Nonprofit News: Black History Month, Gathering Community Safely
Bringing Community Together Safely in 2022
Although gathering together and creating connections is crucial for strengthening our sector and the community we serve, at this point, gathering in person for CCVO events creates unnecessary risks and added stress on the community.
"Every day we are faced with the immense toll that this pandemic continues to place on our communities and the nonprofit organizations that serve them. Those working on the front lines are exhausted and stretched thin. Organizations are doing their best to meet ever-growing community needs while resources and energy continue to diminish. The incredible dedication, commitment, and perseverance that our sector has shown throughout this latest wave and over the past two years cannot be taken for granted. And although we do not know how and when we might move forward from response to community recovery, we do know that now is not the time to add to the impacts on our sector through actions that put the community at further risk.” - Karen Ball, CCVO President & CEO
CCVO had originally planned to host our first in-person Nonprofit Connections session on February 25, however, given the current state of provincial hospitalizations and the unknowns around community infection rates, we will be postponing the sold-out event An Afternoon with Mayor Gondek and City Council to June 17. The CCVO team is diligent in our concern around the safety of the community and particularly around protecting those most vulnerable. Postponing our in-person events will allow us to support a more favourable and safer environment for connecting and engaging in conversations comfortably. We will continue to host virtual Nonprofit Connections events the first of which will take place in March and focus on a Government of Alberta budget analysis for nonprofits (registration opening soon).
For those who have registered for the February 25 event, you should have received a personal email from Eventbrite regarding the transfer or refund of your tickets. Registration for the new date will open in early spring and will be announced in our newsletter. Thank you for your support and understanding. We look forward to safely convening and connecting with you and the community as we work from response to recovery. For any questions about our upcoming events, please get in touch with us at events@calgarycvo.org.
policy highlights
Launch of the Gateway to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Hub
Gateway Association recently announced the launch of the Gateway to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI) Hub. The Gateway to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) Hub is Alberta’s first and only workplace EDI hub that helps workplaces prepare for the future by using EDI as a proven and sustainable workforce strategy. The province-wide resource centre is a “one-stop-shop” in helping Alberta workplaces begin and continue to build their EDI capacity and knowledge. The centre offers online resources like toolkits, customized consulting services, and virtual workshops and events.
The Hub works with all types of workplaces including small to large businesses and for and not for profit organizations. It is available to workplaces across the province and is a fully-funded initiative by the Government of Canada and its services are offered at no cost to workplaces. Learn more about the Hub and explore its resources here.
Enough for All: Poverty Snapshot: Taking Decisive Action
The Enough for All poverty snapshot is created to understand how people experience poverty and what policy makers can do to help. The last two years have been difficult with challenges that affected everyone but especially the most vulnerable. It is too soon to tell what this will mean long term, but we know that mental health and relationships have suffered and that many people are struggling to meet basic needs. Last year’s report focused on the effects of COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement. From that research, it was learned that affordable housing waitlists are long and housing is getting more expensive; food bank use is at an all-time high and food prices are rising at the highest rate in nearly 20 years. Many people are also receiving effective government supports and coming out of poverty. The 2021 Poverty Snapshot revealed some answers, but also plenty of questions. Who is falling through the cracks, what solutions will prevent or seal the cracks, and how can we better address the root causes of poverty? Read the updated snapshot here.
Black History Month: Upcoming Events
We Are the Roots: Black Settlers and their Experiences of Discrimination
on the Canadian Prairies
February 15 | online
Learn more
Understanding Anti-Black Racism and Black Wellness
February 17 | online
Learn more
February and Forever: Celebrating Black History Today and Every Day
February 17 | online
Learn more
Black Leadership in Social Impact Summit
February 24 & 25 | online
Learn more
Mental Health of Black Canadians and Black Immigrants in Alberta
February 28 | online
Learn more
Black Excellence in the Time of EDI: Celebration or Tokenism
March 3 | online
Learn more
Visit these sites for some more upcoming events and resources:
ActionDignity: List of Events in Calgary and Across Alberta
Calgary Public Library: Black History Month Events
City of Calgary Events
Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations: List of Edmonton & Alberta events
Government of Canada: February and Forever
University of Calgary: Black History Month Events
funding & grants
TELUS Community Grants
The TELUS Community Boards provide a collaborative and unique funding model enabling local community leaders to make recommendations on grants supporting at-risk youth across Canada. Canadian registered charities that offer community-based health, education or technology programs for at-risk youth are eligible to apply. The goal of these grants is to support as many registered charities as possible; as such, please review all the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation funding channels available and apply to only one funding channel per calendar year. The next application deadline for the TELUS Calgary Community Board applications is March 22, 2022; the next TELUS Edmonton Community Board deadline is March 9, 2022. Learn more about eligibility and the application process on the TELUS website.
Calgary Foundation Strategic Opportunity Grants
Strategic Opportunity Grants support small to mid-sized Calgary and area qualified donees with small, time-sensitive, strategic initiatives that fall into one of two categories: Organization Development and Program Development. Read the grant guidelines to learn about eligibility and the new grant request process. Please contact grants staff to discuss eligibility. Grant request deadlines are midnight on the 1st of each month. Learn more on the Calgary Foundation website.
Capacity Building: Upcoming Events
Ask Me Anything About Social Enterprise
February 15 | online
Learn more
Growing Your Impact Through Employee Development
February 22 | online
Learn more
Success in Community Action training
Begins February 28 | 8-part online training
Learn more
Equity and Equitable Practices
March 1 | online
Learn more
Blogs & More
Being Black in Canadian Philanthropy by Darren McAlmont via Association of Fundraising Professionals
2020 and 2021 have not only been marked with the stain of a global pandemic, but were also the years that a light was shone on many dark realities of the Canadian philanthropic sector. In 2020 there was a ground swell of support for racialized and Black communities in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, and many positive changes began to occur. The question is, how can we make those gains sustainable, and build on them to make lasting changes that benefit the Black community in the long run? In December 2020, a ground-breaking study conducted by the Network for the Advancement of Black Communities and Carlton University, revealed the stark reality that Black communities are overlooked by Canadian philanthropy. Read More →
Investing in a new type of leader, for a just and equitable future by Community Foundations of Canada
We are at an inflection point. Precarious work, housing affordability, the urgency of climate action – every sector of our economy is in transition. The pandemic has had particular consequences for young people and their futures, from missed school and milestone moments, isolation and negative impacts on mental health, to the implications of COVID in perpetuity and its long-tail effects. But we have reason to be optimistic. Young people are expressing an intolerance for the problems of today and the piecemeal, gentle steps that aren’t solving them. Read More →