enough QU uarpdateterly for all - Vibrant...
Transcript of enough QU uarpdateterly for all - Vibrant...
Key Enough for All Partners ... and all of you!
enoughf o r a l l
UpdateQuarterly
JANUARY 2017
Calgarians take a stand to end poverty
On Oct. 25, 2016, hundreds of Calgarians came together, with the support of Mayor
Naheed Nenshi and many community agencies, in a bid to fight the serious and
growing issue of poverty in our city. The commitment is to reduce poverty by 50 per
cent by 2023.
Today, one in ten Calgarians live in poverty. That is a
community the size of Red Deer and the problem is
growing. In Calgary, one in five people are concerned
about not having enough money for food, and one in
three people are concerned about not having enough
money for housing.
“In our community, we understand the basic truth
that our neighbour’s success is our success,” said
Mayor Nenshi. “However, that also means our
neighbour’s failure is our failure. We all need to take
action to fight poverty now and this campaign helps
citizens discover what they can do to make a real and
positive difference.”
Enough for All is a campaign created to remove
the barriers and the stigma attached to poverty by
encouraging Calgarians to take action. Together,
concerned Calgarians have chosen a RED RING to
symbolize the commitment needed to end poverty in
Calgary. All Calgarians are encouraged to make this
commitment and take action. The public are invited
to visit EnoughForAll.ca for information and examples
of actions to take including wearing a red ring and
signing up to join the cause.
Thirty-thousand red rings have been distributed and
are available at various locations around Calgary
including all Calgary Co-op locations, First Calgary
Financial locations, and at all Calgary Public Librairies.
Nearly half of Albertans would struggle with financial
obligations if their paycheck was delayed by just
one week. Poverty isn’t something that happens to
‘other people’. It affects our friends, colleagues and
neighbors. It affects us all.
continued on page 2
“A collection of Calgarians, from all walks of life,
have said enough is enough. Great cities, those
that prosper and are world class, are cities where
everyone comes together and looks after their
neighbours,” said Franco Savoia, Executive Director,
Vibrant Communities Calgary.
At the Enough for All campaign kickoff, videos of
Calgarians with first-hand lived experience of poverty
were shared including one from Dr. Lucy Miller, CEO,
United Way of Calgary. “Poverty makes it hard to be
optimistic about the future. It impacts high school
completion rates, childhood development, accessing
and maintaining employment, and overall health and
well-being,” said Miller. “We believe there is Enough
for All and by harnessing the collective energy and
passion of Calgarians, we can reduce poverty in our
community.”
The campaign is driven by everyday Calgarians
who came together to fight poverty, and is part of
the Enough for All poverty reduction strategy. The
strategy is a collective effort, stewarded by Vibrant
Communities Calgary. Beginning early in 2015, the
City of Calgary, United Way of Calgary & Area,
Vibrant Communities Calgary and Momentum, came
together to address the root causes of poverty. The
public awareness campaign will run for approximately
two years and is financially supported by the United
Way, the Calgary Foundation and the City of Calgary.
For more information visit www.enoughforall.ca.
Calgarians take a stand to end poverty continued from page 1
Enough for All Quarterly Update: January 2017
“A collection of Calgarians,
from all walks of life, have said
enough is enough...”
– Franco Savoia, Executive
Director, Vibrant Communities Calgary.
Progress from government on poverty reduction – A 2016 year in reviewAlberta Child Benefit and the enhanced Alberta
Family Employment Tax Credit: July 2016 ushered
in the first round of benefits to low-income families
eligible to receive the new Alberta Child Benefit.
Under the new program, all families earning less than
$41,220 per year, including those receiving AISH
and Income Support, received a maximum annual
benefit of $1,100 for families with one child, and up to
$2,750 for families with four or more children. By the
end of Nov. 2016, over 200,000 children in 110,000
families had received the benefit. At the same time,
the enhanced Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit
was launched, supporting more working families with
children and providing greater benefits for many who
are already eligible.
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Inquiry:
In a joint announcement released on Sept. 8, 2016,
Alberta joined the National Inquiry into Missing and
Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The Minister
of Indigenous Relations and Minister of Status of
Women, established “…the authority to examine
areas of provincial jurisdiction, such as child welfare,
education and the justice system – to understand and
address the causes leading to missing and murdered
Indigenous women and girls.” This is explicitly
included in the Calls to Action of the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission.
Future Ready: Future Ready is a Government of
Alberta initiative focused on ensuring that “every
Albertan has the skills they need to succeed in a
changing economy” across a range of ages and
stages, from pre-school to adult learning. It was
under the Future Ready banner that the Alberta
Government announced their program to provide
$500,000 grants to 18 non-profit child care centres
across the province to pilot the delivery of quality
child care at $25/day. From a poverty reduction
perspective, affordable, accessible, quality child
care is one of the most powerful strategies the
government could support. Other Future Ready
programs include the school nutrition pilot program,
adult learning program, and the Indigenous Student
Awards. It is encouraging to see the comprehensive
approach with which these programs were developed
and it will be exciting to see further progress made in
2017 and beyond.
Minimum Wage: The NDP proceeded with their
contentious campaign promise to continue the
increases to minimum wage this year, with the
now-legislated commitment to see it rise to $15/
hour by 2018. In addition to the increase on Oct. 1,
2016, the tiered minimum wage was also phased out,
eliminating the lower rate for individuals who work in
establishments that serve alcohol. Though increasing
the minimum wage can benefit some low-income
Calgarians, it’s only one policy in a suite of solutions
required to sustain meaningful poverty reduction.
Increasing the minimum wage has no impact on
those who are unemployed or who face permanent
barriers to employment, and it is crucial to consider
the after-tax implications, not just the wage rate, of
minimum-wage earners.
Fair Entry Sliding Scale: Discounts will be
significantly increased for low-income transit users
thanks in part to a $13.5 million surge in funding
from the province to increase access to public
transit. Starting in March 2017, a new sliding scale
fee framework will be implemented, resulting in a
monthly transit passes costing $5.15 for Calgarians
whose income is below 50% of the Low-Income Cut
Off (LICO) or $12,300 per year. Research indicates
that people at these income levels would walk or
drive unsafe vehicles because these alternatives are
cheaper than the current transit fare. Congratulations
to the tireless advocacy efforts of Fair Fares and Fair
Calgary Community Voices to make this a reality.
Enough for All Quarterly Update: January 2017
Vibrant Communities Calgary looks ahead to 2017!
Vibrant Communities Calgary (VCC) is committed to guiding the successful
implementation of Enough for All (E4A), Calgary’s poverty reduction strategy. Using the
collective impact approach, VCC provides backbone support to stakeholder groups and
organizations who are committed towards achieving the outcomes of E4A. In its role as a
backbone organization, VCC guides the vision and strategy of our community’s collective
efforts to reduce poverty. VCC also works to build public will, advance policy, support
aligned activities, assist in the establishment of shared measurement practices, and
mobilize funding.
The 2013 – 2023 E4A Strategy provides a general
framework for the work of all community members,
non-profit organizations, services providers,
businesses and faith groups. The more specific 2015
– 2018 Implementation Plan provides a bi-annual
guide on where their efforts should be focused.
VCC also has an annual work plan that is the tactical
guide for all employees, contractors and volunteers.
It helps to identify targets and commits VCC to
supporting the right initiatives that will advance
poverty reduction in the community every year;
while keeping in mind the mid-term focus areas and
the long term strategic goals.
In the short term, there are many initiatives that will
be continued in 2017 and beyond. VCC staff and the
Indigenous Advisory Committee will extend the work
that was done in 2016 through Sharing Circles to
strengthen the understanding that Calgarians have of
key aspects of Indigenous culture.
This year, VCC’s own Business Leader Forum group
will continue to foster the adoption of inclusive
business practices in Calgary to increase the number
of persons making a wage that can help to raise
them out of poverty. This work will also dovetail with
renewed advocacy efforts related to the living wage.
The Enough for All Public Awareness Campaign,
supported in Fall 2016 by more than 40 front line
agencies and many private sector partners, will
enter phase two in 2017. The second phase of the
campaign will be aimed squarely at increasing the
understanding of Calgarians about poverty and
helping to mobilize public will around creating
positive change.
Through a consultative process, the Implementation
Plan will be reviewed this year to update this bi-
annual road map. The new plan will incorporate the
many learnings accumulated since the start of VCC’s
stewardship in 2015 and will build on the collective
wisdom around how all our many community
partners can work together more effectively.
The VCC work plan also will continue to sustain
support for persons with lived experience in
poverty to participate in advocacy efforts and
increase their meaningful involvement in E4A
efforts as peers, participants, advisors, influencers
and decision makers.
Lastly, 2017 is a Municipal Election year in Calgary!
VCC and our community partners will work tirelessly
to ensure that poverty reduction is an election
campaign topic. This will be done by fostering the
discussion of current and new approaches to support
the people in our city who are dealing with scarcity
and lack of opportunity.
We look forward to joining our efforts with yours.
Enough for All Quarterly Update: January 2017
Knowing how to manage money helps to reduce poverty
November was financial literacy month in Canada. An interesting initiative that was
part of the month’s events came from two Calgary philanthropists who launched
the Unexpected Expense campaign. There was province-wide participation in the
campaign throughout November that lead to an open and honest discussion about
debt and savings. Individuals shared their stories and each day, one story was
chosen and the author was awarded $500.
The campaign demonstrated peoples’ willingness to
share their stories about their financial challenges.
People posted honest stories about addiction,
abuse and personal stress but the campaign team
also received some humorous stories -- bed bugs,
forgetting to cancel automatic renewals and damage
caused by tree roots etc. There were helpful lessons
learned and shared including information about the
impacts of overdrafts, student loans and payday
loans. The topic of unexpected expenses definitely
resonated. During November, 30 Albertans received
$500 into their bank accounts and the thanks
extended was both genuine and touching.
Ending poverty is a complex problem. However, one
of the ways to help achieve the Enough for All goal of
a 50% reduction of Calgarians living in poverty is to
focus on improving the financial literacy of citizens.
Financial literacy is the ability to understand how money
works in the world: how someone manages to earn or
make it, how that person manages it, how he/she invests
it and how that person donates it to help others.
This understanding of how money works is a key
poverty prevention strategy. A deepened awareness
of credit, building assets and living within one’s
means can prevent people from falling into poverty.
However, the dilemma is that financial literacy is
for the most part no longer taught in our schools.
The ease of accessing credit encourages all of us to
extend our financial vulnerability beyond a reasonable
level and places many at risk of falling into poverty.
Statistics Canada indicates the ratio of household
credit market debt to adjusted disposable income
crept up to 166.9 per cent in the third quarter of 2016,
up from 166.4 per cent in the second quarter. This
means, on average, Canadians owed $1.67 in credit
market debt, mortgages, other loans and consumer
credit for every dollar of their disposable income.
The Enough for All Financial Empowerment
Collaborative understands the importance of
financial literacy in helping to reverse this trend.
Other organizations like Bow Valley College,
the Chartered Professional Accountants
(CPA) - Alberta region and the Canadian
Banking Association have developed
financial literacy training modules and financial
literacy programs to help Calgarians. Some
companies are now also beginning to
offer financial literacy courses
to their employees.
However this is a modest beginning
and we need more Calgarians who
can realize the benefit that comes
from learning more about financial
literacy. As this happens more people
will be able to keep themselves
from falling into poverty through
improved awareness.
Let’s make financial literacy a focus
in Calgary in 2017 and beyond in
both our homes and
our workplaces.
Enough for All Quarterly Update: January 2017
In 2013, an Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC)
was formed to assist in developing the Indigenous
Strategy within the Calgary Poverty Reduction
Initiative. In 2014, a First Nations transfer ceremony
was conducted by Elder Leonard Bastien so that the
strategy would flourish under the guidance of the IAC
and later he gave blessings to the new administrator
- Vibrant Communities Calgary (VCC). The Enough
for All (E4A) administration and leadership was
transferred from the City of Calgary to VCC in
January of 2015.
Also in 2015, an Indigenous Advisory Committee
member was appointed to the VCC Board, Barb
Barclay (Native Counselling Services of Alberta). One
of the primary functions of the Indigenous Advisory
Committee initially was to have the Indigenous
strategy adopted by the VCC Board so that the
committee could support the implementation of the
Indigenous Strategy with the support of VCC staff.
Today, IAC and Poverty Talks are two groups which
act in an advisory role to the Board of Directors at
VCC. The IAC is comprised of committed individuals
who work within organizations striving towards
successful poverty reduction within the Indigenous
communities of Calgary and surrounding reserves.
The committee contributes to reaching the goal
that “All Aboriginal People are equal participants in
Calgary’s prosperous future.”
The Co-chairs of the IAC are Evelyn Goodstriker, a
member of the Kainai Nation, and Jay Gerritsen. The
committee meets on a monthly basis where they work
Enough for All Quarterly Update: January 2017
The Indigenous Advisory Committee supports the Enough for All strategy
“All Aboriginal People
are equal participants in
Calgary’s prosperous future.”
to address important issues facing Indigenous people
in Calgary (including issues of discrimination and
stereotypes). The committee also plans future events and
provides input to the Indigenous strategic plan at VCC.
The IAC continues to be comprised of other original
members including Tim Fox of the Boys & Girls Club
of Calgary and Joanne Pinnow of the United Way of
Calgary. Other partner organizations actively involved
include representatives from the City of Calgary, Hull
Services, Bow Valley College, ASCHH (Aboriginal
Standing Committee on Housing and Homelessness),
as well as other dedicated community members. The
full list of partners can be found on the enoughforall.
ca website under the Indigenous strategy.
Recently the committee was visited by the original
author of the Indigenous strategy, Genevieve Fox, a
member of the Kainai Nation (her spouse is Roy Fox,
current Chief of Kainai). She gave the committee
important words of wisdom by reminding us to learn
about the doctrine of discovery and understand
what drives people to move between reserves and
cities. She also highlighted the lack of employment
opportunities, difficulty of finding places to rent and
the challenges that are present for Indigenous people
in the educational system.
Luckily, the IAC has several Elders to consult with and to
seek out advice on how to continue the work within the
Indigenous community in Calgary. The IAC has exciting
events planned for 2017. In 2016, the group successfully
wrapped up the Elder Teachings, Oomkitapiiks
Aisksinimatstohkiya in Blackfoot, events which were
successfully held with many partner agencies. These
include St. Mary’s University, the Calgary Public
Library, the City of Calgary and many other partner
organizations from the Enough For All strategy.
Please sign up for the VCC newsletter or contact us if
you have any further questions at enoughforall.ca.
Enough for All Quarterly Update: January 2017
Blanket Poem by Erin Davenport
Notes from the author:
I wanted to show with my poem that
in times of adversity there is still hope.
Sometimes it can take a while to find
and at times it takes having to look at
things from a different perspective.
When we have hope, not just in ourselves,
but for everyone around us anything is
possible. That’s one of the reasons the
Enough Project, a Poverty Talks initiative
to mark United Nations International Day
to Eradicate Poverty, is so special. Everyone
involved with this project had hope and
were inspired in their own way to get our
message out to as many people as possible.
I think this idea came across in all of the
poems and performances.
In my poem, I wanted to inspire people to
get involved in whatever way they can. I also
wanted to inspire other people to get
involved in whatever way they can. It may
seem sometimes like it’s not enough, but
even a little can go a long way toward
helping others.
We are all in this together.
– Erin Davenport,
Erin Davenport is the author of Blanket Poem and a
member of Poverty Talks. Erin was a participant at the
Enough! Spoken Word event held in 2016 where she
shared her Blanket Poem. Video of the event can be
found at https://vimeo.com/188106601.
Blanket Poem By Erin DavenportEnough… what does this mean to me Well it means both… It means scarcity in the bank account, but abundance in heart account.
It means no trips to Ireland or Mexico, but it does mean camping in the
beautiful mountains of Canmore, exploring rivers, lakes, and trails.
Hunting wild berries and drinking fresh water from a mountain stream…
The smell of hub oil, like rotten eggs everyday, but the sound of frogs
chatting at night before sweet dreams carry me away…It means not buying expensive gifts filling your house with things you don’t want,
but it does mean I make a warm cozy blanket for you to curl up with on a cold
winter’s night made with love just for you…The sight of my garden, growing my own food shared with friends in the
neighbourhood. Dishes from all walks of life, ending a hunger no one knows
when will strike…
But we can’t do it alone. We all need help sometimes. Someone that can
show us a path that has yet to be traveled. Connecting with people that
become close to us. There is no better feeling. A dear friend that helps send
you on a dream long since forgotten…I sincerely hope this will inspire us to give a little more, so we can make
many precious blankets…That way there is enough for us all.
400 – 119 14 Street NW Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6 enoughforall.ca
Enough for All needs all of us, from
every sector, working together to
succeed! Are you or your organization
interested in getting involved? Find out more
at enoughforall.ca or reach out by contacting