Leadership Engagement, Advocacy & Development (LEAD) for Change
Funding Partner:
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The LEAD for Change program promotes racial equity, inclusion and cultural awareness in public systems and policies. It aims to address systemic inequities in public institutions, government and service systems so members of ethnocultural communities can fully participate in economic, social and civic life.
2017-2018 HIGHLIGHTS OF ACHIEVEMENTS & OUTCOMES
Contributing an Ethnocultural Lens: Sharing an ethnocultural lens fosters equity by ensuring decision makers in services, institutions and public policy are aware of the experiences, perspectives and action ideas of ethnocultural communities. LEAD contributes an ethnocultural lens through its broad collaborations. Highlights include:
- Healthcare 101 – Building on the SHARE programs’ collaborative work with the PC-QI project to consider quality indicators in healthcare, LEAD contributed to generating ethnocultural input in the development of a tool that provides community members a systemic view of the healthcare system. Moving forward, LEAD will work collaboratively with Alberta Health Services, communities and other stakeholders to test the tool and gather the experiences and perspectives of ethnocultural community members regarding quality health service.
- Calgary Local Immigration Partnership (CLIP) – LEAD provides input to this multi-sector, community-based, city-wide partnership designed to build more welcoming communities to improve the integration of immigrants and newcomers.
- Big Brothers, Big Sisters National Diversity Council – ActionDignity participates in the implementation strategies for diversity, equity and inclusion.
Sharing Research and Taking Action: Research must inform action to create changes for greater equity, and policy must be implemented meaningfully to have impact in communities. LEAD contributes to both these efforts:
- Cultural Plan for Calgary – LEAD presented to City Council to advocate for implementation of the Cultural Plan for Calgary and the development of a leadership structure. ActionDignity now sits on the Leadership Council for Cultural Plan for Calgary.
- Migrant Mothers Project (MMP) – Building on the SHARE program’s collaborative research into the experiences of live-in-caregivers, LEAD is engaging South Asian community members to understand impacts of the spousal sponsorship program on immigrant women. LEAD also collaborated with SHARE to present MMP research findings back to communities to increase awareness of priority issues and policy recommendations.
- New Alberta Workers (NAW) project – Research results were shared with community members and brokers to inform them of their rights and actions they can take.
Relationship Building and Dialogue to Inform Policy: In the past year, ActionDignity’s profile as an umbrella organization capable of mobilizing community leaders to provide an ethnocultural perspective on social, economic and public policy issues was elevated. LEAD, SHARE and GFLCCI programs collaborated to respond to request from provincial and federal Ministries. Community leaders and policy decision makers met to deepen understanding of the experiences of ethnocultural communities, implications of policy, and ideas for change.
2017-2018 SUMMARY OF OUTPUTS
- Healthcare 101 information tool collaboratively developed and ready for community testing
- Leadership Council established to guide implementation of the Cultural Plan for Calgary
- 62 community leaders from 20 ethnocultural communities clearly articulated cross-cultural
- issues in ministerial meetings
- 122 brokers and leaders met regularly to receive
updated information and training to provide community members with information and support to access the right supports, services networks and resources - 46 community members/brokers who attended the presentation of the New Alberta Workers research report finding reported their increased understanding on the importance of advocating their right to know, right to participate and right to refuse work if unsafe or dangerous
Publications
- Reviewing the Current & Future Policing through an Ethnocultural Lens
- Supporting the Development of Ethnocultural Associations
For any questions regarding the program, or to get involved, please email Humaira Falak or Adanech Sahilie.
