The speakers for the upcoming, online interactive Vital Conversation hosted by Community Foundation Grey Bruce on December 9, 2021, have been announced. Participants will hear “lightning talks” from four inspiring local guest speakers and will have the chance to participate in smaller group discussions on relevant topics. The guest presenters will be:
Diane Giroux has extensive background in project facilitation across multiple sectors. She is the Project Manager for Giiwe at M’Wikwedong Indigenous Friendship Centre, Owen Sound. Giiwe fosters Reconciliation pathways within social, health and governmental service delivery demonstrating success at establishing Indigenous led intersectoral collaboration and is now an Indigenous model of health promotion for other communities.
Kee May Ip is a community builder whose work and volunteering commitments are about advocating for a better life for everyone in the community. Presently, she is Project Coordinator for the Four County Labour Market Planning Board overseeing the Precarious Living Study Project that explores the correlation between precarious employment and other contributing factors of precarious living including housing.
Christine MacDonald is a human services leader whose work focuses on strategic initiatives improving the quality of life for individuals and community. As the Director of Bruce County Human Services, she recently oversaw the development of Penetangore Place, a residential apartment building and human service hub in Kincardine.
Erica Phipps is a researcher and long-time advocate for ensuring healthy environments in which people can live, play, learn, work, and thrive. She recently led the RentSafe EquIP (Equity-focused Intersectoral Practice) participatory research in Owen Sound in which she worked with tenant co-researchers and other community partners to prioritize human relationship-building and the lens of grounded expertise (lived experience) to strengthen intersectoral action on health and social inequities linked to the escalating housing crisis.
The goal of this Vital Conversation is to give participants a deeper understanding of the housing crisis through learning and sharing new perspectives on the issue. This event is supported by Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd. To register for Vital Conversation, visit www.communityfoundationgreybruce.com
The online session will take place from 4 to 6 pm on Thursday, December 9 and will be facilitated by Melri Wright and Mike Wright of Ledge Leadership. The meeting will take a World Café style sharing knowledge and creating possibilities for action built on the notion of group intelligence. Input from participants will be reflected in a Vital Focus Report on Housing being prepared by the Foundation set for release in early 2022.
Vital Signs is Canada’s most extensive community-driven data program. Spearheaded by Community Foundations of Canada and led by community foundations across the country and around the world, Vital Signs uses local knowledge to measure community well-being and support action towards improving collective quality of life. Vital Conversations may be used to collect insight from the community about priority issues, gather insight from specific demographics within the community, as a conversation starter, and/or as a tool to spark connections and collaborative action on identified community priorities.
This conversation is sponsored by Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd. and is offered in association with community partner, The Institute of Southern Georgian Bay.
source: media release, Community Foundation Grey Bruce
