By Clearing a New Path
The podcast currently has 94 episodes available.
I was fortunate enough to have a tour of the Fusion Youth Centre in Ingersoll, Ontario last month. Craig Boddy has been with the organization for over a decade and seen many transitions. The building is a former school, purchased by the municipality, when youth crime was a burgeoning issue.
The centre was established in 2006 to provide a safe space for kids after school. It offers a wide range of programs and facilities, including a gymnasium, lounge, kitchen, recording studio, and tech centre. The centre has seen changes in its age group, membership fees, and programming to adapt to the evolving needs of youth. Craig shares success stories of youth who have benefited from the centre and emphasizes the importance of community support and partnerships. He also discusses the challenges of keeping up with youth trends and the positive impact of the centre in preventing youth from engaging in negative behaviors.
Takeaways
* The Fusion Youth Center in Ingersoll, Ontario, provides a safe space for kids after school and offers a wide range of programs and facilities.
* The center has evolved over the years, including changes in its age group, membership fees, and programming to meet the changing needs of youth.
* Community support and partnerships have played a crucial role in the success of the center, with organizations like United Way Oxford providing funding.
* The center has had a positive impact in preventing youth from engaging in negative behaviors and has seen success stories of youth who have benefited from its programs.
* Challenges include keeping up with youth trends, such as technology and cyberbullying, and the limitations of being part of a municipality in terms of funding and decision-making.
During our conversation, Craig mentions a study and paper that was authored and produced through the University of Guelph. The two authors were Heather Cross and Al C. Lauzon. You can find it online here: Fostering Rural Youth Wellbeing through Afterschool Programs:
The Case of Fusion Youth and Technology Centre, Ingersoll, Ontario (2015)
Fusion Facebook page
Summary
I met Helen Tremethick, a rurally-based Regenerative Business Designer and Holistic Business Coach, through her workshop for the Canadian Women's Chamber of Commerce and it was her workshop's title, "Sustainability is B******t" that caught my and so many others' interest.
In this episode, Helen discusses her approach to disrupting business coaching and the importance of redefining success. She emphasizes the need to consider how our businesses are running for us and the impact they have on our ecosystem. Helen also highlights the challenges and benefits of being a rural resident and business owner. She shares her insights on somatic therapy and its role in decision-making and self-care. Helen concludes with advice for entrepreneurs, encouraging them to connect with their bodies, define their own version of success, and focus on their own journey rather than comparing themselves to others.
How to connect with Helen:
Website: helentremethick.com
Motorcycle Club: helentremethick.com/club
IG: instagram.com/helentremethick
Free Gift: bit.ly/beyondsustainable
Book A Chat: tidycal.com/helentremethick/cuppa
Takeaways
* Consider how your business is running for you and the impact it has on your ecosystem.
* Connect with your body to make better decisions and prioritize self-care.
* Redefine success based on your own values and priorities.
* Focus on your own journey and avoid comparing yourself to others.
Sound Bites
* "How is our business having an impact? And ideally, what we want to do is create an impact that is net positive, has a net gain for everyone involved."
* "We need to factor in future care, present care, and the fact that your mortgage broker doesn't take fresh baked bread."
* "If you have a community where you can exchange time or energy or attention, then great, then you don't need to have money as part of that equation."
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and the Concept of Regenerative Business
02:59 Redefining Success: Beyond Traditional Measures
06:24 The Impact of Our Businesses on the Ecosystem
09:22 Somatic Therapy: A Tool for Better Decision-Making
25:36 Finding Joy in the Outdoors and Parenting
27:25 The Love and Badassery Motorcycle Club
32:34 Advice for Entrepreneurs: Redefine Success and Focus on Your Journey
April Lindgren, a former journalist and current professor, discusses the state of local journalism in Canada and the challenges it faces. She shares insights from her research on the decline of local news outlets and the emergence of new models. Lindgren emphasizes the importance of local journalism in building communities, holding power accountable, and combating misinformation. She explores the role of digital mapping in understanding the landscape of local media and highlights the need for multiple revenue streams to sustain local news organizations. Lindgren also discusses the potential role of philanthropy in supporting local journalism and the importance of collaboration among newsrooms.
Takeaways
Local journalism plays a crucial role in building communities, holding power accountable, and combating misinformation.
The decline of local news outlets in Canada has led to a lack of verified, timely, and independent local journalism.
Digital mapping can provide insights into the state of local media and track the opening and closing of news outlets.
Sustaining local news organizations requires multiple revenue streams, including advertising, membership models, philanthropic support, and events.
Collaboration among newsrooms can lead to more impactful journalism and a diversity of voices in local communities.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:14 The Decline of Local News Outlets
05:51 Understanding the Local Media Landscape
09:01 Sustaining Local News Organizations
14:05 The Role of Philanthropy in Supporting Local Journalism
28:59 The Future of Journalism
32:55 Conclusion
Janan McNaughton had a PhD in social work, worked in that industry, was a researcher, freelance writer and travelled the world. So how did she end up opening Proof Line Farm Creamery and Farm Market in rural Ontario?
Janan talks about her experience moving from the city to a rural community and the culture shock she experienced. She shares the journey she and her family have had starting a farm creamery and farm market and the challenges she/they faced in navigating the food system and government regulations.
She talks about the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion and how these conversations were common in her social work world, but more challenging in a rural context.
She emphasizes the need for urban and rural communities to connect and work together in the local food system and how partnership building and finding the right resources aligned with the farm's values are crucial for success.
Janan also highlights the need for clarity and intentionality in pursuing a business that provides personal satisfaction and has a positive impact. You have to start with a mission, values and then any relationships you enter into, any choices you make, will align.
Janan gives a shout out to her business coach, Chelsey Hart at Your Initiative Co.
Summary
Kerri Neil, co-chair of Social Justice Cooperative Newfoundland and Labrador, discusses the formation and work of the cooperative. The organization operates as a member-run, non-profit cooperative focused on social and environmental justice. They advocate for feminism, decolonization, and care for individuals, the land, and all living beings. The cooperative primarily consists of individual members, with a few organizations also involved. They prioritize financial independence and rely on monthly donations from members and community supporters. The cooperative engages in a wide range of activism, including disability justice, women's equality, Indigenous activism, and more. They emphasize the importance of mutual aid and building relationships within the community.
Takeaways
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:12 Formation of Social Justice Cooperative
03:36 Membership and Organizational Structure
04:59 Transition to Virtual Organization
05:22 Importance of Cooperative Model
06:45 Funding and Financial Independence
08:09 Understanding Social Justice
09:12 Diverse Range of Activism
10:40 Challenges and Critiques
11:18 Vision for a Post-Capitalist, Post-Colonial World
12:31 Long-Term Planning and Growth
15:17 Navigating Resistance and Ensuring Safety
18:57 Importance of Mutual Aid
20:41 Gaining Supporters and Building Relationships
22:21 Getting Started in Activism
24:35 Taking Care of Yourself and Others
28:31 Lessons Learned and Financial Oversight
Summary
Mani Chakrabarty grew up in Yellowknife, NWT, where she found her desire to make a social impact through looking at world problems with a community-oriented lens.
She has a business degree and a master's degree in Economics from the University of Alberta and a master's in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Mani's work experience spans both the public and private sectors. She was an economist with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and, most recently, a Senior Consultant with Deloitte.
Mani is pleased to call Yarmouth, NS her current home.
In this conversation, Mani Chakrabarty from ASBB Economics and Research discusses the importance of humanizing economics and the work her organization does to provide evidence-based research to clients.
She shares her personal journey and motivation for focusing on rural communities, highlighting the potential for growth and the strengths of rural areas.
Mani also addresses the challenges and weaknesses faced by rural communities, such as the need for affordable housing and improved infrastructure.
She emphasizes the importance of employment in rural areas and the role it plays in providing purpose and dignity.
Mani discusses the need to address systemic issues and social stigma in rural communities and encourages curiosity and understanding as a way to combat ignorance and build trust.
She concludes by expressing her hope for the future of rural communities, emphasizing the importance of contentment and community-oriented values.
Takeaways
Andrew Button - MashUp Lab
I first met Andrew Button from MashUp Lab over the phone. He was inquiring about the national conference the organization I was working with, Community Futures Ontario, was hosting and how he could become a speaker. That was in the throes of the pandemic.
Andrew and I caught up again recently to chat about how he’s supporting entrepreneurs in rural Canada (and the US), what is missing for many rural communities and some of the opportunities they have at the start of a New Year.
After a 15-year career working in rural communities with various innovation, businesses, and economic development organizations, Andrew founded Mashup Lab in 2014.
Mashup Vision: A world where EVERY person in a rural place has the opportunity to unleash their full potential.
Identifying a gap in resources and a need for support in his community, Andrew has since launched a community of 3 co-working spaces for freelancers, entrepreneurs and independents in the south shore under the brand WorkEvolved.
Andrew is from a small rural community in Newfoundland and married a girl from a small rural community in Nova Scotia that they now call home with their two boys
Summary
Andrew Button from Mashup Lab discusses the challenges faced by rural and remote communities in Canada and the US. He highlights the importance of addressing equity and systemic barriers and shares his personal growth journey in understanding and addressing these issues. Andrew also talks about the role of co-working spaces in rural communities and the potential of social innovation and social business models. He emphasizes the need for open-mindedness, collaboration, and taking small steps to create positive change in rural communities. The conversation explores the importance of taking the first step and the potential for surprising ourselves with what we can achieve.
Takeaways
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Mashup Lab
03:01 Challenges Faced by Rural and Remote Communities
06:33 Equity and Systemic Barriers
10:53 Personal Growth and Learning
13:41 Healing Communities through Personal Growth
16:25 Barriers and Opportunities in Rural Communities
20:21 Co-Working Spaces in Rural Communities
27:22 Understanding Social Innovation and Social Business Models
33:17 Bartering and Mutual Aid in Entrepreneurship
40:18 Progress in Rural and Remote Communities
44:25 Goals for 2024
46:06 Finding Opportunities in Your Community
48:28 Taking the First Step
49:03 Surprising Ourselves
Elder Cindy Crowe - Sacred Circles
This is the third time I have had the pleasure of speaking with Elder Cindy Crowe for a podcast episode, however, I speak with her often as she is my mentor, a dear friend and my chosen family.
Cindy is an Anishinaabe Grandmother Elder, a Knowledge Keeper, a Lodgekeeper, a Pipe Carrier and a Drum Keeper.
Cindy is from Opwaaganisiniing close to Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. She is called to connect Indigenous & non-Indigenous folks, as well as support the relationship between Spirit & our human experience. Through her Anishnaabe lens, Cindy holds space for belonging & interconnectedness through vulnerable storytelling & unconditional acceptance.
I have had the benefit of participating in one of Cindy’s Sacred Circles for almost a year. It is a weekly date I rarely miss. And it has literally healed me and changed my life.
Cindy is now hosting virtual circles twice a week and we talked about what circles are, what makes them sacred, who can host them and how they can heal communities.
Summary
In this conversation, Cindy Crowe, an Identity and Purpose Coach, discusses the concept of sacred circles and their significance in creating a sense of belonging and connection. She explains that sacred circles provide a space where individuals can feel loved, accepted, and free from judgment. Cindy emphasizes that anyone can host a sacred circle as long as they approach it with an open heart and the belief that everyone is equal. She also explores the roles of knowledge keepers and lodge keepers in facilitating circles and highlights the importance of inclusivity in community healing. Cindy encourages individuals to focus on self-healing and love, as well as to foster a sense of unity and collaboration within their communities.
Takeaways
The Coxes: Rural Ontario in Colour
This episode, I again handed the microphone to folks who share a lens I do not have.
This is an intergenerational conversation, from a mom and son, whose experience and perspective is, as people of colour, who once lived in urban settings and now have moved to the country.
Mojdeh and her son Darius talk about safety, access to cultural food, infrastructure, climate and agriculture among a number of other topics. The two have recently gone into business together with their consulting agency, Cox & Co, a full scale values-driven firm providing strategic advisory services, training and skills building, and specializing in ethical governance and deep anti-oppression.
Mojdeh Cox is an award-winning consultant, convener and facilitator who is nationally recognized for her expertise in anti-oppression and human rights.
For over a decade, Mojdeh has coached organizational and community leaders, businesses and not-for-profit organizations across all sectors on re-imagining their work through a heightened equity lens rooted in social justice, from organizing and convening the largest equity-based lobby on Parliament Hill on Indigenous rights and justice for the Canadian Labour Congress, to facilitating consultations leading to the co-creation of the Community Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (CDIS) for the City of London.
Most recently, Mojdeh’s thought leadership on Radical Accountability has been nationally recognized in her tenure as President and CEO of Pillar Nonprofit Network.
Mojdeh currently lives in the county with her partner, their four children (including Darius) and their not-so-mini Mini Goldendoodle, Leo.
Darius Cox was born and mostly raised in London and is currently a King’s University College, Western University student majoring in Political Science and minoring in Sociology.
With a passion for learning and leadership, Darius has been a leading delegate in the North Meets South Exchange where youth create a policy framework to draw attention to issues facing Indigenous peoples in Northern Ontario after learning first-hand of the culture and experiences.
Darius has also been a delegate at the Smart Start Youth Summit centred around developing leadership and ethics competencies to work on building your future.
During highschool he had a leading role in a program called “MANUP”, addressing toxic masculinity and emphasizing respect towards others, especially women. He also sits on the board for the Gender Equality Coalition of Ontario as the youth chair.
Organizing and Activism in Rural Canada
As a response to injustices that happen around the globe, protests and demonstrations have always been a way for people to express their views in a public way.
We’ve all seen big protests and demonstrations depicted on television news and increasingly on social media. But many of those displays of solidarity happen in big cities.
I believe that there are progressive folks, looking to get involved in social movements in smaller rural and remote communities across Canada too but many don’t know where to start.
David Alton is a queer organizer and community facilitator. They co-founded GroundUp Waterloo Region (GroundUPWR) in 2020 to help fill gaps and build bridges in the grassroots world of Waterloo Region. What started as a twitter account has now grown into a network of 100 local organizers.
David is an urban planner and community facilitator, who is passionate about humanizing public discourse, overcoming stakeholder conflicts and advancing societal values.
Roy Mitchell grew up in Northern Ontario and escaped to be gay, make films and videos and… trouble in Toronto.
He is now back in Northern Ontario where he is a community organizer and runs the Hybla Artist Residency. After 10 years, he still can’t believe he is living rurally and loving it!
I met Roy through our mutual involvement in the Drag Storytime Guardians and that group’s counter protests at drag storytimes in rural Ontario this summer, but Roy has become a great friend and mentor to me and I am grateful to have benefited from his wisdom.
Both he and David share insights into what folks across rural Canada can do to form their own grassroots movements and organizations.
Special mention to the Blueprints of Disruption podcast with Jessa McLean, as that’s where I heard about David and GroundUp. It was a suggestion from Roy!
You can reach David and the folks at GroundUpWR at [email protected]
You can reach Roy Mitchell at [email protected].
**Roy mentions a video that illustrates the creation of a movement. You can watch that here.***
The podcast currently has 94 episodes available.