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If your work takes a human rights-based approach, you’re likely familiar with the core principles underlying that approach — progressive realization, accountability, participation, and prioritization of those most in need. While all of these principles inform Maytree’s work, we have devoted some time this year to thinking through the right to participation in particular, both in our work and in the work of the sector as a whole.
While it is encouraging to see that consultation and participation are becoming standard practices, much remains to be done to ensure that participation is meaningful at every stage of decision-making. To examine the gaps in our processes and find solutions, we reached out to lived experts and allies for their thoughts on the matter.
Over the past six months, we’ve posted a series of reflections on the issue of participation — Maytree’s Effie Vlachoyannacos shared her thoughts on participation, expertise, and power; housing activist and Maytree Fellow Emily Paradis wrote about lived experts transforming policy processes related to homelessness and inadequate housing; Carmen Smith, former Manager Community Renewal and Revitalization in Lawrence Heights, offered learnings from resident-led revitalization; Patricia Smiley and Kyle Vose, lived experts and co-chairs of the ODSP Action Coalition, shared their practices for ensuring the leadership of people with lived experience within the structure of their advocacy network, and for resolving conflict; and FMTA’s Joeita Gupta wrote about the importance of knowing your rights to be able to engage in system change.
We hope you’ll take a moment to read through these blog posts or revisit the ideas presented. For the rest of the year, we’ll continue to bring you more ideas and resources on ensuring the meaningful participation of people with lived experience of poverty.
On the subject of reading, for this month’s newsletter, we’ve put together a list of five summer reading recommendations from Maytree staff. Also in this issue, you’ll find a new report on possible parameters for Toronto’s inclusionary zoning policy, our latest submission to the City of Toronto regarding the HousingTO action plan, and a new story on human rights education in the classroom.
As always, thank you for engaging with our work.
Elizabeth McIsaac
President, Maytree
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