Ethnocultural Grassroots Advocacy Group (EGAG)
Ethnocultural Grassroots Advocacy Group
During the community policy dialogues with community leaders from ActionDignity member organizations, more than 400 perspectives and sentiments were shared. These discussions highlighted the need for stronger advocacy efforts, from grassroots committees to broader community networks, to address the common challenges faced by racialized communities as they work to fully integrate into the Canadian system.
EGAG is a community-led advocacy group bringing together ethnocultural leaders to influence policy and systems change-removing conditions that hold problems facing racialized people in place.
Who We Are
The EGAG is more than an advocacy group – it is a community of leaders driving collective change. It
brings together leaders from diverse ethnocultural communities to identify shared priorities, amplify
community voices, and turn lived experiences into collective action that influences policy and drives
meaningful change.
Together, members strengthen relationships and community leadership, build strategic partnerships, and advance solutions that foster equity, inclusion, and belonging. Through collaboration, relationship-building, and advocacy, the EGAG helps ensure that ethnocultural communities are not only heard but are meaningfully shaping the decisions, policies, and systems that affect their lives and communities.
What We Do
Policy Advocacy and Systems Change
i.e., Identify systemic barriers/issues, review policies, develop and co-lead collective advocacy strategies and meet decision-makers, policymakers etc.
Community Leadership and Mobilization
i.e., Support leadership development, plan and co-lead initiatives, campaigns, community actions.
Community Engagement and Partnerships
i.e., Build bridges between ethnocultural communities and civic, social and political institutions to strengthen dialogue, trust and collaborative problem solving.
Organizational Learning and Accountability
i.e., Contribute to the evaluation, assess achievements, lessons learned and future directions.
Membership and Shared Participation
i.e., Participate in EGAG’s meeting, trainings, workshops.
The Latest
How We Work
EGAG’s membership reflects the diversity of Calgary’s ethnocultural communities, bringing together approximately 30 community leaders representing a wide range of cultural identities, lived experiences, communities and organizations.
EGAG is an independent advocacy group that operates through a co-leadership model and is co-chaired by three community leaders. EGAG’s policy advocacy direction is community-led and reflects critical matters that require urgent attention. At the invitation of the advocacy group, Action Dignity participates as a co-leader, providing coordination and organizational support while respecting EGAG’s independence and member-led/collective decision-making.
Key Sub-Committees
Policy & Systems Change
Community Mobilization and Community Organizing
Research & Evidence
Communications & Public Awareness