Counting Change in Grande Prairie:

Making Poverty Reduction Everybody’s Business

Community Engagement Session March 22, 2012

Grande Prairie Public Library

Session Outcomes

• To understand the current state, impact and costs of poverty in Grande Prairie

• To engage key stakeholders • To learn about how other communities are

tackling poverty • To determine a path forward for Grande

Prairie

Agenda

AM GreetingsSetting the Context Do the Math Exercise Poverty Priorities

PM Developing the Network Poverty Reduction Perspectives – Lessons from Alberta and Vibrant Communities Canada Wrap up and Next Steps

Setting the Context

Current State of Poverty in Grande Prairie – What we know, what

we need to know – Impacts of poverty on

the community

Do The Math

• Instructions: – In your table groups, work through the work

sheets to determine what it costs to live in Grande Prairie.

• Reflection Questions: – What surprised you? What did you learn? What

inspired you?

Poverty Priority Table Discussions

• What are the impacts and costs of poverty on Grande Prairie?

• Who is already working on this problem? • What are some of the priorities the

community should focus on to reduce poverty in Grande Prairie?

• What are the next steps for Grande Prairie?

Building our Social Network

Poverty Perspectives

• Dan Meades – Vibrant Communities Calgary • Liz Weaver – Vibrant Communities Canada

Next Steps

Counting Change in Grande Prairie: Making Poverty Reduction Everybody’s Business