On April 30, Ethnocultural Grassroots Advocacy Group (EGAG) members, community volunteers, and ActionDignity staff came together to strengthen collective advocacy and deepen community-led approaches to systems change.
Dr. Francis Boakye, ActionDignity’s Executive Director, joined the meeting and delivered a presentation on the nonprofit sector context and its implications for community-based advocacy. The following conversations further explored engagement strategies, advocacy approaches, and collective action.
Key areas of focus
- Understanding the shifting nonprofit sector landscape and its impact on community advocacy work
- Centring lived experiences to inform priorities and solutions
- Addressing systemic barriers such as foreign credential recognition and “Canadian experience” requirements
- Building collective voice, leadership, and advocacy capacity across ethnocultural communities
What we are building together
- Community-driven advocacy grounded in equity and inclusion
- Stronger collaboration between grassroots organizations and system actors
- Pathways for meaningful engagement that move from consultation to shared leadership
Moving forward
- Supporting communities to access accurate information and challenge misinformation
- Co-developing action plans that reflect community priorities
- Strengthening advocacy skills to influence policy and systems
Ethnocultural Grassroots Advocacy Group meets on the last Thursday of each month, supporting ongoing collaboration, shared leadership, and sustained collective impact. Grassroots organizations will co-chair the upcoming EGAG meetings.