, the free tool is a great planning tool for nonprofits and businesses alike. Resources Craig Ryan: BDC: BDC - 3 Steps to Becoming a Certified B Corp: B Corp Canada: B Impact Assessment: BDC’s B Corp Effect podcast – Chandos Construction: Milton Friedman Was Wrong: . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: .
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Decent Work and the New Economy Post-Recovery, with Derek Cook and Kate Siklosi
04/16/2020
Decent Work and the New Economy Post-Recovery, with Derek Cook and Kate Siklosi
Derek Cook, leader of the Canadian Poverty Institute also leads a Collective Impact Initiative, the New Economy Roundtable. He's joined by Roundtable member Kate Siklosi of the Ian Martin Group (a B Corp), in discussing their focus on increasing the number of people in "decent work" in Ontario, and how this focus is even more important coming through the COVID crisis into both economic and social recovery. Resources: New Economy Roundtable: Canadian Poverty Institute: Ian Martin Group: UN Report: McMaster Research - Poverty and Employment Precarity in Southern Ontario: . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: .
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The pandemic: some sources of information and inspiration, and our thanks.
03/19/2020
The pandemic: some sources of information and inspiration, and our thanks.
This is very short episode, given where we are in Canada (and around the world) with the CoVid19 pandemic. Good information is really important in an emergency- we have been relying on many of our partners and friends and clients, and our leaders in Canada, for information. The following are some of the great sources of information and inspiration we have been relying on: : city, provincial and national sources of information and mental health supports in Toronto and Ontario. Washing our hands: Some inspiration: Registered Nurses Association of Ontario: #caremongering Thank you to these community leaders and everyone we work with both outside and inside Social Impact Advisors for your spirit of generosity, your empathy for one another, your offers of help and your amazing flexibility and adaptability at this challenging time. Our very best wishes to you. . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: .
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People are Thriving - A Measurable Outcome Focus with Angie Peters, CEO YSM
03/05/2020
People are Thriving - A Measurable Outcome Focus with Angie Peters, CEO YSM
In this episode, Lynn interviews Angie Peters, President & CEO at the Yonge Street Mission (YSM) in Toronto. YSM has identified a focus beyond activities, on outcomes – the results the people they work with are striving for. They have labelled this outcome as "people thriving", and Angie shares the framework they use, based on research, that identifies the key elements and milestones for each element for a person to be thriving. These include elements such as family stability, employment readiness and having a sense of power. They have taken something nebulous and made it tangible and quantifiable in this tool they are piloting. YSM frontline workers then determine how best YSM and its partners can help individuals move to the next milestone, across these elements. They have a similar model for communities to be thriving, considering components such as system navigation and stakeholder collaboration. Angie highlights what they've learned to date about implementation as well as insights into the key elements to focus on with an individual. We encourage you to access the YSM transformation frameworks in the episode notes, and to reach out to YSM to learn more and even join in, as they'd love to have many players join the "user group", testing, and sharing feedback. Ultimately, YSM would like to create some city-wide goals, as they boldly work towards the end of chronic poverty in Toronto in a generation, in partnership with others. Resources The Yonge Street Mission Individual Transformation Framework: (attached) The Yonge Street Mission Community Transformation Framework: (attached) YSM website: . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: .
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Beyond Strategic Planning, Strategy is creating value, with Prof. Brent McKnight
02/20/2020
Beyond Strategic Planning, Strategy is creating value, with Prof. Brent McKnight
In this episode, Lynn interviews Dr. Brent McKnight, Associate Professor in Strategic Management at McMaster University's DeGroote School of Business. Brent characterizes strategy as being about creating value, whether at a for profit (business) or nonprofit organization. Having recently developed an undergraduate course in organizational strategy, Brent shares some early findings of applying business models, such as Five Forces, to nonprofits in developing their strategy. He underscores the importance for nonprofits to think broadly about strategy to create value and make a significant social or environmental impact, and capturing this in a Theory of Change. This is much different than simply creating a plan of action for the next 3-5 years, as may be the case in typical strategic planning. Tune in to hear more about identifying and maximizing the value your organization creates. Resources: Dr. Brent McKnight: McMaster's Integrated Business and Humanities Program: HBR 2 minute video explaining Porter's Five Forces Model: Forbes article - Business Strategy For The Social Sector: In Praise Of Economist Sharon Oster's 6 Forces Model: Theory of Change – HBR article Delivering on the Promise of Nonprofits: Lucky Iron Fish: Henry Mintzberg's Intended, Emergent and Realized Strategies: Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: .
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