BeCause & Effect

A sense of belonging reflects an individual’s social and environmental connections. Prior to the pandemic Winnipeggers experience an overall sense of belonging, but that figure plummeted in 2022. In episode two, we highlight different communities with varying perspectives on how to build a more inclusive Manitoba and what reforms they want to see.

 Why X Matters is a four-part, limited series podcast that explores civic engagement by unpacking The Winnipeg Foundation’s Vital Signs® 2022. Join us each Thursday in September to hear from experts on the topics of Trust in Institutions, Sense of Belonging, The Environment, and The Empathy Deficit.

Welcome to Episode 1 of Why X Matters. Our first episode explores the decline in trust in institutions amongst Winnipeggers, what it’s like to navigate a culture of increased scrutiny and mistrust, and how institutions can help restore trust. 

Today’s guest is Ashley Seymour, Executive Director of Volunteer Manitoba.

Ashley and I talk about community connection, Manitoba’s passion for volunteering, and how to make a difference in your community by volunteering not just money, but time and talent as well.

Today’s episode I have the honor of speaking with Salena Starling. Salena is President of Community of Big Hearts, and she’s an 18-year-old indigenous woman that’s also sharing her story about spending her entire life as a youth in care. 

We talk about her experiences as a youth in care, her family’s generational trauma, and how she’s helping to foster reconciliation through her work with Community of Big Hearts.

Demian Lawrenchuk, Executive Director of Food Matters Manitoba, talks about their work reconnecting with Northern Manitoba’s Indigenous communities, building capacity and food security in these regions, and the logistical challenges of the global food system for remote communities.

Today’s guest is Hadley Archer, Executive Director of Nature United, the Canadian affiliate of the global environmental nonprofit The Nature Conservancy, an organization working to create a world where people and nature can thrive.

Hadley talks about his connection with nature, the impact humans are having on our planet, and top priorities for environmental conservation in 2023 and beyond.

David Kron, Executive Director of the Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba, talks about Cerebral Palsy and how differently it can present in different individuals, the stigmas and difficulties surrounding folks living with disabilities, and his continued advocacy work throughout his life. 

Today’s guest is a special treat. One of my colleagues and favorite people to talk to, Michelle Gazze.

Michelle has worked in the world of community engagement for many different organizations in her career, and as The Winnipeg Foundation’s Community Engagement Coordinator, she has a profound perspective on the philanthropic sector and the future of giving.

I sat down with Michelle to talk about inner-reflection, self identity, and how that pertains to the next generation of generosity, her work engaging with the grassroots and listening to community, and the current state of the sector, and the city.

Shereen Donetto, Executive Director of the Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba, also known as IRCOM, talks about her work helping families integrate into Canadian society, the barriers involved in doing so, and what we can do to prepare for the inevitable increase in demand of our systems as the global refugee crisis continues to grow.

Brandy Blind tells us her story and what she has overcome, the incredible impact of the FGC program in Manitoba, and what our city still needs to do to help reunite families with kids caught up in the system.