This article is the sixth in a series on social innovation. Let me begin with a story that recently moved me. It’s the story of Emily. She lives in Edmonton. She is curious and creative but also a tad shy. Emily lives with a developmental disability and has found it challenging to engage with the…
This article is the first in a series about intergenerational leadership. The series is published as a collaboration between The Philanthropist and Connect the Sector (CTS). Fresh off of his decisive election victory in 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave himself a side-job: Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Youth. It was a slight rebrand of…
This article is the fourth in a series on social innovation. The challenge with understanding systemic change is that it is like describing a lake in which you are currently swimming. In Part I of this reflection on Robert Couchman’s 1992 article in The Philanthropist, titled The Politics of Resistance to Change in Innovative Programming, we…
This article is the third in a series on social innovation. In June 2013, Alastair Wilson of the UK’s School for Social Entrepreneurs visited Toronto and convinced an audience of nearly 50 people to squeeze into a somewhat airless room at 7am to attend his provocatively titled talk, Down With Meritocracy! It described the disillusionment with…
Research collaborations are almost always seen as desirable. Studies that compare practices across international boundaries and that engage researchers and practitioners require individuals to relate to one another across a vast array of cultures, languages, professional practices, and research expectations. Such partnerships can in turn produce new skills and expertise, improve access to funding, and…
Cet article est le deuxième d’une série consacrée à l’innovation sociale. À certaines heures, non seulement l’avenir mais aussi le présent semblent bien obscurs. C’est ne pas voir comme le monde où nous vivons est déjà transformé, et non seulement par des cauchemars comme le réchauffement planétaire et la mondialisation, mais aussi par des rêves de…
This article is the second in a series on social innovation. “This is an extraordinary time full of vital, transformative movements that could not be foreseen. It’s also a nightmarish time. Full engagement requires the ability to perceive both.” – Rebecca Solnit, Hope in the Dark: Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities Introduction In 2010, The Philanthropist published several…
A UK-based non-profit pioneered the social impact bond (SIB), a tool used by some governments to fund preventive social programs, in 2010. Like other forms of social finance, SIBs have proliferated rapidly in recent years, reflecting significant enthusiasm amongst governments and the voluntary sector. While many introduced SIBs with fanfare, they have also drawn intense…
Cet article est le premier d’une série consacrée à l’innovation sociale. En Colombie-Britannique, des douzaines de pêcheurs de la région du Lower Mainland qui utilisent des bateaux de pêche appartenant à leur famille ne peuvent plus capturer des prises de la taille exigée par les grossistes. Ils ont donc formé une association dirigée par ses…
This article is the first in a series on social innovation. In British Columbia, dozens of Lower Mainland fishers operating family-owned boats no longer have the size to sell to wholesalers. Instead, they band together to create a membership-driven club; subscribers can purchase fresh catch right off the dock. The result: sustainable food production, improved…