A4-B4: Social Innovation as a Tool for Poverty Reduction
November 10, 2011 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
November 11, 2011 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
How can Social Innovation be used as a tool for ending poverty and achieving social justice? This seminar will focus on the specific tools and practices used by agencies that provide social innovation opportunities to clients. They will share their stories, challenges and successes. Through this seminar we will explore how Social Innovation can be used to challenge systemic social barriers to the full inclusion and integration of immigrants and refugees in the Canadian labour market and greater society.
Moderator:
Shelley Zuckerman has a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto and over 25 years of experience in community development and the management of nonprofits in Montreal, Edmonton and Toronto. She has been the Executive Director of North York Community House (NYCH) for over 19 years. During that time she provided leadership to NYCH as it grew from a newly established small organization to an established organization with a wide range of innovative programs and services throughout northwest Toronto and a budget of over $5 million.
Panelists:
Aina-Nia Grant is MicroSkills Manager of Business Training and Support Services for women. This includes self-employment training programs and various support services designed to meet the complex needs of women in Canada; over 60% of whom are immigrant women facing multiple barriers. These services support hundreds of women yearly to end poverty and violence in their lives through self-employment. For over two decades Aina-Nia has been supporting women in both corporate and social services sectors to achieve self-sustainability through various leadership-based programs; she has presented these programs to academics, corporate and social community audiences in Canada, USA and Africa. For over a decade she ran he own Life Coaching and Facilitation business and in 2008 was nominated as one of Toronto’s most inspiring women.
Hadley Nelles works at SiG@MaRS coordinating a variety of projects. Passionate about innovation and the power of partnerships, she is currently leading the collaborative effort to establish the School for Social Entrepreneurs – Ontario (SSE-O). This program is a UK model that provides social entrepreneurs with practitioner-led, action-based learning opportunities that enable individuals to use their creative and entrepreneurial abilities more fully for social benefit. Hadley also currently sits on the Executive of the Board of Directors for the Ontario Council for International Cooperation (OCIC). OCIC strives to increase the effectiveness and collective impact of its members’ efforts to promote sustainable, people-centered development and participation for all. Hadley has worked as a public servant with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, has field experience in South America and India, and believes strongly in fostering innovation. Hadley has an undergraduate degree in Global Development Studies and Political Studies from Queen’s University and a graduate degree from McMaster University in International Relations and Comparative Politics.
Presentation from Hadley Nelles:
