CRRF’s National Anti-Racism Fund: Working together to build a more anti-racist Canada

The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) seeks to support organizations to combat racism, promote events and education, and build a more anti-racist society. 

The $3 million National Anti-Racism Fund (the Fund) will be disbursed over two years, which is a valuable contribution to the continuation of CRRF's mission: developing, sharing, and applying knowledge and expertise to contribute to the elimination of racism and all forms of racial discrimination in Canadian society.  

Who or what is eligible for the Fund?

Applications must align with one or more of the following themes and objectives:

1. Systemic racial barriers: Reducing barriers to inclusion by addressing systemic racism in education, healthcare, the justice system, public services, employment, and public life.
2. Research and education: Promoting and increasing availability and accessibility of data, evidence, and community insights on race relations in Canada.
3. Public awareness: Informing public policies by highlighting systemic and institutional barriers. 
4. Cultural and intercultural community building: Creating cross-cultural opportunities through discussions and dialogue on race, religion, building awareness, and collaborations.  

Taking action on affordability crisis

2022 Living Wage Numbers released by Alberta Living Wage Network

Marking a year since its launch, the Alberta Living Wage Network (ALWN or “the Network”) has released updated living wage numbers for 2022. 

 The 2022 living wages are as follows:

•  Calgary: $22.40
• Canmore: $32.75
• Cochrane: $22.35
• Drayton Valley: $19.65
• Drumheller: $21.20
• Edmonton: $21.40
• Fort McMurray: $22.50
• Grand Prairie: $19.65
• Lethbridge: $20.30
• Medicine Hat: $17.50
• Red Deer: $19.65
• Rocky Mountain House: $21.85
• Spruce Grove: $20.70
• St. Albert: $22.40
• Stony Plain: $20.40

With record high inflation in a post-pandemic world, the intention of releasing the living wage numbers is not to add further stress to business, but rather to shed light on the reality of the cost of living in cities and towns across Alberta. 

The living wage is defined as the hourly wage a worker needs to earn to cover their basic expenses and participate in the community. Over the last year, the Network has adjusted its calculations to better reflect the lived reality of Albertans. The 2022 are based on the income needs of three household types: 1) a two-parent family with 2 young children, 2) a lone-parent family with one child and 3) a single individual living alone. The calculation considers the hourly rate of pay needed for a household to maintain a modest standard of living, once government transfers have been added and taxes have been subtracted. It assumes that each adult is working full-time hours and includes more than the basics of food, clothing and shelter – it also takes into account unexpected costs, small investments in education, child care, and participating in the community.

AHCC and Volunteer Lethbridge's StopHate Conversations on December 12.

The Alberta Hate Crimes Committee (AHCC) and the Organization for the Prevention of Violence have been funded by the Province of Alberta to research the scope and impact of hate-motivated crimes and incidents in Alberta. The Province’s Hate Crime Coordination Unit will provide organizational support, supplemental police data, and information from the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service. the AHCC will meet with marginalized populations impacted by hate and bias across the province better to understand the prevalence of hatred and prejudice in Alberta. A final recommendations report will be submitted to the Government of Alberta in February 2023.

Two options to participate- the afternoon or evening of Dec 12:
Registration link (1-3 pm): https://forms.gle/SztDWMab3YerL29k9
Registration link (5-7 pm): https://forms.gle/thNGQtN7E9xs7ZY79

Ending Poverty Pathways Online Course

Welcome to the Ending Poverty Pathways Online Course, Vibrant Communities' first online course. Through this course, you'll be guided through reflective questions and exercises that will help you make the most of the course materials and content.

Join Vibrant Communities' Natasha Pei, Manager of Cities, in this new five-module course. Topics include Ending Working Poverty, Governments and Communities Ending Poverty, and Big Ideas for Ending Poverty.

To support government, business, non-profit, and lived/living experience leaders to understand, advocate for, and advance high-impact ending poverty pathways in their communities.

• Make the case for proven pathways that contribute to the end of poverty 

• Engage government, business, non-profit, Indigenous, and lived/living experience leaders strategically to drive local ending poverty work forward

• Prioritize high-impact activities, strategies, and policies to focus ending poverty efforts based on what is working across the Communities Ending Poverty network

• Commit to actioning Ending Poverty Pathways using a collaborative and multi-sectoral approach.

This course is available to use at your own pace, but you'll be learning alongside a diverse group of Tamarack Institute learners. Engage in comments and questions on the online platform, and join us for monthly Q&A sessions for a deeper dive into the content and to get more personalized insights.

Truth and Reconciliation Training

THE INSTRUCTOR: Francis First Charger, Owl Chief, Ninnaisipistoo

Owl Chief provides advisory services to various organizations and conducts Blackfoot Cultural Sensitivity Workshops and in working with other First Nations (Blackfoot People) and/or off-reserve corporations in the areas of international relations, culture, academic course development, agriculture, irrigation, project development, and project implementation.

THE OUTLINE

1. History of Blackfoot people
2. Prayers and blessings
3. Story of truth and reconciliation week
4. Blackfoot culture, traditions and values
5. The path forward

Lethbridge Public Library Facilities Master Plan
Community Business/Organization Focus Group

At the library, we are looking ahead to Lethbridge in 2050 and asking ourselves and the community to consider the way forward. We anticipate that the future library will serve a community of 150,000
people, with over one million library visitors annually. Over the past few months, the Library has done extensive stakeholder engagement to identify key community perceptions of the library, and aspirations for its future facilities, resources, and services. In this session, we will lead a discussion of the draft vision and goals for the Library. We would like to know from your perspective: Are we on the right track? What else should be considered? How could the Library best address the specialized concerns of your group?

Wednesday, November 23, 2022, 12:00—1:30 p.m.
Lethbridge Public Library, Main Branch, Theatre Gallery
810 5 Avenue, S
RSVP by November 17 to
Terra.Plato@lethlib.ca

Light lunch provided

Strategic Risk Management for Nonprofits
 

The landscape that nonprofit organizations operate within has changed dramatically over the past three years. Among the many lessons that we have learned is that a vital mission and dedicated staff are not enough to insulate organizations from risk.

Strategic risk management requires thinking about a wide range of future possibilities and being willing to take risks for the good of those you serve in the face of an unknown future. These risks are not managed by rules and policies, but through approaches designed to assess and reduce the probability of negative impacts and leverage opportunities for positive outcomes.

Strategic risks include:

• Leveraging opportunities to advance your mission
• Operating without clearly defined strategic priorities
• Not examining assumptions underlying strategic decisions
• Not tailoring services based on current and future community needs
• Not attending to external trends and how they might affect your organization's operation or funding

Alberta Living Wage Week (November 14 - 18)