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McConnell News
 
2017 | #1

Ancient stories, new technology

Ryan McMahon is finding power in voices with Makoons Media Group

Now is the time for Indigenous people to break new ground in media, says Janet Rogers, who has worked in radio for a decade. Rogers hosts a show called Native Waves Radio on CFUV in Victoria. “We’re picking up these tools on our own and without the colonized filter, we’re kind of fumbling our way towards creating and maintaining a voice through the medium of podcasting.”
 
It’s not a simple task, says Ryan McMahon, founder of Makoons Media Group, whose best known success to date is the Indian & Cowboy podcast network. “White people have always controlled the gaze ... and that gaze has always exploited us and our weaknesses,” he says. McMahon wants to change this and is scaling up his vision of an Indigenous podcast network, with support from the Indigenous Innovation Demonstration Fund (IIDF), a partnership of the National Association of Friendship Centres, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation.

Read the article

Granting and impact investment priorities for 2017

The Trustees of the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation approved funding for several organizations and initiatives. Click here to learn more.

In the coming year, the Foundation will focus its granting on several core program areas, Innoweave and our Social Innovation Fund. Learn more about our granting priorities for 2017.

Advancing wellbeing in schools

A growing body of evidence shows that promoting social and emotional wellbeing in children and youth not only supports positive mental health, but also improves outcomes in school.Yet, Canadian schools do not consistently address social and emotional wellbeing as a core part of their role. In 2015, WellAhead began working in British Columbia to experiment with ways to better integrate wellbeing into K-12 education. In Advancing Wellbeing in Schools, WellAhead shares 15 lessons about education, philanthropy & systems change learned through this process.
Read the report

Introducing the Nourish innovators!

The Foundation’s Nourish program is pleased to announce selection of the twenty-five innovators in food and health care for a two-year leadership program. From Haida Gwaii to Gander, the cohort will navigate the complex questions of the present and point to ways that their organizations can bring new approaches to food that recognize its impact across the patient journey, on economic vibrancy, and on environmental wellbeing.
Meet the innovators

Montreal turns 375!

As Montreal was preparing for its 375th anniversary, the Foundation’s Cities for People initiative and Nouveau Projet -- 2015 Canadian Magazine of the Year -- reflected on the city’s past, present and future. Bringing together writers, historians, thinkers, photographers and illustrators, the Montreal dossier offers diverse viewpoints on how Canada’s second largest city tackles tough challenges and exciting opportunities.
Read the dossier

Montreal subway cars get new life

A Montreal-based project, MR-63, will integrate eight of the city’s decommissioned métro cars into a three-storey sculpture that will house a community space, café-bar, and art gallery. MR-63 is one of six winners of the Cities for People and RECODE Civic Innovation Awards.
Learn more
Insights & Observations at the Intersection of Higher Education, Indigenous Communities & Local Economic Development

Key insights, observations, and suggested next steps are all featured in the report based on last year's discussion on reconciliation, entrepreneurship and higher education hosted by RECODE. One insight: post-secondary institutions should redefine ideas of wealth and economy to be more aligned with Indigenous community-centric worldviews.

Learn more
How open data can improve urban resilience

As more of the world’s population move to cities, the need for resiliency in our urban areas is even more important. Coupling “open data and urban resilience efforts to build a culture of openness” is just one recommendation Open North and the Open Data Institute provide in a new report about how open data can be used to improve the resilience of cities.

Read the report
Apply now for food security innovation funds
Application deadline: January 30

The Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security is seeking applicants for its Innovation Fund. This new Fund provides grants to registered charities engaged in testing and expanding innovative approaches to advance sustainable food security that can be scaled and replicated. The Centre will have three funding cycles per year, starting in January.

Apply here

Nominate a volunteer for Canada’s Volunteer Awards
Deadline: February 3


You have until February 3, 2017, to give Canadian volunteers the recognition they deserve. We encourage you to nominate a not-for-profit organization, an individual or group of volunteers, or a business. Award winners will be able to choose a not-for-profit organization to receive a grant of $5,000 (regional award) or $10,000 (national award).

Nominate a volunteer
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For SOCIAL INNOVATION resources and materials, 
visit the SiG Knowledge Hub.
Copyright © 2017 Fondation McConnell Foundation, All rights reserved.


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